The garden is almost gone, buried under layers of ice. The surrounding forest trees are much more prominent now and will have to carry the bulk of interest until spring. Even the structural elements--the gravel paths, stone walls, the pond--are invisible until the spring thaw.
The dark, leaden scaffolding of Baptisia australis (below) is still holding its own well against ice and snow, but the grasses are getting ragged and are ready for burning. The disappearance of most of the vegetable garden points up need for more structure at this time of year. The hornbeam hedge I started last year will make a strong winter statement, once it attains its "hedgeness."
And some other structural elements (columns, mounds, geometric shapes--of pruned shrubs, wood, stone, perhaps) may give just enough entertainment to the eye--strong, simple shapes contrasting with the busy, almost chaotic lines of the forest trees--without interrupting the view into the woods.
But on a day like today, the ethereal tracery of the trees, the washes of early morning sun light, the glimpse of the hill on the opposite side of the valley, just visible through the forest, are enough.
I could look at those woods endlessly and see something different as the light changed and therefore the pattern.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a backdrop that you have responded to and therefore rewards you when that is what you fall back to. But what a fall back to have!
Thanks for those photos!
Best
R
How magical to be surrounded by mature trees like that, I love the way they stand out from the snow.
ReplyDeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteThe lateral light of the early morning sun, particularly when there's a snow cover, carries the eye deep into the forest, where the sun lights the leaves of a host of young beeches still holding their orangey leaves. That's difficult to capture in a photograph from this distance, but it's another delight of this time of year.
Plantaliscious,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful with new fallen snow outlining their branches. I do wish I could push the tree line back about 50 feet, but that land belongs to the New Jersey Green Acres program and is off limits.
This is exactly what I love about four seasons gardening, having that huge change between them, being able to see the "bones" of the garden, and then experience the "flesh" coming back. Loved your wabi-sabi text, too, but was too buried in work to response. Have to come back to that...
ReplyDeleteIntercontinental Gardener,
ReplyDeleteYes, I could never live in a tropical climate, without seasons. By late April I'll be stir crazy with the thought winter will never end, but what a pleasure to see this miraculous cycle of change each year. And having many perennials and grasses is what makes the changes so astounding.
Its funny when my garden was covered in snow I became fixated with winter interest but then I decided that actually I dont like topiary and the such so I have stopped worrying. Glad the novelty of snow is still amusing you
ReplyDeleteLet's just say I'll never move to Florida, or back to Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteI'm just entranced by the colour of the sky
ReplyDeleteYes, the sky... I have great difficulty capturing the color of the sky. Not sure whether it's my equipment, or my lack of knowledge of photography, or both. My photos are put to shame by those of Les of A Tidewater Gardener. Check out his blog if you don't know it.
ReplyDeleteJames if I had those wide open views to the outside I would quite happily (and involuntary) put my feet up and stare at the snowfall like a child.
ReplyDeleteBefore, you've mentioned 'time for burning' perennials and grasses, do you burn some/all in situ recreating a natural fire, or am I completely missing this and you pile debris up somewhere and make a fire?
Rob, I burn in situ. I try to do it when there's still some snow cover just for safety. I use a propane torch, burning large grasses individually, but I do have to cut if the grass is too near a tree or shrub. Otherwise, goodbye shrub. After the snow melts, I burn smaller debris to clear off the land, but with most of the "fuel" already burned, this is small stuff. I go keep a hose with running water near to hand, just in case it's needed. The Miscanthus giganteus doesn't want to be burned (stems are too thick) so I have to cut and chop with electric hedge clippers.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are magical. Every time I see your garden I feel I need more trees, more shrubs, more bulk and less air, and yet air is very much a part of here. Maybe I will keep thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks beautiful dressed in snow. I imagine it is awesome in spring, summer, and fall. I have a small corner lot, but that's probably all I can handle, anyway.
ReplyDeleteelizabethm,
ReplyDeleteAnd I envy your air and your view. Air and space seem to be the nature of your garden, or certainly the view from your garden. I suppose we work with what we're dealt.
Corner Gardener Sue,
ReplyDeleteI've always liked corners for gardens. In fact would prefer that if I lived in a place with corners.