Early Winter Walk

Autumn has passed. Skeletal remains of leaves are everywhere, lots of crinkly brown shells upon the ground and others still clinging to trees.

I find a single oakleaf hydrangea leaf that still has its fall color. It is the last one, as far as I can see.

I appreciate the Spartan beauty of winter, especially on a pleasantly crisp day with a brilliant blue sky. I walk out on the patio and hear the call of two red tail hawks, soaring high overhead. I breathe in the air and smell the tea olives down in the arbor garden, their blooms tiny and obscure but with a wonderful fragrance that carries on the breeze. I realize this is a perfect day for an early winter walk, so I hurry back inside for my camera.

Back outside, I point my camera at some bright dogwood berries with the cerulean sky above them.

I walk a little farther and take a shot across the front lawn, a view stripped now almost to its essentials. Many dried Japanese maple leaves hold desperately to branches, but other trees are bare: 

Evergreens stand out and provide structure and color to the December garden. Below is a small sampling: Clockwise from top left: Rosemary; Deodar Cedar 'Feelin' Blue'; Japanese Cedar; Cryptomeria japonica.

A group of evergreen Nandina 'Firepower' grows next to the front parking court. These sterile nandinas provide a lot of color through the winter:

Another evergreen with winter interest is Pieris japonica 'Cavatine', laden with buds that will open next spring:

I walk along a path that leads to the arbor garden. I recently planted several Winterberry hollies next to this path. 'Winter Gold' is filled with golden berries that the birds will soon consume:

The bark of a large oak tree catches my attention. Moss highlights the bark's lattice pattern:

Near the oak I spy some acorn shells:

Edgeworthia is a deciduous shrub with wonderful structure, cinnamon-colored bark and outstanding buds that will open in late winter:

Eventually I wander over to the woodland garden, where fallen leaves are thick upon the ground. Lou works hard to keep the paths cleared, but the leaves come quickly behind him. In places the path is nearly obscured. I have been out for a while now, and it is late in the day. Long shadows stretch across the land.

I realize the sun is beginning to go down, and the air is suddenly cold. The days are so much shorter now. I pause to take one last photo, this one of the jasmine arch, lit up for Christmas. The light is just dim enough for the lights to be seen. 

I am content as I enter the house. A walk in the garden always refreshes my spirit, and it has given me unrushed time to reflect upon the Christmas season. Peace to you all!   Deb

Blooms, Berries, and Bark for Winter Interest

From across the drive into Aldridge Gardens I noticed the flowering apricots.I took a photo from a distance, but I decided a closer view could be worth it. The air was frigid, and low, gray clouds threatened to dump icy rain as I hauled myself out of the car and headed across the soggy lawn. Only a dedicated gardener, I thought...

WHAT IS THAT FRAGRANCE?

I smiled and congratulated myself on an unexpected reward, as a deliciously sweet, spicy clove scent welcomed my approach to the beautiful little trees in front of the entrance to the Gardens. These tough trees grow to about 15' to 30' tall and often nearly as wide; and their winter blooms, which can occur from December to early March, are a welcome sight in hardiness zones 6 to 8. 

Prunus mume 'Bridal Veil' has a strongly weeping form and palest pink, semi double blooms, opening from pink buds:

Prunus mume 'Kobai' has semi-double, deep pink flowers:

Prunus mume 'Josephine' has pale pink, single blooms:

Blooms are alway a delight in the depth of winter, but I found other beautiful features at Aldridge Gardens, as I hurried through on business. Hurried? No, that is the wrong word! My feet slowed, and my camera automatically started shooting when I passed Ilex latifolia, AKA lusterleaf holly, full of brilliant berries:

Lusterleaf is one of those hollies that needs a male companion for fruit production. This one is obviously having a pretty good love life! The trees are good for wildlife, providing both food and shelter. These hollies do well in dappled shade at the edge of woodlands. They will grow in most soils in hardiness zones 7-9, but they need space, as they will grow up to 32' tall and about 16' wide.

Closer to the office, my ultimate destination, my feet slowed again. I am a lover of crepe myrtles, and I am always filled with joy to find a mature specimen that hasn't been "murdered". ("Crepe murder" is the term given to the bad habit of whacking crepe myrtles back to thick stubs in an effort to control their size.) This 'Natchez' crepe myrtle has been judiciously pruned over the years to allow it to reach its full potential:

While there is nothing prettier than a crepe myrtle covered with summer blooms, the sculptural quality of the tree and its peeling bark is an outstanding feature in the winter landscape.

So a quick visit to pick up papers turned into blessings from the garden. Winter interest is all around. We just have to keep our eyes open and let our feet slow a bit to appreciate it.