Many of us bemoan the coming of winter because it means that the delight of working in the garden has to be postponed another season; however, taking delight in the garden does not. Even though the sights, sounds and smells of the garden will change drastically, the winter garden offers its' own special magic for those who want to experience it.

    Color paints the garden in very different hues throughout the seasons. Spring Pastels brighten to vibrant summer shades and transform into autumn's earth tones, but in winter, everything is distilled to its' essence. Form, contrast and structure reign supreme. Plants play a very different role at this time of year and it is a joy t onotice the beautiful and varied aspects of berries, seeds, twigs and bark. This is the time of year when structural components of a tree or shrub dominate in the landscape. It is very important not to overlook the drama winter has to offer when designing a garden and selecting plants.

    First and foremost, consider the geometry of the garden layout itself and how you perceive it viewed from prominent vantage points within the house. These are the areas that you want to target for winter interest. For example, a long view from the kitchen or dining room window might be a good location for a specimen tree, a piece of sculpture or a statue. A large picture window presents a great opportunity to locate a grouping of berry-bearing shrubs with an ornamental bird feeder or birdhouse.

    The sun sits lower on the horizon in the winter, so shadows and silhouettes are more pronounced. This becomes a tool to work with on the east and west facing sides of the garden, whether siting trellises, tuteurs, or structurally interesting deciduous trees. You can also group evergreens along the northwest border of the garden to block winter winds. Low branched evergreen trees and shrubs create great backdrops for white or lighter colored objects. Conversely, deciduous plants can offer a good spot to place a metallic sculpture or reflective ornaments for winter interest.

    Stones and other types of masonry absorb radiant energy, so you can use them to create sun pockets where bulbs such as winter aconites, snowdrops and crocuses can come into bloom a bit earlier. A special bench, preferably wooden, placed nearby will be the perfect spot to take advantage of the late afternoon sun's warmth while you sit for awhile to take in the majesty of the newly fallen snow and glistening ice-covered branches dreaming of spring to come. 

The Garden In Winter

by Barbara S. Olejnik ASLA