What is planted in your garden that will enhance your winter decor? Many of the elements that are present all year can have a true opportunity to shine at the end of the growing season.
This year’s weather conditions in Williamsburg have given us a beautiful fall season. The trees have turned wonderfully and, in some cases, the winds have blown most of that color onto the ground. But those trees that you have chosen for their beautiful bones, the actual structure of the tree itself, are still sure to please. Large, native trees such as Oak, Birch and Sycamore, as well as, more commercial varieties like Crape Myrtles and Japanese Maple. Shrubs like Red- or Yellow-Twig Dogwood and Oakleaf Hydrangea are all good choices.
The weather is also providing us with surprising amounts of berries this year. Not just hollies, either, but Beautyberry, Juniper and Cedar as well. Some of the park’s Cedars appear blue from a distance instead of green. Perennials and grasses provide many of seed heads, also.
You may want to include some blooming plants in your late fall/early winter garden. One of the evergreen shrubs we have here in the park is the Yuletide Camellia. Its poppy-like red petals and yellow stamens now have a large audience now that we are open for Christmas Town. The waxy, green leaves provide good screening throughout the season.
If you’d like even more color outdoors for your holiday visitors, violas and Pansies are readily available. We plan for our spring guests by planting bulbs first, followed by these reliable winter annuals. You can take advantage of the mild days to work in your yard, but plan to make some time to visit ours.
