My Garden in January (Pacific Northwest, zone 7b)

If I look at my garden right now, it appears that there will be an early spring.

Fir trees, boxwoods, Japanese ilex, grass and moss provide green color all year around.

I still keep some dry perennial stalks. The birds check them for leftover seeds from time to time. And, I still hope to see snow on them one day. We might get snow later in January and even as late as March.

Joe Pye Weed

Monarda

Joe Pye Weed


Russian sage and Monarda

Somehow, shrub roses manage to keep several flowers and buds pink:

 

They attract an eye right away against the rather brown background in my perennial flowerbed:

Raspberry stalks have an interesting purplish color. Our mild winters here in the Pacific Northwest don't require bending them to the ground and covering with soil as we used to do in our Russian garden long ago.

In winter, moss becomes a star in the garden. Gray sky and plenty of moisture speed up its growth. I try to restrict it from spreading on the lawn. Applying lime helps a bit. Lime doesn't kill acid-loving moss, but it increases the PH of soil. In spring, I remove it with a rake and hands, then I put grass seeds down. I don't try to totally get rid of moss as it's impossible. But, I try to control it and keep it in the areas of the garden where it looks good.

Anywhere else beyond the lawn, moss is welcome. I like to use it in containers - outside and inside.
 

It looks great around paperwhites for example.

Big lacey heads of Hydrangea look lovely:

Mondo grass has its cute earrings on:

Chives grow wildly in my kitchen garden. I tried to remove their purple heads on a timely basis. Otherwise, it can take the whole bed.

There are some flowers on the Campanula, Alyssum, Calendula, hardy Fuchsia and Helleborus foetidus:

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Tree fuchsia

Temperature is above freezing. What a mild, green winter!

Light morning frost on the nearby golf course.

***Copyright 2012 TatyanaS