Garden plan

Garden development

The garden in February

Things to do in the garden in February:

• Cut the fruit trees
• Sort out the garden shed
• It is not too late to cut down the Autumn Bliss raspberry branches
• Spread compost by the roses
• Start cultivating seeds in doors or in the green house
• Protect young perennials and roses from frost
• Start planning the summer's flowerbeds and kitchen garden

Flowers after Christmas

The black hellebore, or lenten rose, is one of the winter garden's few bright spots. It thrives in shadow. In Ida's garden we have relocated all the hellebores and planted them together on the North side of the house next to the entry. Helleborus orientalis is perennial with deep green leaves and flowers that range from green to purple. This purple example is a hybrid of Helleborus niger, the genuine Christmas rose, which is not as hardy.

Hellebore with snow

White Christmas Rose

Helleborus niger on one of the few snowy winter days. With beautiful, sometimes pink-flushed, white flowers from January to March it is perfect for brightening af shady bed. It is one of the earliest flowering plants. Hellebores like this used to be planted close to doors to prevent evil spirits from slipping in.

A rose for Christmas

Astilbes feathers

The winther garden can appear more interesting if the beautiful dried flowers of the perennials are not cut down in autumn. Here the dried spikes of the astilbes (Astilbe arendsii) are adding some character to the otherwise dull winther flowerbed. Astilbes have long lasting, feathery plumes and are easy to grow. Astilbes come in white, light and dark pink, red and even lavender. They require light shade to thrive. The height of the plants varies from 10 inches to 4 feet or even higher.

Pine tree

Pine trees adds character – and neat cones - to the garden during winter. Pines are so-called coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. Pines are attractive ornamental trees in larger gardens. Dwarf cultivars are suitable for smaller gardens. We don’t know the species or cultivar of this pine – but it is one of the gardens only trees and therefore always appreciated, especially in wintertime. The greenery and cones are nice looking in decorations.

Pine tree - spectacular in winter

Corkscrew hazel

We are very pleased with the garden’s little contorta (Corylus avellana), even if it is located in a silly place among other bushes unaccording with the new garden plan. When we took over the garden we had to liberate the contorta from a wild growing elder and we hope that is will grow bigger and more beautiful now that is will get more light. The characteristic gnarled branches are very intereting to look at. The straight branches shooting up from the stem must be cut off or they will outgrow the decorative twisted ones. Along with snowdrops and aconites the contorta is one of the highlights of the garden in wintertimes. But it is decorative all year round, particularly with crocuses or hellebores as groundcover.

Twisted branches of corkscrew hazel

Beech hedge

The crisp winter leaves of the beech hedge is covered by snow. The warm bronze colour is a welcome alternative to the evergreen plants in the winter garden.

Beech hedge - crisp bronze foliage with snow cover

The garden in January
The garden in March
The garden in April
The garden in May
The garden in June
The garden in July
The garden in August
The garden in September
The garden in October
The garden in November
The garden in December