When the deciduous leaves have fallen and frost has swept away the remaining flowers, winter structure in our gardens takes on an important role….
Winter structure in the garden can refer to many things. Plants, terraces, paths, lawns, steps, pots, a summerhouse, a garden shed and of course the wider landscape….they all paint a picture as we look out of the window on a winters day.
The fabulous, low espalier in the main picture above is a weeping blue atlas cedar – Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’
Clipped Evergreens For Winter Stucture
Here, I’m looking (mostly) at evergreens, many of which are clipped. Two fabulously versatile plants for summer and winter structure are Taxus baccata (Yew) and Buxus sempervirens (Box). They lend themselves so well to the art of topiary, making them ubiquitous throughout European gardens. Here, I have chosen some of my favourite British gardens in which to showcase them…..
Trees, Shrubs and Ground Cover For Winter Structure
Coloured trees barks and undulating ground cover come into their own in winter. Without summer’s leaf cover and showy flowering plants, the skeletal structure of the trees are revealed.
And evergreen ground cover plants such winter flowering heather become a showy winter attraction. Here are some of my favourites…..
Most of these design ideas for winter structure (with one or two exceptions) are perfectly achievable…..
Why not visit one or two of the gardens….I promise you won’t be disappointed !
So whilst you’re sitting by the fire on a cold winter’s day, look out of the window and think about what you might like to achieve in your garden.
Take a look at my blog on Clipping Box Topiary
And some of the gardens featured here…..