December nursery walkthrough

Monday 7 December 2009 - Filed under Nurseries + Plants

I think a chilly blustery December day is a great time to check out what’s happening at the nursery. You get the place mostly to yourself, and have plenty of time to appreciate the subtle charms of the plants that are still putting on a show. I took some time to check out the stock at Garden Fever this weekend while stocking up on mulch and bird food on Saturday.

Having watched the leaves on a few frosty mornings recently, it occurred to me when I came across some Astelia, they have a permanent look of frost tinged leaves. Usually I’m looking for ways to bring elements of the summer garden into the winter, but with Astelia, you can take a little winter with you into the rest of the year.

Saxifraga stolonifera ‘Maroon Beauty’ has hairy evergreen leaves that remind me of something…

Corylus avalanna ‘contorta’, Harry Lauder’s Walkingstick, dripping with its yellow winter catkins.

Who knew Burning Bush (Euonymus Alata Monstrosa), has such interesting stems? Not me. This is one of those plants that gets used so frequently I get a little tired of seeing it, but these stems have made me reconsider.

Peeling bark on Diablo (ninebark) on the left, and unmarked birch on the right.

Still more ways to keep the winter garden interesting. Hope everyone had a chance to have some cozy time in front of a fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa or some such delicious beverage. The first week of December just flew by, I’m trying to remember to appreciate it while it lasts.

2009-12-07  »  megan