Garden Notes - Winter Gardeningby Karen Bert Now that fall has definitely arrived, what do gardeners have to look forward to? Winter doesn't have to mean the end of gardening, if one has planned ahead. I have been working towards having something in bloom every month of the year, so that I won't dread winter quite so much. Here in the mild Pacific Northwest that goal is actually attainable. The first plants to consider are winter flowering shrubs. Daphne odora is a slow growing shrub that is prized for its pre-spring, fragrant pink-red blooms. Daphne odora needs good drainage with at least three hours of shade daily. Chimonanthus praecox, or wintersweet, also presents its superbly scented blooms in mid-winter. Plant wintersweet in a sheltered place, where it enjoys fertile, well drained soils. Another winter-bloomer is Jasminum nudiflorum, or winter jasmine, a dependable shrub with yellow tubular blooms that are, sadly, not fragrant. Winter jasmine is very hardy here in our maritime climate and is not picky about soils and sunlight. It is especially rewarding spilling over a bank or wall. Witch hazels are winter-flowering and perform wonderfully as cut flowers. There are many varieties of witch hazel, all sharing the small fragrant flowers and offering the bonus of spectacular autumn foliage. Hellebores are the only perennials that bloom reliably in winter, but the value of this plant makes up for a scanty selection! Hellebores are shrubby plants that have clusters of cup or bell shaped flowers, usually shades of green, white or pink-purple. Hellebores like moist humus-rich soil with some shade. There are many varieties to choose from, all of which often spread readily from seed. Pulmonaria, commonly known as lungwort, makes a good companion to hellebores and blooms in April-June. Bulbs offer the impatient gardener a way to rush spring a bit. Eranthis hyemalis, the winter aconite, can be relied on to bloom in mid to late winter. Its yellow buttercup-like blooms bring a welcome ray of sunshine to the gloom of winter. Snowdrops also bloom very early and increase readily if happy in their location. There are many dwarf iris that bloom in late winter if planted in a sheltered spot. Iris reticulata blooms in February-March and is available in blues and purple. Iris danfordiae has a tiny yellow bloom that I use in pots to enjoy at close range. Iris unguicularis, the winter iris, appears in January-March, with lavender blue blooms. This iris attracts slugs, so beware! Chionodoxa, the glory of the snow, is a tiny bulb that is available in white or blue. I prefer the blue form, a particularly vivid contrast to the winter landscape. These bulbs are small so it takes a lot for a good show, but they are inexpensive and multiply quickly. Probably the best known early bulb is the crocus. I like the species crocus, which bloom even earlier than the giants and have a elegance that the larger blooms can lack. These small treasures come in many different colors and look good planted in clusters and scattered through the lawn. With a little foresight and imagination, the garden can provide visual relief even in the darkest months. Now is the time to do some surveying and plan for your winter garden. While a winter garden won't completely cure those seasonal blues, it can offer a hint of spring and a bit of cheer. Karen Bert is a staff writer for the Green Pages.
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