Hi all. Was not sure where to post this but since it is a mixture and they do all grow in my flower/general garden I went for this We all tuck up our herbaceous plants cosily for winter, tidy up generally and most/all of us also try as much as is possible to leave a framework of big and smaller evergreen/gold/silver plus deciduous items to maintain interest during the winter. Heres a selection of some smaller items helping to do this in my plot - there is also growing here bigger more mature shrubs - trees etc. Care to post some pics/comments of your own garden winter interest ?? - include big and small. All my pics taken today after heavy frost last night. Will add more pics later. Syd. Carex ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Dwarf Thuya ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Cham. Elwoodii ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Helichrysum (Curry Plant) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Saxifraga ( alpine) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Acanthus. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Luzulu. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Ophiopogon. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Geranium (True) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Liriope. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Bamboo ( 1 of 12 in tubs) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Cham Elwoods Gold ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Choisya. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Carex (pendula) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Cyclamen ( Hardy) ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Lithodora. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Dwarf Cham. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Reineckia carnea ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Mahonia ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden ) Large Bay tree. ( photo / image / picture from Sydney Smith's Garden )
Hi Syd, I am impressed that you have as much green as you do. If I were to post 'winter interest' mainly what you would see is a field of white (snow), grey (bare branches)! You photos of evergreens & perennials are attractive. It is hard for me to fathom that perennials can still be green elsewhere in the world in winter.
My winter interest photos right now would be standing water and and muddy paths! I do have a few evergreen things out there, but none as nice as your's Syd.
Hi CM - cheryl. I have always aimed at having a winter "framework" in the three gardens I have owned - when the herbaceous plants are put to bed for the winter have a selection of various things growing around to help prevent bareness . However it is acknowledged and understood that our winters here are very much milder than your own and makes this possible. Taking it all round you folks in U.S. do very well indeed considering your winters generally are harder and longer. Your gardens and the obvious effort put into them deserves full credit. I have a friend in Canada whom I email regularly and this time of year our gardens here are way in front of theirs due to the same thing - longer/harder winter. At present it is awful there. I have all manner of things coming along nicely before theirs even gets going and yet it seems they soon seem to catch up - that balance of nature again perhaps. Credit all round. Syd.
Hi tuesN1. Ref our plants being suitable for your tropical growing conditions. I am very sorry but you will need more expert opinion than I can give - some might some might not conditions being so different. Plants are very versatile however and can/do adapt to many different conditions. A suggestion to you. Why not ask the question on Google (or your SE) where I feel sure there will be expert and learned comment on the subject. Sorry I can not be more helpful.Syd.
It's so nice to see green in winter. Your plants look lovely. I especially like the foliage of the hardy cyclamen.
Hi Ginny. Thanks for that and for your interest. As I have already said I do like to have as much green/colour about as I can all winter while the herbaceous plants take a well deserved sleep. Ref the hardy Cyclamen they are delightful and are pretty tough. Once established here in a position they like i.e. shady dry under trees or shrubs - even conifers - they do well. I have read that they are potentially very long lived and their corms become progressively larger year on year - have also found they do seed around themselves - the ex flower stems bearing the pods are in spirals and seem to all be aimed at dropping the seeds on the corm. Best wishes. Syd.
Hi. First Crocus - plenty more to come but these first always especially welcome. Other flowersforming is Helleborus foetidus.
