2024 December 5 Native Winter Interest
While freshly fallen snow over manicured lawn is a lovely but common winter sight, the panorama of snow topped native plants in a dormant pollinator habitat is breathtaking.
Why do we leave the stems upright instead of chopping them in the fall? There are many reasons. They are the winter homes of our insect friends, like native bees. They provide cover for moth and butterfly chrysalises to overwinter. The birds and chipmunks appreciate the food source of seed pods during the scarce months. In addition to these ecological benefits, there is also the visual pleasure we call “winter interest”.
Winter interest is anything that brings visual joy to your garden in the dormant months. It can be motion in the wind, the color of leaves at your feet, or the structures of the plants popping out of snow. It could be the colors of berries or birds. It could even be seasonal decor made with pruned evergreens and other natural elements.
The structure of certain plants catch the eye in the wintertime, like grasses with their yellow tassels catching the wind or tall Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum seed pods leaning with the weight of snow. Red Winterberries Ilex verticilada attract Catbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and American Robins in images that would make excellent seasonal greetings cards.
This Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) holds onto its leaves far longer into winter than any other deciduous tree. It makes for a decent year-round native privacy screen and it’s a great host plant for overwintering Tiger Swallowtail butterflies.
The full-time horticulturists at the zoo taught me how to create fun holiday displays with natural elements. I didn’t realize how delightful these were to make. I could be in the zone decorating like this for hours. Winter interest can be a winter hobby of its own.
What examples of “winter interest” do you notice around you? Please leave a comment!
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