Autumn Arrives in the Winter Garden

My garden is a summer garden.  Full sun in most areas, with roses thrown in anywhere space allows.  Summer fades slowly here.  The roses bloom well into October, possibly November, and some years even December!  I hate to see summer end.  But there is one area that makes me want to welcome autumn with open arms.

Do you remember last year when I decided to turn the boxwood garden into my winter garden?  Well, recently I was asked by a visitor why I hadn't mentioned the winter garden lately on my blog.

Uh, because it's not winter?

Honestly, the answer is because I've not paid it any attention.  I was busy this summer with other areas of my garden, and this part of the garden was completely ignored.

But lately, the winter garden has been on my mind.  After all, autumn has arrived, hasn't it?  It's hard to tell here.  I'm still wearing shorts and the temperatures still get up to 80 degrees during the day, but that's 20 degrees lower than our summertime highs, so I suppose it's as close to autumn around here as we get.

James Galway

James Galway is planted next to the winter garden, and he is at his best during our autumns.  Everyone that stops by remarks about how pretty this rose is.  And he really is quite handsome!  (And he smells great, too.)  They don't even glance at the winter garden.

But, if only they would look past James, visitors would see that there really are a number of things going on in the winter garden.

Three camellias planted in this garden (a 'finlandia variegated', a 'green's blue', and a new one planted just this year, 'autumn pink icicle') are loaded with buds.  No blooms, but a gardener doesn't need blooms to get excited.  Buds are exciting enough.

Of course, this bed has had its share of problems.  Earlier in the year, I killed a camellia (not enough water), and a cimicifuga (too much water) that was new and tiny.  Can you tell I had problems with the sprinkler system in this area?  I've replaced the cimicifuga, and am hoping I do better with this new one.  (I put it in a different spot.)

Another reason this bed is often overlooked is because most of the plants in this bed are young.  I try to tell myself that this is a garden hidden with a lot of little treasures to discover.  In reality, I'll be thrilled when the larger plants have matured enough to peek over the top of the boxwoods.

Two plants that are large enough to see are the roses that are planted here.  Souvenir de St. Anne's is planted next to James Galway, and she is looking very pretty right now.

This picture doesn't do her justice.  She is really a very delicate pink.

Souvenir de St. Anne's

Do you see the spider on her?  The spider has turned pink, too!

Carefree Beauty

Carefree Beauty is also blooming in this bed now.

And the abelia has been blooming most of the summer.  I am hoping next year will be the year it grows taller than the boxwood hedges surrounding it.

A clematis carries through the dark pink color scheme.

And if you look close enough, you will find another dark pink treasure - cyclamens.  Although these are newly planted, and an annual here, I'm hoping they are located in a position sheltered enough to make it through our winters.

I have a lot of hope for this bed.  As the days grow shorter, and the shadows grow longer, I find myself naturally drawn more and more to this area.  Perhaps it's the shade, perhaps it's the evergreens, perhaps it's the purple chrysanthemums I added to this area.  Perhaps it's just my imagination, but to me, it has the feel of autumn.  It's calmer, softer, more subdued.

In the rest of my garden, summer is no distant memory.  The roses are still blooming.  The lantana are still attracting butterflies.  Even the canna are performing as if it's July instead of October.

But autumn has arrived.  At least, autumn has arrived in the winter garden.

I'm joining Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers Boom Day.