How to Enjoy Flowering Gardens During the Depths of Winter

A meadow planting of Snakehead Fritallaria, http://www.holbrookgarden.comWe have just passed a psychological milestone; autumn is over, winter has officially begun, and this passionate gardener can hardly wait for next spring to arrive. Since snow will blanket my garden until next April, I satisfy my need for flowers and plants by visiting the websites of my suppliers. There I study the new perennials they intend to introduce next spring and refresh my mind about those I neglected last season.

Tulipa humilis, http://www.holbrookgarden.comIn addition, I visit the websites of public gardens to admire photos of flower displays. For example, all the images posted here are from Holbrook Garden in Devon, England, U.K.  Of the many pictures displayed on that site, I have selected those that tug at my heart.

Kniphofia uvaria nobilis and Crocosmia Lucifer, http://www.holbrookgarden.comThese cyberspace activities are the next best thing to real gardening. How long will it take to begin that activity anew? I imagine it to be an eternity. Consider that my suppliers closed their premises at Christmas after selling trees and decorative branches for the holidays. Many of them recently left Canada for warmer weather in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, South America, and the Caribbean.

Iris ensata and Primula florindae, http://www.holbrookgarden.comThey are not expected to return until the end of March and my plant deliveries do not begin before early May. Until then, online images from nurseries, growers, and public gardens will become my kind of virtual gardening. I hope these pictures will help warm your hearts, kindle the imagination, and offer you just as much pleasure as I receive from admiring them.