Winter in
southeast Wisconsin might be seen as a time of rest for our garden plants. December days, filled with frost and freeze,
cause most plants to die back, or at least change
clothes. The lush, colorful foliage
of summer and fall often becomes brown and crunchy as wintry weather
prevails. One plant in my garden that held its color well into December was Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ (shown here nestled in ice crystals.) This perennial is a solid performer most of the year, and has delightful purple tinted undersides on its foliage.
But most winter-interest plants aren’t about vibrant colors. Movement and texture provide much of the visual appeal in winter’s garden. Ornamental
grasses make a statement in the winter landscape, so do not cut back during
autumn. Tall sedum covered with fresh snow provides texture in the garden,
although the dried sedum stems alone are beige and bland. A fresh coat of sparkly snow makes all the
difference!
Evergreens
of all kinds are often the stars in winter’s garden.
Their branches sway in the winter wind,
providing attractive movement in the garden. When planting evergreens, consider a red-toned planting in the
foreground. It might be a crab apple
tree with persistent fruits.
An American
cranberry bush is planted in front of my Colorado blue spruce tree, and the
spruce offers a textured backdrop for those orange-red berries. An alternative planting is Cornus sericea, redtwig dogwood, which
looks amazing in the winter garden, especially when coupled with an evergreen.
Texture and movement pair well in the
garden... these elements contribute significantly to the overall garden
design.
M. Lynn
Schmid, Certified Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
