Garden thoughts on a cold Monday…

Larix decidua 'Varied Directions'… this plant with an amazing personality, resides in a friend's garden!

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Winter is upon us in Wisconsin… 8 degrees fahrenheit this past weekend, and so many windy days. I've heard it said that wind chill isn't an issue for plants, but it is for me. I tend to admire my plantings from every window in the house when it gets this cold. I actually walk from room to room and look over my little kingdom and the subjects that reside here. For me the gardens are home to a community of unique personalities… plant miracles from all over the world. From the individuals to the collective melting pot, the gardens are a joy in all seasons.

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Iris cristata… a spring gem, appreciated all the more because of its fleeting nature.

In my world, there are far too few foggy mornings…

The rock garden is home to subtle color contrasts and interesting textures… the miniature and dwarf conifers that reside here with companion plantings are an endless source of joy for me…

'Blue Rug' juniper and Montgomery spruces combine with a 'Floribunda' flowering crab apple, creating a layered effect that works well in all seasons… as a part of my garden community, it has a totally different feel than other areas of the gardens… not unlike the variety that exists in neighborhoods of cities and villages everywhere.

As in any community, citizens sometimes suffer from various afflictions, occasionally with a tragic end. This Magnolia soulangiana 'Brozzonii' was badly damaged by way of a late freeze this past spring.  While really only a 'teenager' in these gardens, sadly it has suffered to the extent that amputations of main trunks have been needed, and yet it continues in its brave battle and with luck, it may pull through… plants can be very resilient in their will to live, particularly if they are only beginning to experience the possibilities of what may be a very long life…

I have been considering what types of plants would work as a substitute for Japanese maples in combination with conifers. I am not pleased with how my JM's are doing in this climate and feel badly as I think they are the perfect companions to conifers. One plant that I am substituting is the tree peony. There is a certain amount of foliage color, a lot of foliage texture, and the added advantage of a couple of weeks bloom period. I've planted a dozen of them about the gardens this fall and over the course of a few years, we'll see how well they fill this void presented by failing JM's.

I find it interesting how our minds can somehow miss things that are totally obvious once we bring them to our attention. I'd never thought of tree peonies as three season plants in the past because I was so totally focused on their blooms. Actually with their craggy woody stems, a fourth season of interest (winter) is not totally out of the question. Of course, spring into early summer is when they really shine…

More thoughts on gardening next time… Larry

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