The Dawn of Winter: December Notes from Ferncliff…

Winter’s Dawn at Ferncliff

The morning after a storm. Silent. Pristine. After months of drowsy, frost-covered mornings, at long last the garden has fallen to sleep. Lulled by a by a shifting blanket of snow, the flowers have all drifted away now; their pods empty; stalks broken. Summer’s song is hushed; notes frozen in chilly stillness. A long winter’s night lies ahead. Sleep tight Callicarpa. Stay warm beneath your mulch, toad lily. I’ve tucked you in with care – very tightly.  Soon the forest will howl and snap, ushering in Winter’s sharp, bitter cold…

Russian cypress, (Microbiota decussata), lines the path to the north meadow…

Ilex verticillata, ‘Red sprite’ sparkles in the morning snow…

The native forest caught in a snow squall…

Shadows play upon the snow and bleached remains of fountain grass…

Snow coats rusty patterns – sharp, steel slats and curved lines…

Impossibly delicate, tiny snowflakes cling to tufts on ornamental grass…

The hardy perennials remain standing, swaying in the snow…

The entry garden plantings continue to add color and texture to the landscape, and in the background, eastern hemlock stands stately, newly cloaked in white…

Garden remnants in light and shadow…

Cotoneaster, still holding plump, ripe fruit, cascades down the retaining wall…

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ rests in a bed of snow…

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Article and photographs copyright 2009, Michaela at The Gardener’s Eden. Please do not use my words or pictures without contacting me first. All content on this site, (with noted exceptions), is the property of The Gardner’s Eden, and may not be used or reproduced without express written permission. Inspired by something you see here? Please give credit where credit is due. It’s a small world and link-love makes for fond friendships. Stealing makes for bad dreams…

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