This year I’ve become aware that the winter garden does, in fact, exist and it’s more interesting than ever. I don’t think I would have been able to wrap my mind around this concept had my gardening style not evolved to appreciate foliage and bark color, habit and texture over flowers, which don’t last. Here’s the front perennial bed under a soft white blanket of snow.
I especially like the effects of the dry mullein stalks, which were planted by the birds. The large trees in the background (likely also planted by birds) aren’t bad either.
One of this year’s goals is to work some winter interest into one of my newer beds. Good candidates that I have or am acquiring: Japanese pussy willow, Japanese fantail willow, yellow curly willow, Harry Lauder’s walking stick, red and yellow-twig dogwood, red curly willow, black pussy willow.
