Martha Murdock/Master Gardener
| Special to The Times
Berne Davis Botanical Gardens in Fort Myers are a hidden gem
Berne Davis Botanical Gardens in Fort Myers a hidden gem. The gardens are down the street from the Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Winter is when you can see the backbone of your garden. It is when the architectural and horticultural structures become apparent. Stems, tree trunks, hedges, grasses, vines, seed heads, walls, and garden art offer both textures and silhouettes in the depths of winter.
What you see in winter is a totally different garden from your summer garden. Your evergreen plants will shine. There are plenty to choose from if your evergreens are lacking, including many options beyond rhododendrons, hollies and pines.
With interesting forms and shades of green, cedars, yews, arborvitae and firs are a good resource. The native inkberry is also a nice option for a small, evergreen shrub. Leatherleaf viburnums are great, as are Mahonias. Scotch brooms add structure with their stiff green stems. Euonymus offers both solid and variegated leaves that look nice in a winter landscape.
Colorful stems like the bright red dogwood Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or the gold of C. stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ stand out on gray days. Textural barks like those of a river birch or ninebark also add winter interest.
The sway of tall grasses blowing in the wind and the magic of snow sitting atop seeds heads of yarrow or echinacea can add winter magic as well as help wildlife. Consider beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) or winterberry (Ilex verticillata) to add pops of color with their fruit, and invite birds to feast as well.
Sedums like Autumn Joy, verbenas, and goldenrod add shape and strength to your winter garden. The puff of a dried Allium bloom and the dark seed pods of Baptisia all are part of the artwork of a winter landscape. Frost magically transforms dormant plants into a delightful crystal display.
Winter is a good time to assess your garden’s bones. Work on graph paper and plot your garden, noting hardscaping and established plants. Consider focal points and ease of maintenance. Think about your views from windows and seating areas, and how they might be enhanced. Look at old photos to refresh your memory of what is growing where. Pictures can help you see your garden from a different perspective. Planning in the off-season allows you time to research options and costs before the rush of spring.
As darkness falls early, lighting in your winter garden allows you to enjoy its seasonal splendor. Lighting for safety is important, but accent lighting can also add to the beauty and enjoyment of your yard. Up-lights or spotlights on the artistic structures make a statement. Whether it’s an interesting bare tree or a snow-covered fountain, a directional light gives it that wow factor.
No matter how you enjoy your winter garden – walking among the sleeping plants or gazing at it from a picture window – remember all four seasons of your garden can be beautiful.
Martha Murdock is a Penn State Master Gardener in Beaver County.
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