The Garden in Winter - What do you do?

Thank you @Busy-Lizzie, that’s very helpful. Coincidentally I have recently ordered a Persica rose, Eye of the Tiger, so that’s good to know! I’ll have a look at those two other recommendations. No deer here, thankfully .

 

Actually, it’s between the 2nd and 6th of January, but the changes are hardly to spot like 5 days to go 1 minute down.
The sunset changes around the 16th of December.

 

It might vary where you live, you can check here , I've not bothered looking. Note I was saying "sunrise" not day length or the likes, ours is as quoted 30th Dec on data for here.

 

That looks lovely

 

We get some great sun sets here. Here's a Winter sunset to start, including a Sun Pillar.



June


May


August

 

Your garden seems to have quite a few suitable areas for hardy and or evergreen climbers, @Plantminded. I like your annual climber on your obelisk. Some of my scented jasmine is evergreen, which makes a difference in winter and the foliage is quite delicate looking. The buds are pretty and when the flowers open after winter, the scent is the strongest fragrance in my garden, I could not be without it. I was inspired by your garden and advice re grasses. The Stipa t. I have planted, picks up the breeze to good effect. I have yet to see if Calamagrostis K.F. gets battered by the wind, as it is only short and young!

 

Superb sunsets @ArmyAirForce!

 

Good point. I checked the UK data and for the coming year, it starts on the 1rst of January.
seems to be caused by the "wobbling" earth , which has an impact on our climate, so Alice Roberts,

 

I took these photos in December last year. After a light fall of snow, the grasses become a major winter feature. They are really easy here in dry, sandy soil. They don't attract slugs or snails and are drought tolerant once established. The deciduous grasses just need reducing to the ground at the end of February.

 

@Plantminded your garden is gorgeous no matter the season - so well curated and looked after

 

Haven't done much in the garden for the last 3 or 4 winters cos of arthritic knees and then ops for titanium knees. This has not stopped me sowing, taking cuttings, buying or being given plants so I have quite a nursery to manage and start planting out.

We've just had a tree surgeon in to remove dead or dying trees and he's delivered 25 tonnes (his lorry load) of chipped wood so when I do get the existing beds all weeded and the bulbs planted I can put down a good thick mulch to prevent the unwanted jungle of weeds we now have. There will be new beds too as I seem to have rather a lot of roses and few clematis needing homes. as wella s shrubs, trees and perennials...

 

The winter garden looks fantastic @Plantminded

 

Thank you @CostasK and @Perki. I’ll have to review the gardener’s hourly rate .

 

Having read Beverley Nicolls Down the Garden Path many years ago I have tried to grow winter flowering shrubs. With varying degrees of success. My standbys are Lonissera fragrans and Sarcocca. The Golden Yew and Callicarpa are also favourites. Sadly I recently lost a Pittosporum which flowered almost non stop throughout the year. None of the flowers are large, you have to go into the garden to search for them but are a delight when found, also, most of them have a delicious scent. I have tried Corylopsis and Chimonanthus but not succeeded yet, I also have some camellias which flower from October through to March. The hardy cyclamen are in flower now and will be taken over by the Coums from Christmas on.
My garden is never a riot of colour but I do not mind, finding tiny treasures on a miserable, dark wet, windy day is pleasure enough for me.

 

I must admit, there aren't many evergreen plants that I like, so I chose to focus on plants that I love and take the hit in Winter instead. (I despise Winter anyway, I would much rather fast-forward to Spring).

Having said that, there are some plants which keep it going to an extent:

• Twisted hazel: Winter interest doesn't necessarily mean evergreen... We have a couple of dwarf twisted hazels which look better in Winter than when they have leaves. They look enchanted / witchy.
• Pyracanthas: I think they are underrated. I have 2 and they are the stars of the show in Autumn (with the abundance of orange/golden berries) and provide lots of evergreen foliage in Winter. Yes, they are spiky of course, but I actually like that.
• Sarcococca: while not the most exciting looking plant, they can grow in deep shade where other plants struggle, are evergreen and even flower in Winter. The fragrance of the tiny blooms is lovely.
• Lonicera Nitida Bagessen's Gold: It's all about placement with them in my opinion. I have 2 of them in areas where everything else is darker and they provide light and contrast while asking for very little. I have seen them covering large areas in public spaces or be used as hedges and they look rather boring like that, but when used as single plants to add touches of yellow /lime foliage among other plants, they are great.
• We do have some interesting evergreen plants in pots (e.g. bamboo, fatsias, pampas grass, cordylines, yucca) but due to the overwintering steps I take, I can't say they look amazing in Winter (grouping them together and when it gets really cold cover them with horticultural fleece). Perhaps I should go a bit easy with that this year and see how they do.