WINTER COLOUR IN THE GARDEN
It is very tempting in the winter months when the days are short and cold, to close the curtains on the garden and hibernate until spring.  However, it doesn’t need to be that way.

It only takes a single, brave flower to cheer you and warm the coldest day.  Winter colour in the garden can be provided by evergreen shrubs to give both colour and structure, shrubs CHOISYA and EUONYMUS are both hardy and have surprisingly bright foliage, made brighter by a dull day.  There are also shrubs for scent, even in the winter.  Planted by the front door they provide a welcome fragrance, examples are WINTER HONEYSUCKLE, CHRISTMAS BOX and DAPHNE.

Other reliable sources of colour are winter flowering bulbs.  Succession planting is the best – SNOWDROPS, CROCUS, DAFFODILS and by the time the TULIPS arrive, spring will have arrived.  Bulbs can also be planted in pots near the windows or doors, together with some winter bedding – PANSIES and PRIMROSES.

Something else that is often forgotten in winter is trees, apart from the silhouettes they can give against the sky, the bark of MAPLES, BIRCHES and PRUNUS can really come into its own during this time.

We mustn’t forget the Christmas Rose or HELLEBORES, with their evergreen foliage, they come into flower when it is needed most and with so many new varieties, showing variegated foliage and a host of different colour flowers, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

There will be no grass cutting to worry about in the depths of winter, so you can sit back and watch the wildlife going about their business.  Birds will enjoy any berries you have, these are commonly found on COTONEASTER and PYRACANTHA.  They may nest in the shrubs during the spring but will feast on the fruits in the winter.  IVY is another good cover for them, during the harshest of weather, it always amazes me how they survive.  If possible, it is always a good idea to leave some water for them, be it a bird bath or just a saucer – they need to drink to stay alive.

So pull back the curtains, sit in a warm, comfy chair and see how much colour you can actually see on a cold winter’s day.  There will be frost on branches, spiders webs on frosty mornings and watching the succession of flowers through winter helps time to pass and before you know it the snowdrops will be up and we will soon be on our way to spring!

Caroline Howells
All plants mentioned can be purchased at ARCH Plant Centre, Gosmore, nr Hitchin for more information Tel: 01462 420 598 or see www.arch.uk.com