Most people dread the winter landscape.
I do not. As move about the garden, pruning ghosts of last season’s bounty, I’m awed by the transformation from living green to tawny,
golden,
Texas winter mutes garden color,
…gray, buff, and brown complete the winter palette,
…with a dollop of green, here and there.
Leaves fallen, disintegrating, held aloft by other sources,
…but also rising from the soil,
…are the stuff of garden life.
beautiful post today
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Thank you, Karen!
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It is refreshing to see something other than plants in full bloom. Honestly, ignoring winter never really seems to help much. Embracing winter’s palette seems a much wiser move, and I thank you for leading the way!
These are some superb photos. Is that goldeneye gone to seed in that 11th shot? Regardless. A beautiful take on the less appreciated beauty that is winter in our parts.
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Yes, I thought some brown/tan/beige crinkles were in order. It’s not like we’ve had MUCH of a winter, either–though enough to render most (though not all!) plants toasty.
You have a keen eye, Ms. TexasDeb–it is indeed a goldeneye seedhead. The seedheads are just as photogenic as the flowers, it seems.
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We keep our woody perennials standing into mid February as they are good for overwintering wildlife and in a frost look wonderful. Gardens “put to bed” for the winter always seem to be devoid of life even decaying life, much better to enjoy all of the winter colours.
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Good for you–plants in winter are beautiful and useful for wildlife. I hold off as long as possible, before the green insinuates itself up from the earth. Our winter has been very mild, I can’t wait much longer!
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I totally agree with everything everyone has said so far. The only thing I might add is that I love how clay soil feels under those fallen leaves in the winter here — it is so velvety soft. If I push some of those leaves aside I almost always see something green (or pink) ready and willing to grow.
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I know what you mean–so soft and rich, I wish that would last into July and August. 🙂 And those things that are pink underneath the leaves are so fun to find.
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It is funny how much that soil texture changes with the seasons leaving me once again convinced soil really is a black box universe to us. So soft and cake-like in spring, dusty and hard in summer and then in fall happy to receive new plants. Those changes could be explained by moisture but I like to think we are actually seeing seasons of growth and rest in microscopic communities — that there are ecosystems below us.
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Soil is a remarkable substance. There are so many variables, so many different textures. I agree that the microscopic entities are the cause of how soil feels at particular times of the year and particular places. That’s why it’s so important to maintain healthy soils, year-round.
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Every season and place in nature has its own unique beauty. Plus, during your mild winters in Texas, it’s warm enough to be comfortable outside gardening, straightening, and photographing the beauty. Lovely post.
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Thanks, Beth. Warm it’s been–I’m currently wearing shorts. Again. It’s supposed to get cold though, so you know the saying: if you don’t like the weather in Texas (or fill in the blank), just wait a minute.
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I too love the fall and winter landscape as the garden pauses, breathes, renews and then comes back ready to work.
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Pausing, breathing, renewing–yes indeed, that’s what winter is for.
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