As we approach Thanksgiving, the garden is in transition as fall drifts into winter. Many horticultural aficionados turn to reflecting on the seasons past – re- sharing those pictures full of glorious color. However, at this time of the year there is an opportunity to absorb a different kind of beauty, let’s call it “an ugly beauty”.
The first frost stimulates canna to reabsorb – green waxy to brown and crisp in 48 hours
The cycle of life is easiest to appreciate in perennial plants. By now they have done their stuff – rapid growth , flowered and pollinated, seed production and distribution, fed the roots.If we are lucky then we may be left with an attractive plant skeleton – often best seen after overnight frosts.If not, then we may be left with a brown mess – but it is important not to be over zealous to cut it back.
Plant skeletons – residual seed heads – seasonal bird food – will only be removed when new growth appears.In its own way – natures beauty!
As well as residual seeds providing seasonal bird food, plant skeletons and debris provides shelter for insects, snakes and small mammals. An important service for the environmental well being…. and not unattractive – an ugly beauty!
Still plenty of interest here!
I live with this phase of the garden until around the end of January/ early February when ,here in the south,new growth starts to become apparent. Normally, it is cut back over a weekend , cut and spread in the woodland and then the main garden is ready for mulching.And then the magic starts again!
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