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Winter Interest in the Garden

Choosing plants that will still look good in the garden during winter.
Garden Bones - Dwarf Evergreens Provide Structure and Four Season Interest in Garden Design
The term 'Bones of the Garden' can be difficult to understand, let alone accomplish. Bones refers to using something architectural to define the structure of a garden. Most often we see it in large-scale estate or public gardens, but it is doable in more humble gardens too. One of the best tools for adding bones to your garden design is dwarf conifers. Structural, eye catching, easy to grow and diverse, dwarf conifers show a garden means business. Here are some of the best.
Winterberry Holly: A Deciduous Native Holly with Breathtaking Berries
Ilex verticillata, Winterberry Holly, or Winterberry is our native, wetland holly that loses it leaves each autumn. This beautiful shrub is all the more showy because its lack of winter leaves makes its berry display all the more showy. After the leaves have turned yellow and have fallen off, you are left with a breathtaking view of thousands of brightly colored berries clinging to every stem. What a joy to have such color in the middle of winter.
Winter Garden - Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses accent a garden any time of year, but they might just be at their most imposing in the doldrums of winter. Ornamental grasses provide structure, texture and drama to the gardenscape. Here are 10 of the best ornamental grass and grass-like plants for winter interest. Several are North American natives and all of them are very easy to grow. Many even do double duty by attracting birds to your winter garden, by providing shelter and food.

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