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FROSTY PLEASURES

 

            Just because there is a chill in the air, the days are short and winter has settled in don't give up on your garden. There are many ways to expand your garden joy. Choosing plants, shrubs and trees that have unexpected bloom times, enticing fragrances, or eye popping shades of green is easier than you may think.

            The first thing one must consider of is the path you take through your garden to your door and what vistas, large or small, you have outside your windows. Concentrate on planting cold weather gems where you can see then or take in their perfumes as you pass in and out of your home. It's not too early to keep a list of these winter surprises close at hand as you visit the nurseries. Space prevents a deep discussion of each suggestion. I have just tried to assemble a list of plants that are available and easy to grow in this area that will add punch to your winter garden.

            There are many small plants that can be enjoyed in winter. Think of Arums, Hellebores ((H. niger, H. foetidus and H. orientalis), heather, heaths, Skimmia japonica and wintercreepers such as Euonymus fortunei ('Silver Gem', 'Emerald Gaiety', 'Emerald 'n gold'.)  For late fall or early spring blooms crocuses and Sternbergia lutea, and many other "minor bulbs" can add a touch of surprise to your cold encounters with your path. Yucca filamentosa 'Bright Sides' is an unusual sunny touch of lime green to the winter scene.

            When looking for shrubs Nandinas, Camellia japonica and Pyracantha 'Mohave' are good choices you might easily find, but look further for daphnes, Cornus alba or C. sericea (red twigged dogwoods) for their colorful stems.

            Whether you call them large shrubs or small trees the winterhazels, Corylopsis, can't be beaten for a March bloom. Their early spring bloom produces a large numbers of fragrant flowers on bare wood. I unknowingly purchased one from the Arboretum plant sale, a reject without a label. It looked like a dead twig but in its first spring its bloom was exquisite. Cascades of buttery cupped shape fragrant blossoms cascade down 4-6 inches. I am not sure if it is a C. glabrescens (8-15') or C. pauciflora (4-6'). It is now 5' and only time or a DNA test will tell.  Winterhazels tolerate some shade, like moist well drained soil and a bit of protection to help keep the flowers happy on a windy cold spring day.  Dirr lists five species. For a better view of the blooms place the plant in front of an evergreen or dark background.

            Salix melanostachys, black pussy willow, (6-10') has purple-black stems in winter and in early spring has unusual deep black velvety catkins with red anthers and later yellow tips.   It is wonderful for flower arranging but also makes a stunning background for the pure yellow of a Corylopsis.

            Other trees to choose from include the hollies, Ilex. Try to include a 'Sunny Foster' in your view. Even on the darkest day it will shine.

            The witch hazels, Hamamelis spp., are the stars of winter garden. Unfortunately they are seldom used. I think people just forget them in the barrage of blooms in summer.

H. virginiana, our native, will lead the parade in October with fragrant yellow flowers interspersed with yellow leaves. H. vernalis , also a native, and is the hardiest, but in our zone 7 most all of these lovely trees thrive. Other witch hazels produce leaves of golds, oranges, and deep reds. You may choose from many species and be rewarded with blooms (and often fragrance) from fall to mid spring. The size of the bloom can vary also up to about 2 inches. The Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis has become very popular. It has the autumn yellow foliage but blooms Feb to March. It's scent will last weeks and will revive your spirits as you brave the cold. There are several cultivars (Hamamelis X intermedia) that grow 10-20 ft high that are readily available. 'Jelena' has copper colored flowers. A beautiful example of it  is growing at the Arboretum next to the parking lot. 'Arnold's Promise' has multicolored (red, orange, yellow) fall leaves and large fragrant flowers in late winter. For those who like red try 'Diane', a plant with red flowers and red orange foliage in the fall.

'Primavera'  (canary yellow), and 'Sunburst'(yellow flowers) are also recommended.

            Culture requirements are simple. They grow naturally in the woods, so a  well drained reasonably fertile  soil with morning sun or dappled days or even a northern exposure will do.

            Puts one of these beauties on your list now!

Karen Lucas

Horticulture

 

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