Winter Gardens

Between the outstanding fall colors of deciduous trees and the early spring blooms of Cherries, Magnolia and Forsythia there, sometimes, is a perceived notion that nature is on hold. Winter doldrums can get the best of us, leaving us longing for the arrival of spring. The truth is there is so much to appreciate in the calm of winter that simply cannot be seen any other time of year. Couple this with an occasional white background and gardening takes on a whole new appreciation.

Certainly walking around your yard or neighborhood you can find some outstanding trees to look at. However, visiting arboretums and gardens often guarantees you and up close and personal look at specimens which have taken years to become. There is a quite calm walking around these gardens this time of year which is only broken up by the crunch of the ground as you walk across mulched beds.

There are several unique gardens to look at this time of year and all are in close proximity. Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, New Jersey is a “suburban conservancy dedicated to environmental and horticultural education for children and adults and to the enjoyment of nature through the professional care and preservation of a historic country estate.” Their sunken garden is a personal favorite of mine but equally exciting this time of year is their winter interest garden. You can test your horticultural skills by identifying bark, berries and the occasional flower. Let’s not forget their European Beech (Elephant tree) aptly named for its bark which resembles that of an elephant’s skin. All this is worth the trip however, make it a point to revisit the arboretum in the early spring for the daffodil bowl….trust me.

The Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville, New Jersey has characteristics of the Arts and Crafts period. Interesting year round attractions include their Silver Maple and Chinese Sequoia. Their wisteria-covered pergola, typically brings visitors in the spring and summer, has fantastic structure and lines this time of year to admire. In addition to the formal and native gardens, “the grounds of the Cross Estate provide hiking trails that connect to trails in the Jockey Hollow, Lewis Morris Park, and the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Conservancy.”

The Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills, New Jersey is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States. Donated to the Somerset County Park Commission by Mrs. Helen Buck in 1976, the gardens are situated in a 33 acre wooded stream valley among some of the most coveted real estate in New Jersey. A naturalistic garden, the large rock outcroppings are clearly visible in the winter months showcasing rare and exotic rock garden plants.

The Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, New Jersey I may be somewhat biased to. A graduate of Rutgers University some years ago, this garden is a collection of gardens which spread over some 50 acres. Highlights include the largest collection of American Hollies in the world, a Shade Tree Collection, the Roy H. De Boer Evergreen Collection (anyone who has ever taken a class of his at Rutgers could never forget him), the Ornamental Tree Collection and a Bamboo Forest to name a few. Their ornamental tree collection alone is enough to entice visitors in the colder winter months. The state’s largest Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) and their Kousa Dogwood (patches) both have exfoliating bark and are two of the nicest specimens you will ever see.

Finally, The New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York is one of the most awe inspiring gardens I have ever been to. The famed Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is the man made structural staple that most remember. Too many gardens to list, there are two formidable trees which I can never forget from here. The first, Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) is a tree indigenous to Iran and has a most dramatic bark appeal. Showcasing colors of gray, green, white and brown the bark reminds me of that of Pinus bungeana (Lacebark Pine). Taking considerable time to have this as a characteristic, you can imagine its age. Second is a stand of Tanyosho Pines (Pinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’). These shrub-like multi-trunk trees have the most beautiful orange to orange-red markings with a touch of gray at the base. The bark becomes fissured into oblong plates with age. This stand of trees is no less than 25 feet tall.

Now I know much of this can be lost to a non plant person. But, if you have some time this winter try visiting one of these tranquil places. Who knows you may become a tree-hugger after all.

Barking Up the Right Tree

Stripped of all their foliage standing naked amongst the winter landscape are some pretty amazing maple trees. Most people, it seems, are content buying the proverbial red cutleaf or laceleaf maple (Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum-Atropurpureum’) or the tiresome upright ‘Bloodgood’ maple. Perhaps it’s because their neighbor has purchased a similar style or maybe it’s because it’s the only type they have heard of. Truth is there are literally dozens of species and hundreds of named cultivars to tempt and satisfy even the most eclectic gardeners’ taste. With so many choices to choose from, it seems silly to always pick the same two or three types, especially if year round garden interest is your goal.

Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) has become more commercially available in recent years; however it is still difficult to propagate. A noteworthy candidate for your garden, Paperbark has something going on all year. Dark bluish-green, trifoliate leaves (three leaved) kick off the attributes of this small to medium sized tree. Adaptable to a wide range of soil PH balances, griseum’s only stipulation is that you place it in well drained soil. Having a somewhat rounded canopy with age, Paperbark works well as a single lawn specimen or in areas of limited real estate. Outstanding, bright red, fall color can rival even that of ‘Burning Bush’. But let’s face it; what introduces most to this famed tree is the exfoliating bark. The peeling, flaky, cinnamon brown bark jumps out at you, not just in the winter, but all year long. Native to China and the fact that no two are alike only adds to the uniqueness of this versatile tree.

Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Coral Bark Maple) is an exciting Japanese maple. The unfolding leaves, early in the spring, show the slightest hints of red digressing quickly to a bold green. As fall approaches, these tiny, congested leaves take on color marking from yellow to pumpkin. A medium sized tree, Coral Bark, attains heights of fifteen to twenty five feet comfortably and prefers well drained soil. As the common name implies, Coral Bark, has just that. Beginning in the fall, the younger stems start to color up taking on red hues. Imagine the pumpkin color foliage backing these bright red stems. Only to impress us more are these same stems acting as a beacon entrenched in the snow storms of winter. Truly an impressive sight, you would be hard pressed to find a better winter interest tree.

Somewhat of an obscurity, but still noteworthy, is the species Acer pensylvanicum. Commonly known as the striped or snakebark maple, the bark is clearly what sets this apart and has propelled its notoriety. Quoting Michael Dirr, the horticultural demigod of our time, “The unflattering nickname refers to the whitish vertical fissures that develop on the bark, which when set against the greenish background conjure visions of a snake’s skin.” Whether an “unflattering nickname” or not, there is no denying the beautiful, pronounced, long, vertical, white stripes of the species. Two covetous cultivars available to gardeners are ‘White Tigress’ and ‘Erythrocladum’. ‘White Tigress’ has dark green bark with conspicuous white striations. Other common attributes prevail as it maintains typical green leaves in the spring changing to yellow in the fall. ‘Erythrocladum’ is a magnificent small tree with incredible bright pink bark, striped white, in the winter. Considered to be somewhat problematic to grow, the secret to their success is well drained soil. Overall presence in your garden for Acer pensylvanicum is fifteen to twenty feet tall and wide.

While flowers can be beautiful and sometimes fragrant and certain trees are known for their unique foliage, we can not forget that bark appeal can be equally as enticing. When you visit your local garden center this spring, admire the beautiful, red laceleaf maples, but remember the bright color markings of winter bark also.