Winter can be colorful too!

If you are like me, it’s hard to get ambitious about garden tasks this time of year.  Also, if you are like me, there are always one or two places in the garden where things could look better, and there’s always room to squeeze another plant or two.

In this part of the country, we are fortunate to get lots of spring and fall color, whether we like it or not.  Even the most neglected Rhody or Azalea bed will struggle to give us color when the weather warms.

Here’s a way to hunt down the perfect plant that’s just the right winter accent.  This also works in the dog days of summer.

Try this – visit your favorite local garden center and scan across the plant displays plant until a color or plant texture calls out to you.  If you find something you are unfamiliar with, ask the nursery staff and they’ll be glad to help, and might have other suggestions.  Take a few pictures and maybe your favorite garden reference book (can’t beat the Sunset Western Garden Book) just in case.  If the plant will fit your needs, jump right in and plant it!

If you think your place could use some professional design work, now would be a good time to talk to us. Although it never slows down much around here, our schedule is a bit more relaxed and we’d enjoy working with you on this.  Sort of like the farmers of days gone by looking at seed catalogs in winter.

Looking Ahead

Don’t miss these:

• Tacoma Home & Garden Show
  January 27 through January 31
  Tacoma Dome, Tacoma
• Northwest Flower & Garden Show
  February 2 through February 7
  WA State Convention Center, Seattle WA
  

Road trip anyone?

• Try this, maybe as a double-dip with the Tulip Festival
  Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens
  Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
  Fifty plus acres and five miles of trails.  A splendid place indeed.