IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
On 27th October ODGC were delighted to welcome again Pip Smith, garden designer and former Head Gardener at Wollerton Old Hall.
In autumn gardeners need to find interest in different ways. These include planting winter containers, hedge planting and mulching borders. Gardens tend to develop haphazardly and one of the most satisfying winter tasks is planning how to improve the garden for the following year, designing and compiling lists of plants.
Structure underpins all winter gardens. Hedging divides spaces and provides a backdrop. Trees, clipped columns and statuary provide focal points and water reflects light. Seedheads including teasel, phlomis, honesty and rudbeckia look striking in low winter light and provide a refuge for insects. Texture and movement can be provided by grasses, bronze pheasant grass and golden Libertia.
The winter gardener is spoilt for choice when considering colour. The Cornus genus provides many easy to grow varieties, ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ is one of the best with golden autumn foliage lasting into November to reveal cheerful red stems until Spring, Cornus mas produces tiny golden flowers in late winter. The many witchhazel varieties, e.g. ‘ Diane’ and pallida provide scent also as do Mahonia and Lonicera ‘Winter Beauty’ and should be planted close to a path or door to be appreciated. Snowdrops look good planted among the short black leaves of Ophiopogon and Cyclamen coum can be left to colonise drier ground.
Light is softer in winter and Pip advises planting something in pockets of light. The shining bark of Prunus serrula, the papery bark of Acer griseum or the twisted stems of Coryllus contorta look wonderful. Snow and frost add an air of mystery and transform the most ordinary of shrubs.
Helpfully, Pip provided a list of plants to add winter interest. His uplifting talk accompanied by a stunning slideshow showed that there is much to look forward to in the months ahead and certainly no time to hibernate.
Ghislaine Arundale
