By Carol Kagan, Master Gardener
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| Wind gusts to 30 mph |
Stopping by the office today, the last day of the year, I
wandered among the Master Gardener Demonstration gardens checking out the
winter scene there. I had my camera with me so I snapped pictures. It was cold
and windy and, without gloves so I could work the camera, my hands were numb.
So here’s the 365th day of 2013 scoop.
In the Pollinator Garden the water fountain has been
winterized and covered and garden clean-up deferred until spring thaw. Leaf
litter is the winter home of hummingbird moths. Mason and leaf-cutter bees use
hollow twigs to nest.
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| Dried Hydrangea flowers still standing |
Clumps of dried grasses or hollow canes of hydrangea and
brambles are nesting sites if allowed to stand through the winter.
The Xeriscape Garden was prepped for winter but several
plants stood out showing examples of winter interest.
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| Amsonia |
Still showing a bit of autumn color and interesting shape is
the amsonia.
For the Herb Garden’s first winter, plants were pruned back and
mulched for winter using shredded mulch, leaves and corn husks.
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| Rosemary with burlap (L) & sheltered with mulch and trellis (R) |
Thyme is still green and doing well along the front edge and
the Fragrance bed still has the gray hues of lavender showing.
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| Thyme is still green |
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| Fragrance bed with gray lavenders |
Perhaps the Native Garden has the most variety of winter
interest with so many different kinds of plants - ivory colored dried goldenrod plumes, blue viburnum berries, red holly berries and the many shades of browns on the pin oak holding tight to its dried leaves.
There are also lots of dried grasses and seed heads, providing not only winter interest but maybe home and buffet for overwintering birds and insects.
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| Pink Hairwan Muhly Grass - fine dry wisps sway in the wind |
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| Yarrow (Top left), Goldenrod (Right) and I don't know (Bottom left) |
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| A bit of company on the walk - All photos by Carol Kagan |
Check out these links for information on winter
interest plants and more.
Winter Interest and InformationOverwintering Rosemary
Herb Garden: Final Touches
For more information on the Master Gardener demonstration
gardens, search in the upper left corner: Herb Garden, Pollinator Garden,
Xeriscaping, Perennial Garden, Native Garden, Victory Garden
