The bones of the garden

Winter in the Pacific Northwest leaves the garden revealed. I have heard from more than one gardener this year that now is their favorite time in the garden. You can really see what is there and admire the structure and layout.

It is a time to admire the fine pruning of shrubs and the careful spacing of perennials. For those who claim there are no flowers, here are only a few that I have been seeing this week!

A time for shears

My shears get a lot of work in January. Not that there are no weeds but in the last three days I have used my shears and my rake more than any other tool. Shearing down ornamental grasses, Astilbe, Coreopsis, Fuchsia, Iris, ferns, Helleborus, Epimedium and many other perennial plants that I left to over winter for their form, structure, winter color, or wildlife benefits.

In the case of Fuchsia shearing is a little rough. For the larger woody varieties I will usually shear them down to 12-18 inches then cut out all of the canes that are smaller than a pencil with my hand clippers. I may take out the canes that are oldest as well and clean up any cuts that the shears mangled. If they are beginning to show new growth at the base you may usually get away with cutting them clean to the ground. Leaving the canes reminds you that they are there and insures that they have some established growth to help pull them through.

On the Iris, ferns, Epimedium and Helleborus they have been providing lovely intense greens in the beds for months now and will begin to shoot new growth in the center from their base. It is easiest to shear them now just before the new growth begins because if you wait too long you need to do it with your hand clippers which takes exponentially more time. You can wait longer however in these gardens (including my own) it's seize the moment! The Epimedium and Helleborus will be sending up their flowers next, before leaves, which look fabulous if the old foliage is cleaned up.

Winter Crafting

While doing our winter clean up this morning, alright today since it took three sessions, Lila and I stopped for a little crafting in the garden. I was shearing down all the wintered over perennials and the Pacific Coast Iris leaves caught my eye. Lila was asking for a headband so we sat and put it together with the Iris leaves. First I found the longest and nicest three blades and split them down the center to have six narrower lengths. then I braided them together folding each turn so the whole thing kept a flat look and feel. As the length of one was about six inches from it's end I tucked the stub of the next one into the braid under it and used them together until the one ran out. they are a great material to work with right now, I didn't find them to be too brittle at all. A perfect garden craft to keep a child engaged!

Why we love Sword Ferns

It is just the type of thing that defines me as a complete plant geek.
As we were cleaning up a side garden full of snow melted Day lilies, trimming the dead canes from the Heavenly Bamboo and raking the piles of weeds we'd pulled I saw them sitting there. Three of them sitting like they had always been there yet never noticed until everything else was pulled, cut, raked away. Three sword ferns perched at the back of the narrow bed just below the top of the deck and perfectly drawing my eye into them, rather then the mess that was under the deck behind them.
They hold their own. Especially right now it seems that unless they have been beaten down by the snow they stand three feet tall. Their size and form are pronounced this time of year as is the deep green that glows from them. From now until march when the new growth unwinds from the center is the sword ferns glory! Just remember to cut them down when that new growth is starting, just before is easiest, so that it can take the center stage. One advantage to the snow flattening them for you is that you don't have to cut them to see the new growth rise alone!