Tag Archives: Winter Garden

Approaching Its First Winter

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New Winter Garden in Autumn
Yakima Arboretum, Yakima, WA

In the spring of 2022, the Yakima Arboretum selected a Winter Garden for its first Master Plan project to be implemented. The project was conceptualized and designed by Epiklar Landscaping during the remaining part of the year. It was funded by Arboretum membership donations. Elegant Landscaping and Pendleton Excavating constructed the hardscaping early in the spring of 2023. A group of Arboretum volunteers then completed the planting and mulching. Volunteers continue to provide the new garden’s maintenance.

The new garden is establishing itself and preparing for its first winter. It will look a little bare for the first couple of years. Additional planting will be added as the first plants establish themselves. By the garden’s third year, the plants will begin their more rapid growth. By the fourth/fifth year, the garden’s basic form will be established.

Developing a garden takes time. Watching a garden mature is an enjoyable experience. It is a continuous learning experience. Some plantings do well; others do not. Part of the Arboretum’s mission is to pass this knowledge on for others to enjoy and learn how they can develop their own gardens.

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Winter Walk #9

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“Yellow and Red Twig Dogwoods”
Heatherwood Winter

Late afternoon sun spreads a warm glow across our winter Heatherwood garden. The bright yellows and reds of the yellow and red twig dogwoods are the stars of this image. The golden grasses provide a layer of contrast with the red twigs as the blue spruces in the background add a little color contrast.

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Winter Walk #6

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“Looking Through Red Twig Dogwoods”
Heatherwood Winter Garden

Walking around the lower garden, I look up the hill through the red twig dogwoods and see the winter colors of the rock garden. The greens and oranges of the ground covers, the yellows, greens, and blues of the conifers, and the straw color of the grasses brighten up a winter day. Just a month ago, the ground was covered with snow.

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Winter Walk #5

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“Center Pathway & Redtwigs”
Heatherwood Winter

Grass “pom poms” frame the sides of a curving path leading from our lower garden center circle to the side lawn and woodland, Redtwig dogwoods, ninebarks, and junipers separate the garden path from the meadow. There is a surprise around the corner.

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Winter Walk #4

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“Winter Colors and Textures”
Heatherwood Winter

Today is Ground Hogs Day, the midpoint of winter. It is bright and crisp as I walk through the garden. It feels like spring is just around the corner. But, who knows what the next six weeks of winter will bring.

Walking though Heatherwood’s meadow area, I look up the hill and see a plethora of color, shapes, and textures. Contrasting browns, reds, oranges, yellows, and greens brighten up the scenes. The different textures and shapes of the feathery ornamental grasses, bare branches of the red twig dogwood, and various conifer shrubs and deciduous trees provide additional interest. Our Heatherwood garden sure is not dull in the midst of winter.

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Winter Walk #3

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“Jacobsen, Wintersonne, Tannenbaum”
Heatherwood Winter

Along our Japanese Garden walk I see another winter conifer contrast. This combination contrasts size, shape, and color. The green Jacobsen mugo pine in the foreground has an irregular growth habit. It contrasts with the round shape of the yellow Wintersonne mugo pine behind it. The Wintersonne transitions from summer green to winter yellow. The pyramidal dark green Tannenbaum dwarf mugo pine looks over the Wintersonne. At maturity the Tannenbaum will reach 12 to 15 feet. In the background is our second Chief Joseph.

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Winter Walk #2

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“Louie Eastern White Pine & Colorado Blue Spruce”
Heatherwood Winter

I only have to take a couple of steps and turn about 30 degrees to see another conifer contrast of yellow and blue. The yellow ‘Louie” eastern white pine stands out against the Colorado blue spruce background. Heathers and grasses surround the “Louie”. The grasses provide an interesting contrast of shapes and textures with the conifers. We leave the grasses in their natural state until mid-March when we cut them back. Like the Chief Joseph lodgepole pine, the ‘Louie” also turns to a summer green color.

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Winter Walk #1

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“Chief Joseph and Sester’s Dwarf”
Heatherwood Winter

Today was a bright, breezy, and chilly winter day. The temperature did not get above freezing. We will be planting a Winter Garden at the Yakima Area Arboretum this spring. Many of the plants we have chosen for the Arboretum are ones that we have planted at Heatherwood. I am preparing educational material for the garden, starting by collecting images for the various plants that we will be planting at the Arboretum. What a better place to start than in my home garden. So off I went, all bundled up, with my camera to create some images. Because of the cold, I was planning on just staying out for a half hour. Three hours later Mary came out to check on me. I was able to make a walk around our whole Heatherwood garden collecting images of winter color and textures.

One element of a winter garden is contrasting colors of various conifers. The image above is one of the most interesting contrasts of yellow and blue. The bright yellow of the Chief Joseph lodgepole pine makes a striking contrast with the bright blue of the Sester’s Dwarf blue spruce. Both are now the same size and are slow growing. We are looking for them to grow up together over the years. While the Sester’s Dwarf retains its blue color throughout the year, the Chief Joseph will turn back to green for the summer. They are a great pair for the garden.

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Oh What a Beautiful Day!

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“Rock Garden and Birch Trees”
Heatherwood Winter

Today was an absolute beautiful winter day. The sky was blue and the temperature was in the mid 40’s. It just doesn’t get much better. I had the pleasure to put on my work shoes and do a little clean-up of some of our broken tree limbs. I then spent over an hour walking around with my camera enjoying the garden and the beautiful afternoon.

With the unseasonable warm weather, most of our snow has melted. Only a few patches of snow in shady areas remain. The colors of Heatherwood’s winter garden brightly shine in the afternoon sun. Year-round there is always interest and beauty in the garden.

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Still Hanging On

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“October Glory Maple & Mountain Lantern”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

This scene is from the top of the garden above our “Perch” sitting area. The leaves of the October Glory are still hanging on. Last year at this time, they had all fallen. They make a nice contrasting interest against the white snow. The yellowish Wintersonne Mugo Pine on the right has not attained its winter color yet. In about a month, it will be bright yellow. Just out of view on the left side of the image is a winterberry holly. In the winter, the leaves will fall, leaving clusters of bright red berries. The combination of other Japanese hollies, winterberry hollies, and green and yellow conifers, along with the Japanese mountain lantern will provide an attractive winter garden vignette. We just need to give it time.

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