Plants That Wake Up In Winter

Far away in a corner of the garden Elaeagnus 'Gilt Edge' is coming into its own. This dazzling shrub, with its deep green, shiny leaves, heavily edged in gold, lights up the winter garden and provides wonderful material for wreathes and winter arrangements inside.

One, very common glossy leaved, plant, looking quite smart these days, is Bergenia cordifolia, the old variety found in so many gardens, with pink flowers. Since the rainy season arrived its large, leathery, green, leaves have grown turgid. They even caught the attention of an electrical worker, fixing lines out on the street, in front of our house. As I was getting into my car she was on break and she questioned me about the wonderful wide leaved plant growing outside our fence. It made me realize that although plants may seem common to me they can be new and wonderful to someone else. I have three other varieties of Bergenia in the garden, Bergenia purpurascens, B.'Bressingham Ruby' both produce, eye catching, bright rose colored flowers and B.'Wintermarchen,' white flowers. All bloom in the winter and into the late Spring.

As winter nears more plants will take their place on the gardens winter stage. I will continue this discussion in my next article, 'Those Amazing Hellebores' and other winter delights.

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