With inches of snow and several nights of subzero temperatures forecast for this week, I am most concerned that the precious, silvery flower buds of my favorite paperbushes (Edgeworthia chrysantha, below) will be damaged. The snow should be of little consequence, and possibly could be beneficial insulating plants beneath its cover, but if the freezes…

Temperatures are forecast to possibly fall below ten degrees (Fahrenheit) this week, maybe even closer to zero. This shouldn’t be a big deal, but in recent years near zero degree temperatures are unusual that once were routine. In this garden, the problem is that a number of marginally cold hardy plants are in the ground…

I often overlook magnolias when listing the various collections of trees in the garden. No doubt, Japanese maples, redbuds, and dogwoods are favored but I suspect the number of magnolias, both deciduous and evergreen, are in the range most folks would consider fanatical. I’m certain I could not resist purchasing a six foot Siebold’s magnolia…

Presumably, I would survive a winter without flowers. But why? Little sacrifice is made to allocate a portion of the garden to winter blooms, and while most are as unremarkable as any other plant past bloom, their contributions are considerable. No inch of ground covered by hellebores or winter flowering bulbs is regretted. With layers…

I mention this as a consequence of recent hikes in nearby forests on chilly days with little green in evidence besides scattered American hollies (Ilex opaca) and Virginia junipers (Eastern redcedar, Juniperus virginiana). The forest floor is blanketed with assorted fallen leaves, mostly maples, oaks, beech, and tulip poplar, but occasionally by scattered bits of…