Just because a flower doesn’t bloom in winter doesn’t mean it can’t still provide interest to the garden. These plants all have seeds or seedpods that catch the eye in the garden, or catch the snow and make beautiful sculptures in the landscape.
A tree you can utilize in the garden to provide winter interest is the Golden-Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata). Hardy in zones 5-9 this medium tree grows to a maximum of 30-40’ tall. Tolerating otherwise difficult areas this deciduous tree has brown Japanese lantern-shaped seedpods decorating it throughout the winter. These delicate looking seeds add an element of elegance to a winter landscape.
Purple-leaf Hazel (Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’) is a large shrub that provides a winter focal point. This upright shrub grows to 20’ tall in zones 5-8 and in the winter is covered in beautiful purplish catkins. It also produces edible hazelnuts making it an excellent addition to the garden.
A group of shrubs that holds interest during the winter is the Hydrangea spp. Whatever your favorite variety of this beloved flowering shrub happens to be, the large blossom clusters form lasting dried flower heads that benefit the winter landscape. Just let the...
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gardeing, landscaping, planning, seed pods, seedheads, seeds, winter interest
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I enjoy and love lemon herbs. In my research and experimentation I have located about 15 different lemon herb plants that I enjoy growing and using. I thought I would share a few tips and varieties of these favorites with you. The first is Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) in the mint family it is easy to grow in Zone 5 to 9 requires an average soil and can grow in full sun to partial shade. It is vigorous, can grow from seed and is perfect for areas where other things won't grow. Unlike other mints it will grow more from seed than from root, so cutting the flower heads is important. Its uses are infinite. It is a great tea herb which I use extensively. Its mild lemon flavor shaded with mint is excellent in marinades for chicken and fish. The best flavor is fresh, although it can be dried and frozen. You do lose some flavor in the drying process, so for most people freezing is the best preservation method. Varieties to try are Melissa officinalis 'Aurea' a somewhat shorter species only 12 to 15 inches with golden leaves...
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gardeining, herb, lemon, lemon balm, seeds
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