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!

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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.