Around the Southern Garden in Winter
W inter or the solstice of December 2008 in the Lower South (according to Southern Living Plant Zones -USDA Zone 8) brought the frost that turned most of our gardens into shambles. But with the breaking of those precious terra cotta pots we promised to never buy again, ushers in the anticipatio n of the March Equinox and the greening of long-awaited Spring. In late January, jewels of early blooming daffodils and cuttings of forsythias (for forcing) may be found. The workhorse of the winter garden plants are the Hellebores. They tolerate almost full sun to almost full shade. Dense shade tends to reduce flower production. Generally they enjoy slightly neutral to acidic soils. They will tolerate dry shade. These wonderful plants may also be in bloom in the southern garden through the winter. Pictured at right is Helleborus x hybridus or commonly called Lenten Rose . During these frigid days of the winter solstice, the lifeless wilted leaves of agap anthus gives way to the beauty of t...