The winter container garden

Today it was a whooping 19 degrees, which is actually an improvement over some of our recent temperatures.

Most of us are dreaming, and remembering warmer days...... that is for the one's of us who don't much care for winter with it's snow and all.

Most gardens have been cut back, covered with snow and ice, and have been put to rest 

waiting the arrival of spring. Snow shovels have replaced rakes and trowels. Bags of soil have been replaced with bags of rock salt and a casual stroll through the garden has become a mad dash for the garage or the house. This is most peoples idea of winter.

Red's, purple's, pink's, and various shades of green, all colors of the garden have been replaced with grey.

If frigid was a color what would it be. 

The winter garden does not have to be bleak and colorless. This is a garden to be enjoyed from the inside, out of winter's harshness. This garden does allows green again, and can be beautiful.
With the addition of lights the winter garden can make the long nights of winter a little brighter, and a little warmer.

Evergreens, as their name suggest are evergreen, and find comfort in the winter garden

They come in an array of colors and textures, some with the added bonus of berries.

most importantly they come with strength, strength to handle what ever winter has up her sleeves

Along with using evergreens in my winter container gardens I like to use branches of red twig dogwood, yellow twig dogwood  and others. 

The last couple of years preserved Eucalyptus has become a favorite material, because of it's durability and colors.

Fake fruit is also a favorite. I like the Williamsburg look they give..... if that is in fact a look.

Pusy willow branches have a double purpose in the winter container garden. These reddish brown branches add height, and grace to an arrangement. These branches also are some of the first to flower in the spring when their Catskills shed and the velvet like buds come forth. Two for one, it's a win win thing 

The containers above feature another new material for me, Oregania, or a variegated boxwood. I think I'll be using it a lot more in the future.

Magnolia leaves are another favorite, dark glossy green on one side, velvety brown on the other. I special order these.

White pine

the tips remind me of a familiar pets tail bristly and soft all at the same time

The winter garden, with it's blanket of snow can bring much pleasure, it's a garden for the eyes 

Enjoy the season, this we like.