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December 17, 2011 · 1 Comment

Book Review: The Garden in Winter

Books/Writing

A Gardener’s Reading, 15 of 30

By Suzy Bales (Rodale Press, 2007)

Gardeners in the North are often told to console themselves through the long winter by planting a garden with “winter interest.” Give yourself something to look at during that fourth or fifth gray, cold month, the mantra goes, about enjoying your garden in winter.

Suzy Bales miraculously shows how to do this with structures, ornaments, conifers, shrubs and trees with colorful, textural or structural interest. Bales is an accomplished writer and a joy to read. She describes the garden in winter as “a chiaroscuro of black, white and gray—a glorious pen and ink drawing” and views garden design as a battle among three strong-willed individuals—Mother Nature, plants and the gardener. Even if you did not implement any of Bales’ suggestions, passing a few winter evenings in her literate company would be time well-spent.

garden in winter coverBut do consider her advice, because it is solid. She begins by recommending that gardeners build structure into their landscapes. The structure may be crafted by the gardener or other people (pergolas, gates, seating, art objects) or it may be plant-based (hedges, shapely trees and shrubs). I received a review copy of The Garden in Winter when it first came out – and in part due to her advice, added a pergola to our backyard. That structural element changed the yard dramatically, in all seasons, but especially in the winter. It’s the one, strong place my eye goes to after each snowstorm.

Bales suggests a myriad of plants that provide exciting colors and shapes in all seasons, and that is where my one quibble with this book arises. While her suggestions are gorgeous, many of them are not hardy in truly northern climates. (When’s the last time you saw a crape myrtle in Minnesota?) I don’t mind that she suggests plants only hardy to zones 5, 6 or 7, but I do think it would have been sporting of her to list USDA Hardiness Zones with the plant recommendations in The Garden in Winter – or in an index in the back of the book.

Despite that, there is so much to like about this book. For example, Bales devotes considerable space to two topics northern gardeners should embrace as part of their winter-survival strategy: early-blooming spring bulbs and plant-based holiday décor. We are stuck with winter a long time, so we should make the best of it on the two ends of the season. Bulb bloom times are compressed in the North, compared to the East Coast where Bales lives, but the sight of the first crocuses, scillas or dwarf irises are just as meaningful. Bales’ holiday decorating tips are steal-worthy, too. I especially like her holiday tree made of hydrangeas and allium and have made something similar in the past based on her design.

For winter inspiration, The Garden in Winter is a cozy fireplace on a snowy day.

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« Book Review: The Edible French Garden
Book Review: The Writer in the Garden »

Trackbacks

  1. Three Native Evergreens for Northern Gardens - My Northern Garden says:
    October 12, 2020 at 6:13 am

    […] more for birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Native evergreens do all of that AND they add winter interest to the garden, something that is vital in climates where the deciduous trees are bare seven months […]

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Did I mention how exquisite the plant material is Did I mention how exquisite the plant material is at Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia? I’ll be doing a full blog post soon about this and some of the other gardens we visited but as I’m heading home I’m cherishing all the great people on the Garden Fling tour, the amazing organizer @karl_gercens_ and the beautiful places we saw. 
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#gbfling2023 #grateful #phillyfling #pennsylvaniafling #gardenbloggersfling #gardenbloggers

#baileynurseries  #cobrahead #crescentgarden #dramm #ealicata #gardenrant #thegreatgrowalong #longwoodgardens #monroviaplants #nwfs #northwestflowerandgardenfestival #picklewix #provenwinners #sandiaseed  #teakcloseouts
Philadelphia gardens are full of lush and lanes, t Philadelphia gardens are full of lush and lanes, tree snags and lichen. Perfect accent for our rainy garden tour. #gbfling2023 #americasgardencapital #lichen #fallgarden
Wait for it! The best gardens have secrets within Wait for it! The best gardens have secrets within them. #gbfling2023 #americasgardencapital #gardensecrets #paths #gardendestinations
Just 15 seconds of water sounds to ease you into y Just 15 seconds of water sounds to ease you into your weekend courtesy of @longwoodgardens fountains. Have a great one! #watermusic #gbfling2023 #phillyfling #americasgardencapital #soothing
I’ve loved this container in the front of our ho I’ve loved this container in the front of our house, but things are looking faded, so it’s time for a refresh. Out went the Persimmon supertunias (love them, but they have done their duty) and a new cuphea I’m testing (great plant.) In go fall celosia in bright yellow and bronze orange garden mum, both from @shopbachmans. I kept the Queen Tut papyrus for its spikey texture. We’re ready for fall! 

#fallcontainer #fallplanting #fallcelosia #gardenmums #mngardener #fallinMinnesota
Meet shaggy soldier, a weed that I have gotten to Meet shaggy soldier, a weed that I have gotten to know quite a bit this summer. It spreads like crazy, seeds abundantly and is all over my community garden. Sone sources say it is an edible herb but I’m just pulling for now. Next year, I’ll smother it out with newspaper, cardboard and/or mulch. What weed is your nemesis this year? #weedsinmygarden #galinsoga #shaggysoldier #mngarden #communitygarden #weedy #herborweed
Just another morning in the garden with my monarch Just another morning in the garden with my monarch friends. Have a peaceful, joyous Sunday! #communitygarden #monarchbutterfly #weekendvibes💕 #pollinators
What’s the difference between having enough sun What’s the difference between having enough sun and plenty of sun in the garden? These two Tithonias tell the tale! 

Plus don’t forget to stop by the @mnhort booth in the dirt wing of the Horticultural building at the @mnstatefair! I’ll be there Sunday from 1 to 5 pm and would love to hear how your garden is growing! 

#sunorshade #veggarden #communitygarden #howmuchsundoyouneed #tithonia #mexicansunflower
It’s a hot 🥵 hot day and nobody is moving too It’s a hot 🥵 hot day and nobody is moving too fast. Savor the slow. #nectar #zinniasofinstagram #beelife #mngarden
Ground cherries look like tomatillos but taste lik Ground cherries look like tomatillos but taste like tropical fruit.
They are an acquired taste but I love them, especially in a spicy jam. 

For this recipe, I mixed

2.5 cups of cleaned ground cherries, 
half a cup of water,
1 cup sugar
a few stray strawberries from the fridge,
 juice of a small lemon, 
a 1-inch piece of ginger
1 tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg

 Boil away until it is thick. Store in the fridge and use as you would any jam. 

#communitygarden #groundcherries #mngardener #cookfromthegarden
What a fabulous day, touring gardens with garden c What a fabulous day, touring gardens with garden communicators from all over the U.S. and beyond! Minnesota gardens looked good today. Than you, @gardencomm_gci for visiting the Twin Cities!
Ribbit! Saw this beauty enjoying a beautiful garde Ribbit! Saw this beauty enjoying a beautiful garden in Washington County today. #daylily #gardentour #mngarden
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