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Blog 2 - Foxhollow in Winter (25th January 2009) The garden in winter can be a magical place and should never be overlooked and left until the early signs of spring start to appear. Some plants are at their best at this time of year. The middle of winter is when many conifers really come into their own, and their foliage colour can be suprisingly rich and varied. Combine this with the alluring shades of dried grasses and the low mounding carpets of winter-flowering heathers, and you have a scene that will rival anything presented by alternative plantings. Because of our maritime climate, situated as we are near the south coast of England, snowfall is a rare occurence at Foxhollow and so misty and frosty days characterise and capture our winter scenes. When viewed in the early morning this always seems to have a enchanting effect on the garden.    Conifers and ornamental grasses provide the
main structure in this early morning scene
at Foxhollow. See how the dried flower heads
of Miscanthus ignite and provide contrast
to the conifers when back-lit by winter sun. Dried flower heads of Miscanthus sinensis
'China' contrast wonderfully against
the blue foliage of Abies lasiocarpa 'Compacta' Liquidambar stryaciflua 'Gum Ball. Always
reluctant to shed its foliage and shown here
in late December highlighted by early morning
frost. Close up of the foliage on Chamaecyparis
lawsoniana 'Rijnhof' enhanced by
a sparkling frost   The changing light is one of the most wonderful
aspects of the garden in winter. Here, the
frost highlights and distinguishes the contrasting
foliage of the ornamenetal grasses, conifers
and heathers and achieves an enticing effect.   Cones from Picea abies 'Acrocona'
displaying a light dusting of frost. Pinus mugo 'Carstens' (syn. Carsten's
Wintergold) reacts dramatically to shorter
days and lower temperatures by changing colour
from a light green to an almost orange gold,
to brighten dark winter days   A young Pseudotsuga menziessii 'Hvozdany'
contrasts nicely between a trio of
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'. The garden is transformed after an overnight
frost and once again the dried foliage of
ornamental grasses contrasts vividly with
the more subdued tones of dwarf conifers.  _orientalis_'Minima'.JPG) Nadina domestica 'Fire Power' delicately
sprinkled with frost Platycadus (Thuja) orientalis 'Minima'
is one of those rare conifers that can be
justifiably considered a plant for all seasons.
New growth is cream in spring, changing to
light green in summer and here displaying
its deep reddish-bronze tints in winter.
Not often seen in gardens and should be more
widely available. | |
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