Georgia Magazine - December 2024 - 26

GEORGIA Gardens
Story and photos by Erica Glasener
Color and fragrance
in the winter garden
W
inter is the perfect time to appreciate the " bones "
of the garden. A well-designed garden uses
architecture and plants to define spaces and provide
structure. By incorporating paths, fences, walls, hedges and a
mix of plants-both evergreen and deciduous-with captivating
forms, textures and blooms, you can give your garden yearround
appeal.
While the vibrant rush of blooming plants in the spring
often overwhelms us, the winter garden offers a more subtle
beauty. It's quieter and requires a closer look to truly appreciate
its charm.
When you design your garden or make additions to it, be
sure to include at least a few plants that will shine in the winter
landscape.
Fragrant blooms
There's something special about plants that brave the
cold and reward us with flowers when we least expect them.
Some are not only colorful but also fragrant. Here are a few
" nose-pleasers " to consider.
Though not the most graceful shrub, Chimonanthus
praecox, or wintersweet, more than compensates with its sweet,
spicy fragrance. Its translucent yellow flowers, stained purple at
the center, begin blooming as early as December and often last
into February or March. This easy-to-grow shrub thrives in full
sun or part shade, making it ideal for the back of a border.
Available in white, pink and magenta varieties, Prunus
mume, or Japanese flowering apricot, also features bright-green
stems that add a splash of color to the winter garden. The
cultivar 'Bonita' offers a stunning display of pink flowers in
February and grows quickly, so it needs plenty of space. Both
single- and double-flowered forms are available.
Of the fragrant witch hazels that bloom in the cold,
Hamamelis x intermedia 'Primavera' displays spidery ribbons of
gold with a dark center. The blooms perfume the air with their
daffodil-like fragrance. A few cut branches for a vase indoors
will fill the room with their scent. Its large size makes it perfect
for the middle or back of a border. Pair it with evergreen hollies
or camellias.
One whiff of the intoxicating scent of winter daphne,
Daphne odora, and you'll be hooked. This evergreen shrub,
which grows to 3 to 5 feet tall, is a favorite in Southern gardens.
It can be planted in the ground or grown in containers, offering
versatility in garden design. Choose from solid green or
variegated leaf forms.
26 Georgia Magazine December 2024
Top: The petals of Iris unguicularis unfurl to reveal vibrant shades of
purple and yellow, adding color to late winter. Above: The soft-pink
blooms of Daphne odora produce a sweet fragrance. The plant pairs
well with white violas.
Bark
Some trees offer not only beautiful blooms and colorful
foliage but also interesting forms and structure. When
deciduous trees shed their leaves, their bark often becomes
the star of the show.
The bark of Japanese Stewartia, Stewartia pseudocamellia,
adds excitement to the winter garden with its peeling patchwork
of colors. The multicolored bark peels in strips of gray, orange
Georgia Magazine - December 2024

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