In the Garden: winter gardens

In the Garden

wINTER gREENS

By TINA WILL

Happy new year to all! Color is important to me, so when Winter arrives and takes most of it out of the landscape, I find myself buying more flowers for our table. But there are many beautiful shrubs and flowers outside at different times during this season. Outdoor garden tasks are few, but we chop and compost as many leaves as we can (collecting bagged leaves from neighbors) to use as a Winter mulch. Remember that feeding your garden soil with an organic compost is the best thing you can do to encourage healthy plant and root growth.

I don't know how we'd get through Winter without evergreens, and there are many that are ready to show off with or without a white backdrop of snow. Several holly trees: American, Chinese, and 'Meserveae ' (Blue) Holly have berries that ripen red now, and there is a yellow berried holly that is also wonderful against its foliage: Ilex x meserveae 'Golden Girl' and 'Golden Boy' (both are needed for flower and fruit set). These, and Virginia Juniper which has the loveliest blue berries, are visible on several of my walking routes. A favorite shrub of mine, and right by my front porch, is Camelia sasanqua 'Shishigashiri.' Don't let the name intimidate you. The abundant bright fuchsia flowers survive cold temperatures pretty well, and put a smile on my face and lift my spirit on dreary days. The bright pink against the dark blue-green foliage is an outstanding combination.

We love Ferns, and have three that stay green all year round: Autumn, Christmas, and Holly. They brighten up our front yard and back woods, too, which is otherwise laden with brown fallen leaves. My husband has added some flower like bells and a hardy resident ceramic gnome, which makes everyone smile, and delights the grandchildren when they visit. I'd plant more pansies, but I'd just be feeding the deer, so I wait for crocus and daffodils. My Dafs are already poking their green noses out of the ground. I still find this alarming, but it never seems to spoil the Spring show. Master Gardeners don't hibernate in the Winter. In December, we welcomed the newest class that took the MG training given by VCE Agent Guy Mussey this past Fall. On January 29, 2022 we will hold our celebration of National Seed Swap Day at the Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Stafford (across from Log Cabin Restaurant). Plan to join us to share seeds you've saved and want to share, pick up new seeds for 2022, and hear some informative talks. Our website: mgacra.org has information about the ideas that started the Seed Swap. (info.plantsmap.com/journal/saving-andsharing-seeds-for-a-seed-swap/). Please do not bring noxious weed seeds or invasive plant seeds. On April 2, 2022 we will hold our 9th Annual Spring Symposium: 'Made for the Shade.' Our website will have that information as well. We hope for a great and healthy new year for all, and we hope to see you at our events.

National Seed Swap Day January 29 Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Stafford (across from Log Cabin Restaurant)

Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County. She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com