Like Nut says, it is simple. A year round garden should have something of interest all year.
I do think it is easier to achieve in a larger garden, although there are other drawbacks of that. Tonight for instance I had to walk the 100 yards to the greenhouse in a gale, with heavy snowy/rain.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I've only a small back garden but planted with the idea there would be some green during the winter months.
There are a couple of variegated shrubs which keep their leaves and the hedge stays green throughout the year. I've a couple of clematis which flower during the winter months, although only one has ever flowered in December.
I take pleasure in our countryside at this time of year, which is certainly like an all year garden. The season changes are a necessity to allow plants to die back, build up stores for an explosion of regrowth and colour in Spring.
For me it's about interest and I enjoy the seasons, for me seeing the die back in autumn herald's the coming of winter, I enjoy the garden covered in snow, the uncertainty that some plants might not get through adds to the pleasure when they start to flower.
I have more herbaceous perennials / bulbs than structural evergreens. I just dont have the space to fit lots of winter interest plants, I ve got the odd plant here and there but not a lot. I personally rather have more exotic plants than have evergreens taking up space.
I have leaned a bit more this year on structural perennials but I am unsure yet how much I like having dead plants used as structural interest . I am also considering some bux balls/cones mixed in, which would leave more formal garden when the H perennials die back.
If I had the space I would love to have a large witch hazel.
My winter garden is much smaller than my summer garden.
In June we walk the dogs right around the whole 2 acre patch last thing in the evening. I see the young conifers that are right at the far western end, planted to hopefully provide wind shelter in time, and the newly formed pond, slowly filling with rainwater in the northwest corner. I see the self seeded hawthorn, popping up in the far south eastern corner of my little 'orchard' (5 trees), walk amongst the wild carrot that grows shoulder high in huge swathes all along the southern edge.
In spring and autumn 'the garden' shrinks to the mown paths up the east gate that we go out of to walk the dogs, and down to the ancient beech tree which dominates the western view from the house, and in between, the veg garden and the two areas that I've carved out of the weeds to make into ornamental gardens, close to the house.
In winter it's down to just the veg patch and the west garden as seen from the big window at the front of the house, plus the few feet either side of the dog walk route that I pass through while walking head down with hood up into the driving rain.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Reading all the posts, it is clear that a year round garden means different things to different people.
Let's celebrate our differences.
As Hosta says, it is what you find beautiful, that is the only important thing.
I am sure most of us plan to make our gardens a little bit more beautiful each year. In my case I am hoping that I never reach a point, where I feel I can't improve on it.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Posts
Right, I thought you meant they wouldn't grow there Verdun
In the sticks near Peterborough
Like Nut says, it is simple. A year round garden should have something of interest all year.
I do think it is easier to achieve in a larger garden, although there are other drawbacks of that. Tonight for instance I had to walk the 100 yards to the greenhouse in a gale, with heavy snowy/rain.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I've only a small back garden but planted with the idea there would be some green during the winter months.
There are a couple of variegated shrubs which keep their leaves and the hedge stays green throughout the year. I've a couple of clematis which flower during the winter months, although only one has ever flowered in December.
I take pleasure in our countryside at this time of year, which is certainly like an all year garden. The season changes are a necessity to allow plants to die back, build up stores for an explosion of regrowth and colour in Spring.
For me it's about interest and I enjoy the seasons, for me seeing the die back in autumn herald's the coming of winter, I enjoy the garden covered in snow, the uncertainty that some plants might not get through adds to the pleasure when they start to flower.
Last edited: 06 November 2016 23:28:35
I have more herbaceous perennials / bulbs than structural evergreens. I just dont have the space to fit lots of winter interest plants, I ve got the odd plant here and there but not a lot. I personally rather have more exotic plants than have evergreens taking up space.
I have leaned a bit more this year on structural perennials but I am unsure yet how much I like having dead plants used as structural interest
. I am also considering some bux balls/cones mixed in, which would leave more formal garden when the H perennials die back.
If I had the space I would love to have a large witch hazel.
Last edited: 06 November 2016 23:29:58
*snort*
My winter garden is much smaller than my summer garden.
In June we walk the dogs right around the whole 2 acre patch last thing in the evening. I see the young conifers that are right at the far western end, planted to hopefully provide wind shelter in time, and the newly formed pond, slowly filling with rainwater in the northwest corner. I see the self seeded hawthorn, popping up in the far south eastern corner of my little 'orchard' (5 trees), walk amongst the wild carrot that grows shoulder high in huge swathes all along the southern edge.
In spring and autumn 'the garden' shrinks to the mown paths up the east gate that we go out of to walk the dogs, and down to the ancient beech tree which dominates the western view from the house, and in between, the veg garden and the two areas that I've carved out of the weeds to make into ornamental gardens, close to the house.
In winter it's down to just the veg patch and the west garden as seen from the big window at the front of the house, plus the few feet either side of the dog walk route that I pass through while walking head down with hood up into the driving rain.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
For me, a year round garden is one which gives pleasure all year round.
For me, that doesn't have to include flowers every day of the year, for others it does ,and that's fine.
In winter, a nicely clipped piece of topiary,reflections in a pond or just the contrast between a clean line of a path and a lawn all give pleasure.
Reading all the posts, it is clear that a year round garden means different things to different people.
Let's celebrate our differences.
As Hosta says, it is what you find beautiful, that is the only important thing.
I am sure most of us plan to make our gardens a little bit more beautiful each year. In my case I am hoping that I never reach a point, where I feel I can't improve on it.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border