LOOK OUT for WINTER

Winter can keep us inside. Even Caregivers who are gardeners don’t need to brave ice, snow, and that frigid wind. So what is a Caregiver to do on those days when going outside is not an option? It is a good time to check out your landscape from the inside. When you sit in that favorite spot with your morning cup of coffee, what do you see? It is time to start thinking about next spring.

Can you improve that view? You can plan now for the placement of annuals or perennials when spring arrives. They could be put in places that need more interest. Notice the plants that give you winter interest. Ornamental grasses are a year-round addition to the landscape. There are many to choose from. Consider how tall it needs to be for you to enjoy as you look outside from the inside. Some varieties can grow to 13 feet tall. Other grasses such as Liriope or blue fescue may be more the appropriate size. Shrubs can also give winter interest. Crape Myrtle or Oakleaf Hydrangea has exculpating bark. Harry Lauder Walkingstick shows off its intricate limb pattern in winter. There are several bushes that have berries that not only add interest to the view but also feed the birds. Most trees and shrubs lose their leaves. Some, like Yaupon Holly, begin producing numerous red berries. Yaupon Holly is considered an evergreen shrub. Coniferous shrubs give us the color green all winter and remind us that there is still life through the cold dark days. Perhaps there is a spot in your landscape where an evergreen would fit perfectly.

I believe most caregivers enjoy birds as well as plants. On a cold winter day, you might think of ways to attract more birds to your landscape. There again, position those attractors in places that add to your view as you look out your favorite windows. We can help birds by providing water, food, and shelter. Consider a water fountain in your viewing area. Running water will not freeze as fast and perhaps not at all if it is running. There are bird baths with heating elements built in. Birdbaths should not be located under feeders. Seeds and droppings soil the water quickly. On sunny days you could refill your birdfeeders. Don’t risk falling on ice or snow. Birds can get along fine without us. But we can enjoy them if we can entice them to our yard. Birds look for shelter to survive winter. Your landscape provides