Monday, October 15, 2012

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.






46 comments:

  1. You have some beautiful roses in the winter garden Holley! At least by having a winter garden, you have an area of special interest when most of the garden will be on winter slumber :)

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    1. Yes, I never really cared for separating flowers by their season before, but I think I'm actually going to love having an area I can go in the winter and still see something blooming.

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  2. Your Souvenir de St. Anne's is a beauty! And your boxhedges winter garden bed looks promising, when plants start to grow it can go fast and than they grow over the boxhedges.

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    1. Oh, I hope that soon this bed will like like more than just boxwoods! The hardest thing for a gardener to do sometimes, I think, is wait!

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  3. The cyclamens are very deep red color! I love them, often buy pots of cyclamens in fall, they bloom and... die. I can't store them in winter time. Happy gardening in fall!

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    1. Yes, I expect these will die, too. I have some from last year that are emerging again, but not yet blooming. Not sure they ever will.

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  4. So much going on in your garden - and all lovely!

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    1. Yes, this is a great time of year - actually better than summer!

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  5. Very pretty Roses and I am way envious of the Abelia. I'd like to have one but they like more acid. If they kept them locally I would have probably tried one but I figure since they don't carry them anywhere, they must not do well here.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Yes, that's a bad sign. If no one grows them, they are probably not happy there. Our soil is acidic, and they are grown quite commonly around here.

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  6. Your roses are beautiful! My handful of roses are enjoying the cooler fall temperatures. I am impressed especially by your Souvenir de St. Anne and the pink spider! Your winter garden reminds me of my Lady Garden, where I am waiting for all the little plants to mature and fulfill my dreams. We gardeners must either be patient, or else exceptionally wealthy to afford instant gratification. I am very patient!

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    1. I am patient, too. But it's hard. I read about people moving large trees (at a large expense, I imagine) and I just wonder if they can keep it alive. I think smaller plants would have a better rate of success. I would want a guarantee if I moved something large like that!

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  7. Hi Holley, I think it is a great idea to plant a winder garden (and I envy you that your garden is big enough that you are able to do it)! The plants, which are growing there already look great and I am sure that this part of the garden just needs a little bit more time to mature so that it is more of an eye catcher. Would love to see some whole garden shots from this area!
    Christina

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    1. The problem with whole garden shots here is that all you see are the boxwoods. Right now, you really do have to go up and peer down into each area to see what is growing there! The roses are the only things that are big enough to really see - and only because they were planted years ago, before this area became mostly shady. (Planting trees will do that eventually!)

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  8. That spider is awesome! I've never seen anything like that before :-D All your photos are so lovely, and I'm amazed at how delicate and full your blooms are. You really have a talent for growing beautiful flowers :-)

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    1. It's the weather. In summer it's so hot here, most everything goes dormant. Give us a little cooler weather, and they are all happy to bloom!

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  9. Incredible blossoms and that little pink spider is just the best!

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    1. I almost stuck my nose in the rose before I saw her!

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  10. I dont usually like spiders, but that pink one is very cute, the roses are looking beautiful too. HGBBD.

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    1. I thought she was very pretty in her pink outfit, too! :)

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  11. It is so marvelous to have gardens spatially arranged according to seasons! I will be thrilled to see gardens like that. In our climate of only two seasons, most plants continue growing from 1 season to the next until they really reach old age, die or pulled out. Your roses are always awesome, here they are very susceptible to pests and diseases, so not commonly planted.

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    1. It must be wonderful to have plants continually growing, but I can see where they would eventually just give out. I guess I should be thankful for our winters, and I am glad that they are usually mild. I guess the plants really do need a break!

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  12. You wintergarden is looking lovely already! I love the Souvenir de St. Anne's - with a matching spider :-)

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    1. I can't wait for the camellias to start blooming! I don't have the best area for them, so I don't always succeed with them, but I love them. This winter garden was just an excuse to acquire more!

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  13. Autumn's arrival in your garden is beautiful as you plan your winter garden. I am hoping to someday concentrate on more plants for winter. I am looking forward to seeing more of yours as the season arrives. Enjoy your autumn!

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    1. It is a challenge to find plants that will grow in dry, full shade, and bloom too! I'm little by little learning what will work here and what won't.

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  14. That pink spider is waaay cool!

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    1. I've read it's a flower spider (a kind of crab spider) - and that they can turn colors to match the flower they're on!

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  15. I am loving your roses! (And the pink spider!) That's one thing that I'm sadly missing in my garden... I need to rectify that when I move. Yours are so pretty. :-) Happy GBBD!

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    1. I hope when you move you get the garden of your dreams - and lots of roses!

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  16. Funny, that there's a pink spider! Never seen before... Beautiful roses.

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    1. Isn't the spider quite pretty in that delicate pink color? Very good camouflage!

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  17. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your winter garden in the coming months. I hope your cyclamen survives - they are my favourite little winter treasure in the garden!

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    1. I hope they survive, too. They are so bright and cheerful!

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  18. I look forward to seeing the winter garden as it grows up! Sadly, I lost most of my camellias from the drought and heat this summer, so there went my winter border. I have one left in a different corner, though, that is budding.

    The Souvenir de St. Anne's is beautiful. I have Souvenir de la Malmaison, and it is so hard to photograph that beautifully delicate pink! Roses (and flowers in general) are so often more beautiful in person, especially with the full effect of the fragrance to enhance them.

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    1. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your camellias. I have lost a few, too, but I love them so much I keep acquiring more. I can't wait for mine to get a little more mature. Right now, most are just tiny things! You are right about not being able to photograph the delicate pink of some roses. And if we could only have the fragrance coming through our computers - that would be a real marketing tool, wouldn't it?!

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  19. Love all the pinks in your garden. The Clematis is a real beauty.

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    1. I always forget it's there until it starts blooming again. I need to prune it!

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  20. Hi,

    I regularly have roses blooming into November and December, especially the iceberg rose, which most years only ever stopped when it snowed!
    Sadly I've had to get rid of it, but would like a climbing Iceberg instead because its blooms are so pretty :)

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    1. I have an iceberg, well, two actually, planted together. I have never seen a climbing iceberg, but I bet it would be a very pretty rose. I hope we both have a mild winter until December so we can enjoy our roses!

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  21. Even if the pictures don't do her justice, I very much like Souvenir de St. Anne - that soft, soft pink! I still have a couple of roses blooming, 'Cassie' and 'Darlow's Enigma'.

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    1. I just love that roses bloom for so very long - spring, summer, and fall!

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  22. How I would love to see clematis bloom again and roses until November...how lovely a winter garden...my winter garden needs a bit of imagination to see...it is spent flowers browning and catching snow and the red stems of dogwood...I would love to have yours.

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    1. I think gardens with structure in the snow are so very pretty. Since it doesn't snow here (often) and a lot of our perennials don't quite go dormant, I'm hoping this will be an area that looks pretty, instead of just half dead!

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  23. Holly do you have any clematis growing in with your roses? I have several but not in with the roses. I am thinking about trying that with getting more bag for my buck in my small garden. Also do you know the best time to transplant camellias? Have you ever grown the clematis from seeds??? I love reading your post. Thanks for sharing

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    1. Gwen, I dont' have any clematis growing in with my roses, but I've seen that in pictures and think it's so very pretty. I think it would be very lovely. Transplant camellias now and until the ground gets hard - they are actually dormant in the fall and winter when they are blooming. The first year, they may drop all their buds, preferring to put down roots instead of blooming, but the next year they should bloom for you. I have never grown clematis from seed, but they are so very expensive I think it would be worth a try! Thanks so much for commenting!

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