That will be one of those mystery questions such as how do you know no two snowflakes look alike? Are they all documented? & what are the odds of such an outcome? Hmmm better leave those questions to people with way more time on their hands.
If we stay on task, our goal is to add color to your garden over 52 weeks. We have spoken about approximately 50 plant varieties to week 8 – all of which are still offering interest and color to the garden in the first week of March – (if you would like to review them)
Oh there is more……..always more……..
The sweet taste and smell of Tea Berry Gum can bring back bright summer days to memory if you are familiar with it. Gaultheria procumbens – winterberry or teaberry – The plant the gum was created from is also hardy to our zone 5 and carries the cutest small oval evergreen leaves which may take on orange and red hues, adding winter interest in march – also bringing a blossom later in the season and carrying the sweet fruit all summer into the winter – One of my favorite fruits!
Or the giant Arundo Donax grass. This champion of size is great for the edge of the pond or an area you would like to corridor off – strong grower forming impressive walls of 7-8’ in height by 5-6’ width – very beautiful back drop amongst a snowfall.
There is also Liriope Big Blue, Silver Dragon, or Variegata – all of which are evergreen – some with lines of variegation – most will do well at a border or planted in clumps within the landscape to offer a bit of greenery where there may be no other – also carrying tiny berries atop delicate stalks which may be retained throughout winter. If you cannot find your lawn, maybe you can find your liriope.
More of the interesting groundcover type evergreens who offer a bit more interest are:
Evergreen Thymus – not only evergreen and fragrant – it may be used to cook with all year long as well as spring/summer blossom.
Japanese spurge – for the hardiness of cool winter colors in bronzes and yellows and continues into spring bringing even more interest to the garden
Groundcover Phlox – mostly know for the coverage of blossoms in early spring but not to be forgotten this time of year as it creates a bright green spot in the garden wherever it lies – always reminding you there are more flowers on the horizon
As Viktor E. Frankl once wrote “It is a peculiarity of man that he can only live by looking to the future – sub specie aeternitatis. And this is his salvation in the most difficult moments of his existence, although he sometimes has to force his mind to the task”.
In a winter as this one – I find his quote as pertinent as the next blossom!
