When someone mentions the word “landscape,” the average mind conjures up thoughts of flowers and green grass – not dormant perennials and peeling bark. Winter is an often overlooked season for finding interest in the landscape. Whether it be in the fruit display of the Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata), the bright red stems of the Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea), or the playfully peeling bark of the River Birch (Betula nigra) – winter is a month to find (or plan) for serious interest in the garden.
In planning your new landscape or landscape renovation, it’s important to think of all seasons. Introduce plants that take center stage when everything else is at rest. During the next few months, take time to notice the fine texture of dormant ornamental grasses against the snow, or dried clumps of seed heads left behind by the birds. You’ll find that the landscape can have a unique and interesting look – even when most aren’t looking!
