Hello GPODers and Completely satisfied New Yr’s Eve!
To wrap up this yr I wished to rejoice some gardens that make this season so particular. Impressed by Carol Verhake’s beautiful submission of recent snow in her backyard (Recent Snow in Carol’s Pennsylvania Backyard), I dug into the Backyard Picture of the Day archive to seek out some fabulous winter backyard pictures that present how lights and dazzling decor are usually not wanted for an thrilling late-season panorama.
January in Carol’s Backyard
We’re kicking it off with the queen of the chilly season herself, Carol Verhake in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Carol has shared some beautiful pictures of her backyard coated in snow, however her panorama can also be full of crops that attain their peak in winter and placed on a spectacular efficiency with or with out the white stuff.
‘Amethyst’ witch hazel (Hamamelis ‘Amethyst’, Zones 5–8) is a fantastic shrub with reddish flower. The lengthy, slender petals open on heat days and curl up on the colder ones. Witch hazels are among the best winter-flowering shrubs, even in climates with very chilly, snowy winters.
Celebrating Winter Magnificence
Subsequent up we head to Wellesley, Massachusetts for the unimaginable shapes and patterns in Barbara Owen’s winter backyard. Her house is one other that highlights the extra magnificence a layer of snow can convey to a winter panorama.
The bushes outlined with delicate traces of snow
Mid-Winter in Lynne’s New Zealand Backyard
Switching gears, the winter backyard of Lynne Leslie’s in Wellington, New Zealand emerges when gardens within the Northern Hemisphere are at their summer season peak. Together with the winter season falling throughout a distinct time of yr, her backyard contains a distinctive array of crops all through its “down” time.
One other winter favorite is flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta, Zones 9–11). It grows so quickly that I need to reduce it again exhausting after flowering. Nice for choosing and such a brilliant gentle within the backyard.
Winter Favorites
I’m certain loads of readers dream of tropical winters (or doubtlessly escape chilly climates for sunnier climate down south), however different readers dream of snowy days from their warm-weather areas. Beth Tucker, who at present lives in Waxhaw, North Carolina, shared pictures of winter from her earlier house in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
My gnarled hazel, Harry Lauder’s strolling stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, Zones 3–9), after a snow. I cherished it finest within the winter when you possibly can actually see the form.
Winter Curiosity in Jay’s Backyard
Conifers are a few of the most colourful stars in a winter panorama, and Jay Sifford’s backyard in North Carolina is a masterclass in colourful bushes and shrubs. The award-winning panorama designer creates gardens that dazzle in each season, however his house panorama is one I all the time circle again to this time of yr.
One in all my favourite components of the backyard, notably in winter, is that this hillside full of conifers, heaths, and heathers. This view, taken from my lounge window, exhibits the scrim impact of the ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Zones 5–9) seed heads that I’ve planted as a part of my basis planting.
Winter Magnificence in Bonnie’s Backyard
After all, conifers aren’t the one foliage crops that showcase when climate will get cool. Bonnie Plikaytis in north Georgia has a beautiful mixture of evergreens in her winter backyard that present construction and coloration, in addition to some deciduous crops that hold offering curiosity when different leaves have already dropped.
Typically winter curiosity doesn’t come from an evergreen in any respect. The darkish burgundy coloration of the big leaves of this oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’, Zones 5–9) actually holds one’s consideration. (Notice that this shrub has grown a lot bigger than the anticipated measurement!) The photograph exhibits a Southgate® Grace™ rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth Ard’, Zones 6–9) within the foreground and a Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia, Zones 5–9) to the aspect.
Cleo’s Washington Backyard in Winter
A more moderen submission (from February of this yr) exhibits that there actually isn’t any restrict to the sweetness your can create in a winter panorama. Cleo Raulerson in Bellevue, Washington has shared her backyard by the seasons, so it was completely no shock that her winter panorama nonetheless displayed layers and layers of curiosity.
Layers on a backyard financial institution: purple berries of rockspray cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis, Zones 5–7); delicate protect fern (Polystichum setiferum, Zones 6–8); and ‘Speedy Silver Rose’ cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Speedy Silver Rose’, Zones 5–9) tucked in amongst mossy boulders.
Snow in Carla’s Backyard
One final celebration of snow comes from Carla Zambelli Mudry in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Carla’s woodland panorama is stuffed with curiosity due to a variety of mature bushes and shrubs, however her winter panorama additionally highlights the significance of artwork for added curiosity when flowers and different backyard components are missing.
Carla’s owl sculpture, carved from the stump of a tree, appears to be like stunning every single day of the yr however is particularly magical within the snow.
Margot’s Winter Backyard
When the bottom hasn’t but thawed, containers can add fantastic splashes of coloration to winter gardens. This colourful creation from Margot Navarre in Bellevue, Washington was an important prelude to the snowdrops, cyclamens, crocus, and hellebores that flood her panorama in late winter and the earliest days of spring.
Cyclamen coum (winter cyclamen, Zones 5–8) has stunning leaves and it blooms in late winter to early spring. Leaves vary from strong silver to complicated patterns of silver and inexperienced, and flowers vary from white to darkish pink. Right here, two crops showcase in a container so you’ll be able to simply stand up shut to understand the element of their foliage and flowers.
Cherry’s Recent Winter Wreaths and Swags
Lastly, we will’t discuss winter with out speaking concerning the decor, and Cherry Ong in Richmond, British Columbia takes wreath making to the following degree. Cherry has despatched many spectacular designs through the years so it was practically inconceivable to choose only one to showcase. This silvery blue creation is only one of many favorites.
Darkish and stylish wreath for a pal who loves horses.
Components:
Laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus, Zones 5–7) berries
Silver greenback eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea, Zones 8–11)
Silver Bell eucalyptus pods
Black velvet ribbon
Decoration of your selection – my selection for this reward was a cowboy boot
Thanks to the entire contributors who’ve shared their winter gardens through the years (featured right here, or not), and thanks to the entire gardeners who’ve shared their beautiful gardens this yr. I hope you all had an important 2025, and if the yr introduced its fair proportion of struggles then I hope that 2026 brings you a bit of bit extra peace and positivity.
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