tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post1050790448017968134..comments2024-02-18T01:15:28.675-06:00Comments on Garden Fancy: Winter Interest in the Garden: Does it Exist?Garden Fancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-33750464976373611182015-01-26T12:27:52.233-06:002015-01-26T12:27:52.233-06:00Hi Kathy, Thanks for the recommendation! I was not...Hi Kathy, Thanks for the recommendation! I was not aware of this book, and have just ordered a reasonably-priced used copy of it to add to my growing collection of these books (I have found several more since I wrote this, and this will be number 10!). Nice review you wrote too. Thanks for visiting, and I look forward to reading more of your posts. -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-5589159715602292202015-01-25T17:30:28.086-06:002015-01-25T17:30:28.086-06:00I would like to suggest you add The Prairie Winter...I would like to suggest you add The Prairie Winterscape to your garden-in-winter book collection. I reviewed it <a href="http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/12/20/winterscape-not-winter-garden/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106962533729909868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-82400269359822071272015-01-25T12:01:35.079-06:002015-01-25T12:01:35.079-06:00Such a cosy corner.Such a cosy corner.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799594980600477320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-47380068741860263912015-01-09T19:19:11.103-06:002015-01-09T19:19:11.103-06:00Hi Stephen, I'm afraid the colors in the photo...Hi Stephen, I'm afraid the colors in the photo are not true to life -- I had to wait to ask my husband when he came home this evening (I'm slightly color-blind myself), but it's more of a green-tinged gold color than lime green. And I agree, water can be very interesting in all seasons; no garden is really complete without a water feature, they say. I sympathize with your cold days. Thanks for stopping by and keep warm! -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-34922421961614593372015-01-08T18:10:31.236-06:002015-01-08T18:10:31.236-06:00Great post! The color in that area rug in the last...Great post! The color in that area rug in the last photo is stunning! Is that lime green?! I love it. That room looks so warm and cozy. I think the best winter interest is water of some sort. It freezes, it thaws, the snow makes interesting formations on chunks of ice. I guess really I look at winter interest as things that will look pretty and interesting covered in snow. That's the only time I find the winter landscape particularly interesting! Brrrr -10 here and snowing. Stephen Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657698116552267561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-60655663303052860902015-01-08T17:19:53.351-06:002015-01-08T17:19:53.351-06:00Beth, Thanks for a great post. I'm in Zone 5 i...Beth, Thanks for a great post. I'm in Zone 5 in Wisconsin so I am familiar with everything you say. But I am a big proponent of winter interest. You inspired me to write my own post. <br />http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2015/01/winter-interest-yes-please.htmlLINDA from Each Little Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02380944603357066650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-26974471022524031022015-01-08T16:57:36.176-06:002015-01-08T16:57:36.176-06:00Thanks for adding that extra link. Helps to know t...Thanks for adding that extra link. Helps to know that stuff. I've made a page of what's going on here: http://janestrong.blogspot.com/Jane Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016381279699618539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-91851544226139111912015-01-08T14:11:06.175-06:002015-01-08T14:11:06.175-06:00Donna, That's a LOT of snow! That dwarfs what ...Donna, That's a LOT of snow! That dwarfs what we got here, certainly. I hope it provides good insulation for your plants in these cold temps. It's nice to have things to look at outside your windows, I agree -- and we're also in agreement that staying inside is prudent when it's cold! Thanks for stopping by, -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-40568857197653466122015-01-08T14:03:23.938-06:002015-01-08T14:03:23.938-06:00Hi Larry, I agree, looking out the window is impor...Hi Larry, I agree, looking out the window is important during the winter, even when there's a foot of snow covering everything. I've tried to plant some evergreen shrubs to see outside each window so there will be something to look at. Not too many birds here, as Puppy tends to get them, so I don't put out feeders. I'm glad you have much to occupy you over the cold months and that they pass quickly enough that you don't feel cooped up. I can't wait to see what your new magnolia looks like too! Thanks for reading! -Beth Garden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-90866377891181538492015-01-08T13:56:14.050-06:002015-01-08T13:56:14.050-06:00Rosemary, That's so wonderful that you live so...Rosemary, That's so wonderful that you live so close to Barnsley House and even knew Rosemary Verey! I have a number of her books and have read the biography of her that was published a year or two ago. I'm so happy to hear that she helped you begin gardening. I someday want to visit her famous garden, even in its current state. Thanks for reading! -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-16963118699624697402015-01-08T13:10:10.469-06:002015-01-08T13:10:10.469-06:00Not much to do here in winter when you average 120...Not much to do here in winter when you average 120 inches of snow...just got 18 inches in 5 hrs off the lake and sub-zero temps. I have plants that give winter interest even in snow and seedheads for birds, but my only gardening is indoors.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-47620022271829950512015-01-08T07:35:39.368-06:002015-01-08T07:35:39.368-06:00Hi Beth... You've been here... we hardly have ...Hi Beth... You've been here... we hardly have room to place furniture since virtually every exterior wall is windows that I installed specifically since I love the views from the house... I am not a winter person... the cold bothers my heart and lungs but I still enjoy the 'winter interest' of the gardens.... I can't tell you how many times a day I go to a window and pause to look at what's happening in the gardens... enjoying the views and the birds in particular.... as far as a winter hobby... these days my glasswork has been involving eight to twelve hours daily, working on my Tiffany Reproduction lamps.... sometimes it seems like the winter goes by faster than the summer months which is a bit of a concern as the years disappear and I dream of what that 'new magnolia' might look like in fifteen years from now!! Friends, LarryLarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13563036192373891209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-26726716655095576882015-01-08T04:25:47.281-06:002015-01-08T04:25:47.281-06:00Dear Beth - For some reason I was surprised to see...Dear Beth - For some reason I was surprised to see your snow fall, but it does look lovely when it first arrives. So far the snows have past us by and it is incredibly mild, but never, say never.<br />I must tell you that I know Rosemary Verey's garden very well, it is just across the Cotswold hills from where I live. When we first moved here and discovered our oolitic limestone ground we did not know how to get through it in order to plant. Rosemary very kindly helped us, and I shall always be grateful to her for that. She told my husband to take a pick axe to the ground and hack his way through it, and then fill the hole with good compost - needless to say everything has flourished well under her instructions.<br />She died in 2001 and her beautiful home and garden have now become a boutique hotel, but fortunately they do maintain and respect the garden she designed and keep it exactly as she did.Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814070177137076757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-50360306973101052432015-01-08T04:22:08.652-06:002015-01-08T04:22:08.652-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814070177137076757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-35522793783209241992015-01-07T22:47:44.319-06:002015-01-07T22:47:44.319-06:00Indie, I had no idea there was such a difference b...Indie, I had no idea there was such a difference between zones 7 and 6, but I suppose you were on the far extremes of each. But I'm not surprised. I'm sorry you're having an understandably hard time adapting to the change. And I'm also sorry to hear about the difficulties in heating your beautiful new greenhouse, but I'm sure it will be better in late winter, when you need it for starting seeds. Thanks for reading! -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-16044189581657820262015-01-07T22:00:56.472-06:002015-01-07T22:00:56.472-06:00Ha, great post! I used to garden in NC in zone 7b...Ha, great post! I used to garden in NC in zone 7b. I had daffodils blooming as early as January and February. Camellias and winter jasmine were hardy there. It was easy to have a winter garden. Now I live in zone 6a in MA. TOTAL difference!! I do think it's good to have something for winter interest, just so that your house doesn't look totally barren to people who are passing by (like mine currently does.) However, those evergreens or anything else we plant isn't going to hold our interest for 5 whole snowy months. The truth? Winter interest isn't for the gardener up north - it's maybe for people who are passing by our house. You are correct, we Northern gardeners just have to get other hobbies :) I even have a hobby greenhouse - but it's too expensive to heat right now, as cold as the weather is. I'll heat it back up when I grow seedlings in late February or March and it's not so miserably cold!Indiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14004102653896371835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-2762015157873653862015-01-07T19:15:13.414-06:002015-01-07T19:15:13.414-06:00Hi Beth, It's good to hear from another Iowan ...Hi Beth, It's good to hear from another Iowan who understands, and I'm glad you have some enjoyable winter scenes to view out your windows until spring comes. What fun --ordering seeds is so exciting! Let me know how starting zinnias inside goes; I've never known whether it would actually give them a head start or whether the transplanting might set them back enough to offset the earlier start. Here's a link I found about starting them inside: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/annuals/msg0214531830773.html that might be helpful. Thanks for reading! -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-39702179452291589712015-01-07T18:05:25.456-06:002015-01-07T18:05:25.456-06:00Hi Beth, This is a heartfelt and informative post....Hi Beth, This is a heartfelt and informative post. Of course, living just down the road from you an hour or two, I fully understand Iowa winters. While I don't really "garden" in winter, I do enjoy looking out the window where I see conifers large and small, a few berries, ornamental grasses, hardscape and many birds enjoying my feeders. I've been perusing seed and garden catalogs and am getting ready to order seeds. I've decided to start my zinnias inside this year.<br />Blessings, BethBethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09792341123595520130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-80129265582119759302015-01-07T17:04:10.196-06:002015-01-07T17:04:10.196-06:00Hi Jane, Thanks for visiting! I like your blog too...Hi Jane, Thanks for visiting! I like your blog too and am looking forward to reading more of your posts. If you're interested in what it's like to garden in Iowa, I've added a link at the end of this post to an earlier post that describes some of what I think are the nice things about gardening here (it's not just long, cold winters!).<br /><br />And Andy's GardenRant comment was indeed totally over the top. I'm sure in California you have a nauseating amount of moral superiority oozing everywhere -- nice phrase BTW -- to deal with. It's almost synonymous with the name of your state.... :-) <br /><br />I'm glad to hear from another gardener who gardens for beauty. Thanks! -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-18958235953598227072015-01-07T16:17:21.607-06:002015-01-07T16:17:21.607-06:00Great post!
I only recently started reading your ...Great post!<br /><br />I only recently started reading your blog because I was interested in what it was like to garden in Iowa. I agree with Chloris, I had no little knowledge of a long cold winter. Where I garden in southern California January is a comfortable, beautiful time in the garden. Right now it is 80F. I cannot imagine -1F. I couldn't figure out the lure of house plants and greenhouses, but now I have a little better understanding. <br /><br />I also agree with those who want something pretty (to them) when they look out the window, be it flowers or foliage, why else garden? <br /><br />But, best of all I liked your reply to Andy. We have people who "ooze moral superiority" here, too, namely the native plant horticulture group. (I've been wanting to use that phrase ever since I read it a while back!)Jane Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016381279699618539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-70859138710592471912015-01-07T15:53:17.542-06:002015-01-07T15:53:17.542-06:00Thanks, Chloris -- I appreciate your sympathy and ...Thanks, Chloris -- I appreciate your sympathy and understanding. I wasn't trying to whine about how cold it gets here, only to point out that things that bloom in winter in mild climates don't bloom until spring here, so "winter-blooming" doesn't actually exist here. (I'd sure love it if it did!). Thanks for reading. -BethGarden Fancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283184170369157189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499733980063503352.post-18594012542108037472015-01-07T15:03:08.464-06:002015-01-07T15:03:08.464-06:00I have the Rosemary Verey book and the Clive Nicho...I have the Rosemary Verey book and the Clive Nichols one too. There are so many plants you can grow for winter interest and I wouldn't, dream of having nothing to look at in the garden for months on end. Winter flowering plants are the most precious of all. But I realise how difficult it is for you. Until I started blogging I had no idea just how cold it gets in winter over there. I can understand that you don' t want to linger outside in cold weather, specially when you have a cosy room with a wood burner and plenty of books. I hope you can get outside and enjoy your garden before long.chlorishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02037607962980090244noreply@blogger.com