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Issue Date: December 29, 2002
Gardening
Winter doesn't take all
Enjoy this opportunity to savor the basic elements at the heart of your landscape.
By Fran Sorin
In winter, it's easy to look outside and see only nature's stillness and bareness. But if we can look beyond that, we'll discover a beautiful landscape that offers clues on how to proceed in our gardens in the coming months.
Much like viewing art in a museum, where we observe the work from both a distance and up close to obtain different perspectives, so can we visit our own gardens to unravel their complexity, beauty and untapped potential.
By meandering about our plots of land and observing specimens, we can take note of the peeling bark on a variety of maples, oaks, birches and stewartias and appreciate the textures these deciduous trees offer. The lush green foliage on evergreen yews, boxwoods, cypresses, hollies, arborvitaes and junipers contrasts elegantly with the minimalist styling of the landscape. Witch hazels and hollies that bloom vividly in midwinter remind us that small doses of color can make a strong statement. And those perennials and bulbs that either retain their foliage or bloom during the winter -- geraniums, sedums, yuccas, hellebores, coral bells, perennial grasses, snowdrops, crocuses -- allow us to reflect on this season's unique beauty.
The supposed stillness of winter is indeed an illusion; a constant movement and transformation occurs in the landscape. The lack of colors and textures competing against one another gives us the opportunity to see what is at the heart of the garden, the elements that give it form and function. These are the "bones" of the garden. Bones can consist of plants (evergreens, deciduous trees, bushes, large perennials) or man-made objects (of stone or brick, for instance). The bones represent the garden's outline.
Even in warm climates, such as Miami and Tucson, where specimens such as monkey's brush and brittlebush can bloom during the winter, you still can train your eye to look past the colors in order to seek out the architecture of the garden. It is much like imagining what a room full of furniture would look like stripped down to the four walls.
When gardeners refer to the magnificence of renowned English gardens like Hidcote and Sissinghurst, with their splendid "garden rooms," they are referring to the bones. After making a few trips to England, I felt inspired and compelled to begin reconfiguring my own garden. Sissinghurst, the former home of writers Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson and now the most visited garden in England, made a particularly strong impression. I read how Harold sat with only pen and paper and a rough outline of his irregularly shaped 6 acres and sketched out a variety of garden rooms connected by pathways. Each room offers a sense of enclosure and has easy access to the other rooms. And it was all done with simple geometry.
Taking my cues from the garden makers of England, I spent the next few years, especially the winters, pondering how to turn my half-acre, diamond-shaped piece of land into a user-friendly, flowing garden. I looked at my property from various angles, levels and perspectives. My goal was to create a series of garden rooms, each unique in its style, outlined by evergreen material, stone walls, pergolas or allées. I wanted a sense of whimsy and mystery. After much walking, gazing and sketching, I was able to define and construct a garden whose bones made me proud. (Those with small yards should think of that one area as a garden room; it will open up an array of possibilities.)
But neither gardens nor their makers remain stagnant, so each year I use this quiet time to once again awaken my visual senses and think of what has not yet been discovered. I know there remain secrets to be uncovered in my garden.
This winter, my project is to study a neglected woodland off the side of my house. Ideas already are percolating: a grove of river birches underplanted with viburnums and fothergillas, with sweeping masses of phlox, foamflowers and Christmas ferns. But only in taking the time and studying what is already there in all its raw beauty will I unearth the essence of this land.
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Unlock your secret garden
When winter strips your garden to its "bones," let your imagination go wild:
List everything you need and want in your landscape. For example, you may need a play area for your kids and want a cutting garden for yourself. After completing the list, decide on priorities.
Determine which parts of your property are sunny and which are shaded. This is important for laying out garden rooms (for instance, an herb garden needs "full sun" -- at least 6 hours of direct light each day).
What rooms in your house have windows that allow you to admire the landscape? What would you like your eyes to rest on when gazing out of those windows? Is there an eyesore (say, a garage) you would like to hide?
Start with a blank sheet of paper. Do not use any of your existing plants in your drawings. It's difficult to think creatively if you start with what is already there. Add the existing plants after you've given your imagination free reign.
Sketch out any ideas that come to mind. Don't censor ideas before you explore their validity.
Visit arboretums, botanical gardens and parks to learn more about plants and design. Browse through gardening books and magazines.
Don't try to do this project all at once; it should be done at a leisurely pace over the winter months. The best ideas occur at spontaneous moments, when one is away from the project at hand.
Enjoy the process! There are no right or wrong ways to design your garden. Let your garden become a true reflection of who you are.
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