Old Man Winter is at it once again!  He has been creating those strong northerly winds that can cut you like a knife, putting a layer of frost on the morning landscapes that can make pine saplings and cedars glow in the early daylight hours, burning our once beautiful perennials into an unrecognizable mass of straw and twigs, and making our once beautiful lawns turn into a dismal display of natural browns and khakis.

The Old Man can be cruel for sure, but all of this is not done in vain.  Winter is a time when certain species are in full glory.  Some of these plants have been waiting for their time in the spot light and have been producing buds and the promise of a colorful explosion for weeks on end.  Whether it is your favorite Camellia in your front yard inviting your neighbor’s eye for a visual treat, the vast sweeping bed of Nandina that lead you to your back yard, or the majestic Hollies that you have as specimen plantings hugging your property line, these plants have been patiently waiting their turn in nature to show you why they are in our plant palette.

An often overlooked quality of some plant materials is their ability to show off their branching structure and character in the leafless months of winter.  It is a great time to see why we prune as we do, and what a difference proper growing techniques and care can make to a ‘naked’ specimen.

Having said this, I invite you to spend time in your favorite garden and look for the hidden pleasures that the Old Man has been fortunate enough to bring into our lives.  Watch the birds feast on the red glow of Hollies.  Watch the people that drive by and twist their necks trying to take in all of the beauty of a defoliated Japanese Maple.  Enjoy the architecture of the trees and reflect on the work that was done to get them to where they are now.

Spring is just around the corner and when it arrives, it will bring new buds, colors, smells, textures and an array of other beautiful visual distractions.  These winter wonders will once again go into remission and patiently await their time to shine.  Until then, stay warm and challenge yourself to get out and find that hidden beauty in your favorite outdoor retreat.

Re-printed with permission - By Phillip Robinson 

Madison Planting and Design Group - Madison, MS 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm and is filed under Southern Landscape. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.