Here we are on the cusp of spring–some of us closer to that cusp than others, but we in the Northern Hemisphere are all headed in the same direction and whooping it up as buds are swelling and leaves are greening. Those in the Southern Hemisphere–happy almost autumn to you! Regardless are where the gardens are planted, thanks to Christina of Creating my own garden of the Hesperides for hosting Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day set aside for profiling and parading foliage–for this gardener, of the late-ish winter garden.
Blackberries. Yum. I can’t wait to make pie and cobbler, but also to pick the berries right off this vine in May. For now though, I simply appreciate the burgundy blush that winter’s chill left on some of the prickly leaves of the Rosborough Blackberry vine (Rubus, sp.), ‘Brazos’.
Opposite in the color and texture spectrum of the deeply colored and thorny foliage of Blackberry is this Heartleaf Skullcap, Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata.
This winter spreading, spring and summer blooming perennial, sports subtle gray-green leaves which are soft to the touch.
The morning sun backlit this pairing of Bamboo Muhly, Muhlenbergia dumosa and Cast Iron Plant, Aspidistra elatior.
I love the effect.
In the same garden, just down the pathway, I also really like this combination of Cast Iron Plant (at top), Sparkler Sedge, Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’, and Iris straps (unknown variety).
All are evergreen and hardy, water wise, and lovely plants year-round.
And this fun combo includes tawny, crispy about-to-be-pruned-to-the-ground, Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, graceful Giant Liriope or Lilyturf, Liriope muscari, snazzy Variegated Flax Lily, Dianella tasmanica ‘Variegata’, and lacy and lovely summer-blooming Yarrow, Achillea millefolium. 
Oh, and also fallen oak leaves which STILL need raking up.
There’s more foliage gorgeousness to see from beautiful gardens at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides. Check it out!
My Gardener Says... 
Those variegated flax lilies with their wide leaves are really ringing my chimes. I’m enjoying how much drama they bring to the table without having to do anything other than be themselves. Do they spread once established? Naturalize into a space a bit? I’d love to invest in some, especially if they are self-propagating, because in masses the effect is striking!
(PS – love-love-love your ceramic and glass ornaments in the garden. What great year-round interest they provide. Are they easy to rearrange for novelty?)
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Alas, no, the Flax lily doesn’t seed-sow or a least, it never has for me. I’ve decided though that they’re so great in the garden, that I’m willing to buy/replace as needed. Which isn’t that often, as it happens. I dutifully cover them during freezes and all of the ones I had last winter came through–but they NEED covering. You’re probably colder than my space, so that’d be a consideration for you. In the summer, they are tough and drought tolerant. They do produce a bloom panicle with teensy lavender flowers, but you really plant them for the foliage. I first became enamored with them when I worked at ZBG–they were planted in several shade gardens and I was smitten.
Thanks on the ceramics. Those are some of my little things from ACC/Laguna Gloria. Turns out, I really like to carve and to make spikes and balls. Weird. Also, I have a thing for rebar and it’s playing a part of several bits of yard “art” that I’ve made or am making. I don’t know if it’s art (I think it probably isn’t) but it’s fun.
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I was admiring your ceramics too Tina, I love that shade of blue in the garden is is wonderful with most shades of green, I love the effect of the back lit Aspidistra elatior with both its companions; each gives a lovely texture and form contrast. Thanks for joining GBFD again this month.
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Thanks, Christina. It’s definitely a vibrant shade, though I like it. You’re right, it does go nicely with just about all shades of green.
The sun did a nice job on those plants, didn’t it?
Thanks for hosting GBFD.
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I love the back-lit shots! And the Muhly and Aspidistra look great together. Blackberries–yum! You’re so fortunate to have them actually growing in your garden.
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The sun cooperated nicely, don’t you think? 🙂 I love blackberries and they grow easily here. I planted a couple more earlier this year, so more blackberries for me!!
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I am really appreciating how skullcap adds some green to the winter garden. Blackberries?!?! I assumed it was too hot for them here. Very interesting …
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Skullcap is beautiful in winter and spring, too. I know some think it’s aggressive–I guess that’s a fair statement. But for its blooms and beauty, I’m willing to do a little weeding here and there.
Blackberries grow very well here. Drool. I love ’em!!
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Deb, I don’t cover any of my variegated flax lilies, and while some die back to the roots after a hard freeze, all came back last year. Covering them as Tina does would no doubt keep them going longer, but all my sheets are covering tender succulents at the moment.
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Foliage Day in your garden is a grand success…Spring is definitely right around the corner and the signs of a great gardening year are with us.
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There is lots of nice foliage here and I’m glad to have a chance to focus on it.
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What a lovely range of texture in your foliage Tina. By coincidence I bought a Carex Sparkler yesterday. An impulse buy. I hope it doesn’ t prove to be invasive . It is a lovely plant and well named.
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Thank you, Chloris. I’m sure that the Sparkler must have a bloom, but I’ve never seen one, so I also haven’t seen any seeds to speak of. I haven’t heard of its being invasive, but, you never know. I’ve really liked mine–I have three. They’re great during our long, hot summers and stay evergreen in winter without any effort from me. I’ll be interested in how yours fares. It is well named, isn’t it?
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