
I’m spending a little time thinking about some plant combinations that really shine in the winter. Not only because it’s miserable outside, but also because I’m currently removing all the plants along the front of our house (will post about that in the future) in anticipation of a Spring basement project (foundation replacement). Some of them I’m giving away, and some I’ve put in a holding area in the back. This means I’ll have the opportunity to figure out what to put back, and what I want it to look like at different times of the year.
My approach thus far has been to have evergreens of different types with a handful of plants that add a bit of something different at different times of year.
Here’s an example (from warmer months):
I’m thinking of changing my approach a bit to fewer evergreens, and more plants that are entirely different at various times of year. This means more plants that have beautiful bark, or where the foliage changes color in the winter, or that have winter berries.
Here’s an example — clockwise from top-left: Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ (center), Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, Helleborus niger, & Cedrus deodara ‘Snow Sprite’