Behold the beauty of a winter garden

Don't overlook the beauty of a plant's bark. Bales recommends dogwoods, with their bright red, yellow and green twigs. The contrast of the twigs with the newly fallen snow is stunning. Because these plants are native to Utah, they are well adapted to our conditions here.

One of Bales' favorite deciduous shrubs for winter is the witch hazel. Although these plants are uncommon in Utah, they could be grown here with a striking effect.

"There are several varieties in the genus Hamamelis that bloom as far north as Zone 5. The earlier-blooming American witch hazels grow up to 10 feet tall and tend to hold their crinkled and dull khaki leaves, making it harder to see the flowers," Bales said.

While the Chinese types are striking, her favorite is the first one she planted. The hybrid Hamamelis x intermedia "Arnold's Promise" have a golden flower that reminds her of party confetti that has been left behind. Other varieties of this species include "Diane," which has crimson blooms, "Jelena," which has copper blooms, and "Vesna," which has orange flowers.

According to Bales, we are sometimes the worst enemy to winter interest in the garden. "We have all of the seed heads on many of our flowers, including black-eyed Susans and other cone flowers and tree peonies.

"Sunflowers are another wonderful winter plant. I have sunflowers that are 6 feet high in the vegetable garden. Right now they are bending down their heads and look like they are working in the garden," she said.

"There are so many things a gardener can do to create a lovely winter garden. Ironically, winter is when we need color the most, but it is the season least planned and planted for color."

Don't let the long, gray days of winter get you down. The inversions, the fog and the short, murky days do not seem quite as dismal when you can see your garden has life and is going to come back this spring.

---

Larry A. Sagers is the horticulture specialist, Utah State University Extension at Thanksgiving Point.