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.

Thinking about pruning your spring-flowering shrubs? Rejuvenation pruning is a good way to improve the appearance, and can help if older material is outgrowing its space.

Forsythia and azaleas should be pruned after they’ve bloomed. To rejuvenate older plants, you can remove up to a third of the material. This can be older, woody stems, down to the crown, or a third of the canopy. Obviously, this project requires a patient gardener, but you’ll appreciate the results.

Some very nice plants put on a beautiful show at Busch Gardens in the winter. But usually the employees are the only ones here to appreciate their efforts. So here's my chance to share them with you.

Many homeowners in this area are familiar with the Yuletide camellia, with its open red flowers and yellow stamens. My favorite camellia here is a peppermint-striped variety, just inside England's entrance. These plants provide good evergreen foliage throughout the year.