Sunday, December 28, 2014

Winter At Gatsbys Gardens

I don't normally take many photos of my winter garden unless it is covered in snow.  However, this year, we have not had any snow except for a dusting.

I love the look of a four-season garden without the snow and the many variations of color and texture.

There is a great deal of color with the greens, browns, tans and reds in the front border.

Azalea Karen has darker leaves in the winter but they add a richness to the border.
 
Amsonia Hubrechtii Northwind Select
 
The Chanticleer Pear is just beginning to lose its rich brown leaves.
 
The Liriope beneath the pear tree stays green most of the winter and it looks lovely when there hasn't been any snow.
 
Hydrangea Limelight is a star in the winter landscape.  I left most of the blooms on this year because it was so full in the summer.
 
Many heuchera keep their color in the winter such as this one, Southern Comfort.
 
Pennisetum Hameln is a great border grass for winter interest, does not flop or mat.
 
The Type II Clematis Henryi might just survive this winter, I mean survive the rabbits who cut it to the ground when there is more than a few inches of snow, very small flowers if cut down.
 
I left up the Miscanthus Udine again this year because it looks so good especially if there is not a heavy snow.  This is not a grass that pops back up like Northwind after the snow melts.
 
The border of Green Velvet Boxwood along the patio always brightens up the garden!
 
 

Monday, November 03, 2014

Fall Color Is Not Just About The Trees!

My goal has been to create a four season garden in a three season climate.  Obviously, I am not going to succeed in regard to blooming plants in the winter but if carefully planned there can still be color.

The trees are a given for beautiful fall color but there are many perennials, grasses and shrubs that are stunning in both the fall and winter.

 
Azalea Karen
 
This is one of the hardiest azaleas in colder climates and also evergreen through the winter.  However, as you can see, it turns a beautiful red in the fall and deepens into a rust color for the winter never giving up its leaves.
 
 

 Ninebark Summer Wine
 
This shrub has many faces, deep burgundy in the spring with white flowers, lighter burgundy in the summer and then bright red to almost black before it loses its leaves.  In the winter it has a peeling gray bark.
 
Dwarf Fothergilla Gardenii
 
This is one of my favorite shrubs, almost looks unreal the colors it turns in the fall, white bottlebrush type flowers in the spring.
 
Mt. Airy Fothergilla
 
This is just a taller version of the dwarf and seems to turn color a little later.
 
Itea Little Henry's Garnet
 
Itea is a shrub that many times keeps its leaves all winter, white flowers in late spring.
 
Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls
 
Tor Spirea
 

Hydrangea Little Lime
 
Little Lime keeps its blooms all winter and looks great peeking out behind the evergreens.
 
Hydrangea Limelight
 
This is the larger variety and also will retain its flowers all winter.  They do turn to a tan color but still very attractive.
 
Hydrangea Starlight Let's Dance
 
Not all hydrangeas have great fall leaf color but this one does!
 
Amsonia Blue Ice
 
Many Perennials also light up the fall season with their colors.
 
Amsonia Hubrechtii Northwind Select
 
Variegated Solomon's Seal
 
Sedum Matrona
 
Heuchera Pinot Gris
 
These are a few of the many heucheras that stay colorful during the winter looking wonderful when they peek out of the snow.
 
Heuchera Southern Comfort
 
Heuchera Berry Smoothie
 
Miscanthus Udine
 
Panicum Shenandoah
 
Panicum Northwind 
 
Many of the grasses can be left up over the winter, even the above Miscanthus because it is less arching than other varieties.  The Panicums do well, popping right back up when the snow melts.
 
Green is also a great look for the winter so do not ignore evergreens and groundcovers that hold their color.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Extending The Season

In the cooler climates it is all about enjoying our gardens as long as possible.  It takes a little forethought to make this happen.

 
 
Front Border
 
Grasses and Sedums
Great fillers to keep the garden going
 
Miscanthus Udine
 
Blue Paradise Phlox is the first to bloom and keeps on going until the first frost if it is deadheaded.
 
Franz Schubert, Pink Thai Jade and My Mystery Phlox all responded well to deadheading.  Bubblegum and Lavender David did not respond as well.
 
Fireworks Type II is reblooming as are many of my other clematis.  I trim them by one half after blooming.  I am going to trim them down further next year and see what happens.
 
Rainbow Knockout will bloom until November, also the first of my roses to bloom in the spring.
 
Actaea
Wonderful surprise in the fall border
 
Anemone Robustissima
 
 
 
Kickin Asters
A new variety that is more compact than previous introductions
 
 
 
I love this red Pennisetum, however, it is an annual in my zone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The zinnias are a great fall flower, still going strong up until a frost.
 
Magellan Coral
 
 
Orange Sunpatiens
These were a surprise, much hardier than other impatiens varieties, held up to temperatures below forty degrees.