As I was about to write this post it occurred to me that the title could imply that I'll be talking about the 'bones and skeletons' of a garden - the plants and hard landscaping that provide structure and framework to ones green space.
It'll be a lot less complicated than that though as I refer to simply a few plants that I find interesting without their leaves and are nothing more than just bare bones and skeletons at the moment.
They look pretty in their own way all leafless and certainly part of winter interest in the garden....
One set of bare bones that always needs work is the large sycamore tree at the end of the garden. It is rather fast growing and drops seeds everywhere, however over the last couple of years we have been taming it cutting it back. We have an extending tree saw on a pole that allows us to cut quite high up from the ground, however I suspect we will need to set up the ladders to reach the higher branches this year.
If our garden was all evergreen I think I'll find it a lot less interesting. Fortunately it isn't!
Mark :-)
It'll be a lot less complicated than that though as I refer to simply a few plants that I find interesting without their leaves and are nothing more than just bare bones and skeletons at the moment.
They look pretty in their own way all leafless and certainly part of winter interest in the garden....
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| I quite like this row of Ginkgos looking like this now as much as what they look like in the summer |
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| The buds of the Acer heptaphlebium are enlarging but whilst leafless it's giving me a clue of its habit and form for this year onwards |
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| Ginkgo biloba 'Pixie' and Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist' |
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| As I admired their bare form and shape of their little branches I noticed that the climber Tetrastigma obtectum is finally getting going after a slow start in the summer |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
I agree - too much evergreen can be dull. Twigs and buds might not sound very interesting, but when they start into life in spring, it's always thrilling.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Sarah, and the changing of appearance of plants in different seasons adds interest to the garden :)
DeleteI love seeing bare branches (when they should be I mean). Greenery is great, but a reminder about what's keeping it all in place is nice too. :)
ReplyDeleteSome deciduous plants have got great shapes haven't they Alan even without leaves? :)
DeleteYes!! that is what keeps the interest through the seasons! I think your garden is perfect like that :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! :)
DeleteThere's a lot less of that (deciduous plants) here. I have a tendency to be impatient with bare bones, wanting plants to get their green on, although I did find my climbing rose interesting once I finally forced myself to prune it last week.
ReplyDeletePruning adds interest too Kris especially after they look much tidier afterwards :)
DeleteHello Mark and Gaz,
ReplyDeleteCercis canadensis is such a graceful tree. Your variety sounds wonderful and we should certainly enjoy seeing it fully clothed!
Too many evergreens can make a garden seem rather lifeless and never gives that freshness of the first flush of spring green. You have a winning combination where you balance both.
Thanks Jane and Lance and so true! Love the entire Cercis group, could easily collect them given the space :)
DeleteDeciduous trees and shrubs add such great winter interest to our gardens! Thanks for sharing your skeletons!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Peter and a pleasure!
DeleteDem Bones: better in the garden than in the closet. I'm loving the lacy outline of the weeping birch outside my window right now, with sparkly drops of water clinging to every tip.
ReplyDeleteNature's own way of adding bling to them Ricki :)
DeleteI like the dead twig effect during winter. I have a lot of evergreens but unfortunately in our sort of climate they tend to get trashed and need cutting back. I think I will go for more dead looking twigs :-)
ReplyDeleteMind you the Pseudopanax crassifolius you gave us are fabulous looking leafy twigs :))
DeleteLovely bones, not to mention the beautiful autumn colours deciduous trees bring to the garden.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Amy, something to offer for every season :)
DeleteI definitely tend to prefer evergreens, but I absolutely know what you mean about some plants being just as beautiful, if not more so, when their leaves fall. I especially appreciate it on trees like Stewartia or stripe-barked maples with colorful bark and branches, or plants with beautiful structure like Enkianthus, and seeing the buds, often (where I grew up) bearing a droplet of water that makes the whole plant look like it's covered in little crystals.
ReplyDeleteDeciduous tree and shrubs can look magical when dripping with rain Evan :)
DeleteI don't know, your garden still looks so green, it's hard to believe it's winter there :) I agree, though, that some plants still look beautiful without their leaves. Indeed, sometimes the leaves are covering up even more spectacular beauty underneath!
ReplyDeletePretty leaves and pretty framework underneath them is a winning combo Indie :)
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