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| Ice covered branches |
each tree now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds summer's secret
deep down within it's
heart."
-Charles G. Stater
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| Snow covered Clematis and Birdbath |
January, it's that time of year when the excitement of the holidays has passed and we are left with days that are cold and bleak. As the cold days set in and we long for summer days it is hard to appreciate winter's beauty. But, every morning as I take my dog outside I look around and winter casts her spell. It's like looking at your garden through a different lens, one that takes the dead and throws a blanket of white over it and gives it new life.
Now I'm not saying I like the cold that winter has thrust upon us but I do enjoy the magic it creates with its icy, snowy days.
Going for a walk after a fresh snow fall has covered the trees and ground can make that winter day so much more enjoyable. The world gets transformed from a bleak grey to a beautiful wonderland of crystals sparkling in the sunlight.
It's a great time to take your camera and capture some of the trees and plants that catch your interest, getting ideas for your own garden. One of the things to always keep in mind when adding larger plants such as shrubs and trees to your garden is how they will look in winter, think of what interest they will add to your winter garden.
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| Sumac covered in ice and snow. |
It's also a great time as January draws to a close to get out your wish book and write down all the plants you want to try this year. Draw out your plans for new flower beds or color schemes you want to try.
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| Weeping Japanese Cherry |
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| Ornamental Grass |
Some people like to go with just one colour which can have a great impact, just make sure you have different variations of that one colour and a good assortment of plants and textures.
If you want an all white garden, besides the snow covered one that is, think of adding different shades of green to it as well, the green shines, tucked among the white. Ground covers such as Sweet Woodruff with it's tiny white bloom adds great texture and it's leaves stay green long after the bloom has gone. Hostas are always a good choice when trying to impart green to a garden.
An all blue or lavender garden brings a calm and relaxation to your garden. Red is bright and bold adding a certain kind of energy to it surroundings, the same goes for an orange themed garden. Yellow is like sunshine, bright and cheery.
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| Gingko Biloba Tree |
Happy Gardening! Happy Dreaming!
