On the cold days of winter here in Transylvania County we often find ourselves at our windows in search of a gratifying view. Winter is the time for us to enjoy what we have already planted and to think about what might make our winter garden more pleasing this time next year.
What have you already accomplished in your garden? It used to be good practice to cut down our perennials and nip the heads off hydrangeas in the fall, but current gardening wisdom is to cut them down to 10-12 inches or leave them up until spring. This saves us a season of backache while providing seeds and shelter for wildlife, as well as interesting shapes and textures for the eye. Tall and short ornamental grasses can rustle against your back fence and the edges of your borders amid scattered “bouquets” of dried hydrangeas, sedums, and autumn ferns Enjoy the silhouettes of your native wildflowers in the paler light of winter.
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