Phillip Oliver of Dirt Therapy has put together a wonderful ‘to do’ list for January. Which reminds me to move the rose I have been meaning to for years! It is ‘Graham Thomas’ a David Austin introduction.
INDISPENSABLE PERENNIALS 2
Another indispensable perennial for the winter garden would be Epimedium or Barrenwort. Pleasant foliage all summer turning bronze / rose in the winter. They make a very useful groundcover in dry shade and are magnificent paired with Helleborus. Below in my garden…
In very early spring the delicate flowers, commonly called Fairy Wings, emerge and proclaim winter officially over.
Although they find their way into my miniature vases, they are by no means ‘show stoppers’. I use them primarily as ‘filler’ although some of the newer varieties just introduced from Asia can definitely stand on their own. Below Epimedium ‘Making Waves’
I encourage you to add some to your garden. The best & newest can be found at http://www.plantdelights.com Another bonus… they are deer resistant.
Photo of Epimedium “Making Waves’ used with permission from Plant Delights Nursery.
MORE ON HELLEBORES
I neglected to include a close up photo of the hellebore ( Helleborus orientalis) I featured in the last post… so here it is.
There are many hellebore species (15 according to Armitage). I grow only the two common types successfully. The second one is the Bearsfoot Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus). This is the earliest hellebore to open in my garden.The lime green nodding bell-shaped flowers with a thin purple rim often greet me just before the New Year.
The blue-green foliage is a wonderful foil for the flowers.
This is also known as the “Stinking Hellebore’ but I have never detected an odor and I do use them in arrangements indoors.
The other commonly known hellebore is the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) and I have presided over the funeral of every one I have planted. I REALLY would like to grow it, so if anyone reading this has any advice I would appreciate it. It does bloom before Christmas & through the holiday, just not in my garden.
The last few years there has been much made of the new double hellebore, but quite frankly they have disappointed me. Unlike the photos in catalogues, which feature only the flowers, they are quite small (6-8″tall) and fall short of making a big show. IF they were to be grown say, at the top of a wall or in a raised container seen at eye level, yes, they would be delightful, but I am frankly interested in landscape appeal on a larger scale.
For the next few posts I will cover a few more perennials I consider indispensable.
© All photos & text 2011
AN INDISPENSABLE PERENNIAL
I am not a huge proponent of perennials. I find they require too much maintenance for a very short show and then, even the foliage disappears for the winter. There are of course exceptions. Peonies for example are worth whatever effort is required for even one day of bloom but of course they do last 10 days to 2 weeks in the garden and are stunning in a vase (see Reggie Darling on the pronunciation). The foliage too is quite handsome for most of the summer and useful in arrangements with other flowers as well.
The perennials I consider indispensable are those that have evergreen foliage. Perhaps the best of these are the Hellebores (Helleborus species).
They exhibit handsome leathery foliage, appreciate shade, and furnish the garden with much-needed greenery when it is most welcome .
I particularly like them planted at the feet of deciduous shrubs…
and at the base of large trees where not much else will grow.
Planted in masses, they make an effective ground cover.
Even in northern climates where there is snow cover for most of the winter, their flowers popping up through the melting snow is a sight to behold.
I do hope you include some in your landscape.
© All photos & text 2011
THE WINTER GARDEN
With all the holiday activities over I finally got into the garden. What a relief! It is so quiet and peaceful, in stark contrast to the last weeks. It truly is my sanctuary… just as I planned it.
Gardening in Georgia, one can have a winter garden that BLOOMS. From time to time a hard freeze will turn my magnificent camellia flowers to brown mush….
but in a day or two when it warms, the new buds open and the show begins again.
Even if they did not bloom, their evergreen presence create the ‘bones’. I always start with the winter structure when I design landscapes. Without structure, a collection of plants scattered about without any rhyme or reason, is just….. well, a collection of plants just scattered about! Below,’ BEFORE’ at a client’s.
While I love the warm spells, my hydrangeas (the macrophylla types) are all too anxious to welcome spring and start to break bud. Not a good thing!!
The next frost will damage the flower buds that are already exposed. I’m going to try covering with ‘Remay’ a protective covering , or ‘floating row cover’ used in the nursery trade. Hopefully they will be spared. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
© All photos & text 2011
NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
I just read a post on New Years Resolutions that is in perfect sync with my own thoughts. Check it out and let me know if you agree.
http://www.bluestonegarden.com/blog/
This is a beautifully written and informative blog.
WINTER WONDERLAND!
First white Christmas in 140 years turned the garden into a Winter Wonderland!
Both photos taken from the veranda. Too cold to go out, although it was much warmer than any day I spent in Montreal!
I am just such a Southern Belle now!
It was all gone the next day.
© All photos & text 2010
A GIFT!
Blooming today, (Chionanthus praecox) Wintersweet. Definitely a gift!
Very fragrant. AND, not to be outdone…
The first and very early Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis).
The Winter Garden… full of unexpected surprises!
© All photos & text 2010
HOLIDAY BAKING
The very best shortbread cookies…
embellished with a cookie Press from my dear, late friend Erik. He loved these. I call them Erik Cookies.
Three ingredients; flour, sugar & butter.
Gingerbread People, Chocolate Pecan cookies
and of course the favorite Oatmeal raisin with pecans.
The seed catalogues are arriving daily…
waiting for the day after Christmas.
Traditionally that is when we start planning the Potager.
BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE!!
Just back from Montreal. 30 cm (17″) of snow fell the day I arrived!
Photo above taken from the window. I would not venture out in that!!
Back in Georgia…for another cold snap but NO SNOW!!! I’ll post when I thaw out!
© All photos & text 2010
DRUNK with CAMELLIAS!!
Vita Sackville West wrote of her garden… “I am drunk with roses!”
I, am drunk with Camellias!
blooming on the right …
Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’ 
The Camellia Walk snakes through the shade garden in the form of an inverted ‘S’
Below, it is the Camellia Walk which forms the background for the Mourning Bench.
In the Potager, below, a salad Garden, some collards & cabbages.
In the Cutting Garden, the seeds of the Lilies (Lilium formosanum)are ripe. Please e-mail me if you would like seeds. There were some request after I posted the flowers, HERE.
AND… The Continuing Saga of yet another project….
An improvement since the last time I posted this spot.
I will be away from the computer for a week. Will fill you in when I return.
© All photos & text 2010
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
Camellia japonica ‘Lady Clare’
© All photos 2010
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I have collected dishes in gourd shapes and cabbages for years to set the table.
I especially like the sunflower bowls and plates found years ago at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The squash in the cornucopia and the centerpiece are from my husbands vegetable garden.
Drinks in the foyer
My table is not set yet (I have too many cats for that) but it will look similar to the above.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Be back next week
© All photos & text 2010
POTTING SHED
Every gardener needs one.
with a welcoming entrance. 
© All photos & text 2010
THE REAL DEAL
How often do you see this?
Recreating Eden Landscape Blog 
