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December Garden
It's just one week away from the official start of winter and the daytime temperatures have been mild in the mid to upper-50's, and even a few days in the 60's, after a relatively dry summer and mild fall. The garden is gradually going to sleep, as it should this time of year; however, there are many reminders of past blooms with some new blooms waiting to make their winter debut. As an avid gardener I always strive to seek the inner beauty of a garden, past the blooms, for there are elements that can be even more prominent and appreciated during the winter months. Welcome to my December garden. Come take a stroll!
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| December Garden Greetings |
As the temperatures cool and leaves have gently fallen to the ground the garden has an inner beauty to reveal. Colorful evergreens, berry producing shrubs and deciduous trees with structural aspects add interest at this time of year. I for one have a need to enjoy my gardens throughout every season so I incorporate many of these types of plants into the master plan or grand scheme of things.
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| Blue Globe Spruce |
This blue spruce is a favorite for it displays its bright blue foliage throughout the entire year. The Nandina below exhibits bamboo-looking foliage and remains evergreen with berries appearing from fall and throughout winter.
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| Nandina domestica Berries |
I have also obtained a deeper appreciation for wild life as I get wiser in my years and now enjoy leaving some seed heads to over winter the birds. The dried blooms and seed heads also add some nice interest to the garden.
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| Nikko Blue Hydrangea Flower December |
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| Japanese Iris Seed Head |
One always thinks of azalea for their colorful blooms but the foliage of these in the back informal bed turn from green to a bright pinkish red in the cooler temperatures. It provides a nice display of color when blooms are absent.
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| Azalea Gerard's Crimson |
The Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar at the front driveway entrance is adding a little more blue to the scenery along with variegated liriope, mugo pine and juniper. I have always had an appreciation for evergreens and get even more enjoyment from them during the winter months.
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| Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar |
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| Weeping White Pine |
Weeping White pine is showing its pine cones next to the crimson leaves of azalea...
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| Endless Summer Twist & Shout Hydrangea December |
and lace cap hydrangea is showing delicate dried petals even though its flowers have faded.
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| Lacecap Hydrangea Flower Petals |
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| Sedum 'Brilliant' December Dried Flowers |
Sedum is always a pleasure in the garden. While 'Brilliant' is showing its interesting dried flower heads, 'Aurea' remains evergreen in December.
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| Sedum Aurea Groundcover |
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| Backyard View with Evergreens and Deciduous Trees/Shrubs |
In the backyard is a combination of evergreens and deciduous shrubs that highlight the season after the perennials have become dormant. The Magnolia in the back garden is already forming its buds for early next spring...
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| Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bud December (Close Up) |
and Spirea 'Lemon Princess' had sprouted new growth at the end of November. I am hoping that when the colder temperatures do arrive that it is not too suddenly, since some of the plants seem a little confused right now with the unusually mild temperatures. Forecasters are predicting an El Nino winter for the northeast with milder than usual temperatures and less snow.
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| Spirea 'Lemon Princess' December |
Could it be the opposite of last winter?...time will certainly tell.
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| Hellebore 'Shooting Star' Winter Bud |
Around to the north garden...I added this Hellebore 'Shooting Star' last year in an effort to gain more winter blooms. It is developing flower buds already which are such fun to watch. The buds will burst open when everything else is dormant and add extra joy to the winter garden.
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| Heuchera 'Caramel' December |
The 'Caramel' Heuchera is another favorite for it is more winter hardy and retains its caramel colored foliage while the other varieties of Heuchera usually die back in December. The leaves can turn a bit more bronze-like in colder temperatures but the foliage has remained in the past, even when snow has piled up on them.
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| Yaku Jima Maiden Grasses in Afternoon Light |
As the seasons change so does the lighting. These Maiden Grasses take on a whole new light (no pun intended) in the later day and are fun to photograph as well. The plumes here remind me of an underwater scene as they all gracefully flow downward.
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| Maiden Grass Winter Plume |
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| Weeping Japanese Maple December |
As the days get shorter the framework of the Weeping Japanese Maple in the front yard becomes more pronounced as the leaves no longer mask it and the artwork of the trunk becomes more noticeable with its twisting nature.
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| Crape Myrtle Bark in Sunset |
The interesting peeling bark of the Crape Myrtle takes on a new look as well as the sun slowly sets behind it and another day is done.
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| Garden Bear with Winter Greetings! |
I hope you enjoyed your walk through my December garden and all its changing views. Thank you so much for visiting and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well. Also...wishing everyone peace, joy and a very happy holiday season no matter what you celebrate.
And As Always...Happy Gardening!
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Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved
