"Think about trees beyond their flowers," Simeone said.
By paying attention to particular elements of plants -- branch structure, bark texture, berries, fruit and seed pods and foliage -- gardeners can pick plants that provide year-round interest, he said.
"Then there are environmental conditions. The landscape is lit differently in the winter, so the shadows are different. Throw a little ice and snow in there... The garden is always doing something, even in the middle of winter."
Simeone's list of recommended plants is a starting point for those who want to extend their garden's appeal to year-round.
Gardeners need to keep in mind the needs of a particular plant and its growth habit. Check with local nurseries for help in finding suitable plants. Ask about plants that provide winter interest.
Some visual details, such as peeling bark, might not show up until a tree is older, while the vibrant redof the Redtwig dogwood is typically due to younger branches, so regular pruning to spur new growth is a must.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has many of the plants on Simeone's list, so Richmonders who want to see how the plant performs in this region might want to pay a visit to the garden.
"These broadleaf evergreens like the hollies are certainly something that we get a chance to enjoy in our winter landscapes," said Tom Brinda, Lewis Ginter horticulture director, during a walk through the garden.
"I go home to Minnesota. There is winter stem color, bark color, fruit color, but we don't have broadleaf evergreens [in Minnesota]," Brinda said. "So that's one good thing we have in our climate. It is an important component of our Virginia landscapes. The hollies, both native and the English, the Japanese camellias, rhododendrons, natives and hybrids, they are one part of the winter landscape."
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
COLD COMFORT
A gardening books author has suggestions that let you warm to the idea of winter landscaping
BY TAMMIE SMITH
Richmond Times-Dispatch
It's not just Northeasterners, overwhelmed by 50-plus inches of snow, who might be weary ofwinter weather.
Landscapes that are various shades of uninspiring brown can be a real downer no matter where you are.
Horticulturist Vincent A. Simeone thinks gardeners are too quick to write off the winter landscape as inevitably dismal, resigning themselves to not being able to do much about it.
"The winter landscape is something ... that I think is underappreciated," said Simeone, speakingat a recent Virginia Horticultural Foundation program in Virginia Beach.
Simeone, director of the 409-acre Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, N.Y., is also author of several gardening books, including "Wonders of the Winter Landscape."
Despite recent rough spots, such as the so-called snowpocalypse that dumped more than 20inches of snow in New York in late December, "The winter landscape really is a beautiful time and can be in your own landscape," Simeone said.
He drew "oohs" and "ahs" from the audience as he illustrated his talk with photographs from his book. In the images, splashes of color are provided by variegated foliage, tree limbs lined with bouquets of berries and evergreens with a tint of chartreuse.
"Whether it's looking at it from the bay window or the front door, or going out into the garden trudging in 18 inches of snow, there are a lot of things that can enhance the winter landscape," he said.
Winter's tendency to strip nature down to its essence, he said, means much of the beauty will be in the finer details.
"You begin to appreciate plant growth habit a lot more in the winter. The beautiful Japanese maple that has that nice gnarled growth habit. You get to enjoy that a lot more in winter months."
Or take tree bark. Trees with exfoliating or peeling park can, under the right conditions, provide some horticultural eye candy.
"I had a non-horticultural employee come to me and say, 'I love that army tree outside.' Army tree, what are you talking about?" Simeone recalled asking. With a little probing he figured out the employee was referring to a Cornus kousa dogwood with peeling bark in shades of brown, tan and green that looked like camouflage.
BY TAMMIE SMITH
Richmond Times-Dispatch
It's not just Northeasterners, overwhelmed by 50-plus inches of snow, who might be weary ofwinter weather.
Landscapes that are various shades of uninspiring brown can be a real downer no matter where you are.
Horticulturist Vincent A. Simeone thinks gardeners are too quick to write off the winter landscape as inevitably dismal, resigning themselves to not being able to do much about it.
"The winter landscape is something ... that I think is underappreciated," said Simeone, speakingat a recent Virginia Horticultural Foundation program in Virginia Beach.
Simeone, director of the 409-acre Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, N.Y., is also author of several gardening books, including "Wonders of the Winter Landscape."
Despite recent rough spots, such as the so-called snowpocalypse that dumped more than 20inches of snow in New York in late December, "The winter landscape really is a beautiful time and can be in your own landscape," Simeone said.
He drew "oohs" and "ahs" from the audience as he illustrated his talk with photographs from his book. In the images, splashes of color are provided by variegated foliage, tree limbs lined with bouquets of berries and evergreens with a tint of chartreuse.
"Whether it's looking at it from the bay window or the front door, or going out into the garden trudging in 18 inches of snow, there are a lot of things that can enhance the winter landscape," he said.
Winter's tendency to strip nature down to its essence, he said, means much of the beauty will be in the finer details.
"You begin to appreciate plant growth habit a lot more in the winter. The beautiful Japanese maple that has that nice gnarled growth habit. You get to enjoy that a lot more in winter months."
Or take tree bark. Trees with exfoliating or peeling park can, under the right conditions, provide some horticultural eye candy.
"I had a non-horticultural employee come to me and say, 'I love that army tree outside.' Army tree, what are you talking about?" Simeone recalled asking. With a little probing he figured out the employee was referring to a Cornus kousa dogwood with peeling bark in shades of brown, tan and green that looked like camouflage.
Promote community gardening
Albritton said that garden would complement existing projects at the Georgia K. Battle Center and Southeast Elementary School.
The garden could also "multiply the effects" of other proposed streetscape improvements for MLK, such as the forthcoming traffic circle.
"Most of these out-of-town travelers aren't going down Herritage Street, they're going down MLK and King Street, and they're seeing a Kinston that is very unattractive, and certainly not what most people would think of when they think of an All-America City," Albritton said.
The group's founders also hope to reach out to fellow gardeners in Greene and Jones County, and promote gardening, cooking and nutrition at a regional level.
Although all three counties have been designated by the state as Tier 1 rural, poverty-stricken counties, Albritton and Pridgen hope to build on that rural heritage through their program.
"We really want to celebrate our food and farming traditions in new and modern ways," he said.
Albritton added: "There's this growing concern that Christians have in taking care of God's creation and protecting our natural resources."
The garden could also "multiply the effects" of other proposed streetscape improvements for MLK, such as the forthcoming traffic circle.
"Most of these out-of-town travelers aren't going down Herritage Street, they're going down MLK and King Street, and they're seeing a Kinston that is very unattractive, and certainly not what most people would think of when they think of an All-America City," Albritton said.
The group's founders also hope to reach out to fellow gardeners in Greene and Jones County, and promote gardening, cooking and nutrition at a regional level.
Although all three counties have been designated by the state as Tier 1 rural, poverty-stricken counties, Albritton and Pridgen hope to build on that rural heritage through their program.
"We really want to celebrate our food and farming traditions in new and modern ways," he said.
Albritton added: "There's this growing concern that Christians have in taking care of God's creation and protecting our natural resources."
Common Ground
Kinston native and a relative newcomer to town have teamed up with a handful of other community members to create Common Ground of Eastern North Carolina, a nonprofit effort to promote community gardening, outdoor activity and greater health among local children and adults.
"We decided young people around here were struggling for lack of resources, lack of opportunities and just thought it would be worthwhile trying out some ideas we have been exposed to," said Lee Albritton of Kinston, who recently founded Common Ground with the Rev. Julian Pridgen.
Albritton is a lifelong resident of Kinston, and graduated from Kinston High School in 1980. He currently works as a Spanish-language interpreter for the federal and state courts and at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
"It's led to a focus on getting kids outside and as a way to support academic achievement," Albritton said of Common Ground. "And also introducing them to vocations like gardening and farming, cooking; there's all kinds of possibilities that can tie into those garden-based activities."
Pridgen is a native of Whiteville and moved to Kinston in 1999 to assume the duties of pastor of St. Augustus AME Zion Church, where he is still pastor.
"I have a particular theological interest in the idea humans come from the earth, according to the Bible, and it is the earth that sustains us," the pastor said. "So we should care for it and I think that's something that we should be very much aware of, the mutual relationship between our human-ness and this earth that we live on."
He and Albritton met through the church -- Pridgen invited him to read Scripture in Spanish during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service.
"I happen to really like Lee because he appreciates the community that produced him and wants to do something to make it better, and I agree and want to help him," Pridgen said.
Albritton said the group has filed its articles of incorporation with the N.C. Secretary of State's office, and applied to the IRS for 501c3 nonprofit status.
He has been trained through the Lenoir County Master Gardner's program, and has reached out to representatives of the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension and teachers, administrators and central office staff with the Lenoir County Public Schools.
The most recent board meeting was held Nov. 30 at The Gate Community Development Center, with about 19 people in attendance. Albritton is executive director, Pridgen is vice president of the board and Jessica Seymour is board president.
Group leaders plan to work with sixth-graders at Rochelle Middle School on an indoor gardening project this winter, and eventually establish a community garden along MLK Boulevard by the fall of 2011.
"We decided young people around here were struggling for lack of resources, lack of opportunities and just thought it would be worthwhile trying out some ideas we have been exposed to," said Lee Albritton of Kinston, who recently founded Common Ground with the Rev. Julian Pridgen.
Albritton is a lifelong resident of Kinston, and graduated from Kinston High School in 1980. He currently works as a Spanish-language interpreter for the federal and state courts and at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
"It's led to a focus on getting kids outside and as a way to support academic achievement," Albritton said of Common Ground. "And also introducing them to vocations like gardening and farming, cooking; there's all kinds of possibilities that can tie into those garden-based activities."
Pridgen is a native of Whiteville and moved to Kinston in 1999 to assume the duties of pastor of St. Augustus AME Zion Church, where he is still pastor.
"I have a particular theological interest in the idea humans come from the earth, according to the Bible, and it is the earth that sustains us," the pastor said. "So we should care for it and I think that's something that we should be very much aware of, the mutual relationship between our human-ness and this earth that we live on."
He and Albritton met through the church -- Pridgen invited him to read Scripture in Spanish during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service.
"I happen to really like Lee because he appreciates the community that produced him and wants to do something to make it better, and I agree and want to help him," Pridgen said.
Albritton said the group has filed its articles of incorporation with the N.C. Secretary of State's office, and applied to the IRS for 501c3 nonprofit status.
He has been trained through the Lenoir County Master Gardner's program, and has reached out to representatives of the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension and teachers, administrators and central office staff with the Lenoir County Public Schools.
The most recent board meeting was held Nov. 30 at The Gate Community Development Center, with about 19 people in attendance. Albritton is executive director, Pridgen is vice president of the board and Jessica Seymour is board president.
Group leaders plan to work with sixth-graders at Rochelle Middle School on an indoor gardening project this winter, and eventually establish a community garden along MLK Boulevard by the fall of 2011.
Home & garden news, upcoming events
Put your landscaping to work for you. A workshop today will show you how to create both a culinary and craft garden in your yard that can also serve as a haven for conserving natural resources.
"Your own yard can be a handy producer of nutritious foods and unique craft materials and can also serve as a habitat for welcoming wildlife," says Master Gardener Janet Barocco, who will lead the free workshop.
It will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. For information call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
SEBASTOPOL
Do you wonder why some of your citrus didn't bear fruit? Are you flummoxed about what fruit trees will do best in this climate?
Master Gardener Brian Healey will lead home fruit tree growers on a month-by-month tour of the gardening year, offering tips on what to do and when, during a free workshop Feb. 5 at the Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave.
Healey will discuss how to prepare the soil, plant and stake container-grown and bare-root trees, prune and think coops and safely manage pests and diseases in the orchard. The workshop runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
WINDSOR
No need to feel intimidated about growing your own plants from seed.
Expert Electra de Peyster will demystify the process, and talk about the importance of seed saving, during a free class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 100.
De Peyster will also talk about the efforts of the local Seed Savers Exchanges and show examples of the progression of young seedlings from production to harvesting. For details call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
PETALUMA
Bruce Shanks, the longtime proprietor of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, will demonstrate how to prune clematis during a free workshop Feb. 5.
Shanks will tell you what to consider while pruning, the best times to prune throughout the year and how much to prune. The nursery is at 3996 Emerald Dr., Petaluma. To reserve a space call 778-8025.
SONOMA
"Your own yard can be a handy producer of nutritious foods and unique craft materials and can also serve as a habitat for welcoming wildlife," says Master Gardener Janet Barocco, who will lead the free workshop.
It will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. For information call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
SEBASTOPOL
Do you wonder why some of your citrus didn't bear fruit? Are you flummoxed about what fruit trees will do best in this climate?
Master Gardener Brian Healey will lead home fruit tree growers on a month-by-month tour of the gardening year, offering tips on what to do and when, during a free workshop Feb. 5 at the Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave.
Healey will discuss how to prepare the soil, plant and stake container-grown and bare-root trees, prune and think coops and safely manage pests and diseases in the orchard. The workshop runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
WINDSOR
No need to feel intimidated about growing your own plants from seed.
Expert Electra de Peyster will demystify the process, and talk about the importance of seed saving, during a free class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 100.
De Peyster will also talk about the efforts of the local Seed Savers Exchanges and show examples of the progression of young seedlings from production to harvesting. For details call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.
PETALUMA
Bruce Shanks, the longtime proprietor of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, will demonstrate how to prune clematis during a free workshop Feb. 5.
Shanks will tell you what to consider while pruning, the best times to prune throughout the year and how much to prune. The nursery is at 3996 Emerald Dr., Petaluma. To reserve a space call 778-8025.
SONOMA
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