Seeing the garden's "bones"

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:19 pm

So now December has arrived and my garden has gone to sleep for another season.
There were a few weeks that were occupied with cleaning up a lot of fallen leaves. I like to leave most of them in the flower beds, I'll clean those up next spring. Now I am just watering the shrubs regularly before the ground freezes.
Anyway, autumn and winter are definitely not my favorite times of the year. I don't like cold weather, I miss my flowers outside, and there is always the uncertainty of what crazy storm could come up.
Mother Nature has left it extremely dry. The ground is hard, and I worry about how many plants, shrubs and trees will fare over the winter. I sure hope we get some good snow.
However, as I stare out the windows, or go for a walk around the neighborhood, I am drawn to all the shapes of the dormant trees and shrubs. I like to see the structure of the plants, their bones. They have a different character without their leaves.
I think my favorite has to be the Red Twig Dogwoods for obvious reasons. They just "show off" this time of year! Then, there is my little Smokebush which has a crookedy shape. The Oakleaf Hydrangea and the Ninebark have such rugged interesting bark. The big Sycamore tree is a beautiful majestic giant,with the multi colored bark, it is almost more beautiful without its huge leaves.
This is also a good time to see the shapes of the trees, and plan for some pruning to keep them healthy.
When you're looking at the plant's bones, you see its plain form, and I find it very beautiful.
I am appreciating this dormant season more for that reason.
Then, next spring,(my favorite time) I will be seeing the buds form, blossoms emerging and the new leaves returning once again.

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Comments

Donna S wrote on Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:45 pm:

A girl after my own heart. Thank you for putting it into words

Cayuga Morning wrote on Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:49 am:

Kay, I too really like this blog entry and can so relate! You are right, we can see our gardens in a different way when the loudness of the flowers, the leaves, & the 'growingness' is tuned out. I also like your description of the various textures & shapes revealed. I personally like the subtly of the garden this time of year. It is all shades of tan, brown & rust.