Winter Garden Plan
The winter garden can be as beautiful and lively as any other time of the year. With the help of evergreens and plants that flower in winter, the winter garden can be colorful, inviting, and bird and wildlife friendly. This is my personal winter garden plan. You can do something similar in your own garden. A wide variety of bird life use and enjoy this garden area daily. The garden plan includes a few of the plants that you will find in the plant list as well as a bird bath. Envision your own space and use your creativity to come up with a garden plan that works for you. You can also add feeders to this plan for even more bird appeal. It is a free diagram to inspire you in your garden; just click here.  The plant list includes the plants in both the In Scope: Anna's Hummingbird and Dark-eyed Junco articles. If you want, you can print out the list to take on your next trip to the nursery. Any of the plants on this list will benefit birds and other wildlife. Next to each plant listed, I have stated how the birds will utilize each plant.  Plant List 1. Camellia (any variety for cover for all birds, but specifically the gorgeous 'Yuletide' variety is recommended for winter flowers for Anna's Hummingbirds. The flowers of the 'Yuletide' Camellia have a very strong, beautiful fragrance that permeates the air!) 2. Oregon Grape (Mahonia x media, especially 'Charity' ~ used for winter flowers for Anna's hummers ~ other birds love the berries as well. This plant also provides great cover for all birds.) 3. Currant (Ribes sanguineum glutinosum 'Claremont' ~ Used for early spring flowers for hummingbirds and berries for other birds. It is also another great plant for cover) 4. Fuchsia flowering Gooseberry (For hummingbird flowers in early spring, berries for other birds and cover for all birds.) | 5. Winter Jasmine (for winter hummingbird flowers) 6. Evergreen Trees (great for cover and nest sites for all birds ~ many birds also enjoy the seeds that come from cone bearing evergreens.) 7. Berry producing deciduous and evergreen plants (such as berry trees and Variegated English Holly ~ birds love these both for cover and berries). 8. Rhododendron (cover for all birds as well as great hummingbird bathing places when the leaves are wet! These also have beautiful flowers at other times of the year.) 9. Roses, especially climbing varieties (The long stems are perfect perching places for all birds. They are also some of my favorite plants for their lovely, fragrant flowers spring through fall.) 10. Bird seed patch (containing ~ millet and sunflowers ~ a favorite of all seed eating birds for both food and cover. Juncos, other sparrows and even pheasants are especially fond of these plants.) A word of caution ~ the Oregon Grape (Mahonia x media 'Charity') and Holly have leaves that are spiny and sharp. Fuchsia flowering Gooseberry is also very thorny and prickly on its branches and fruit. For this reason these plants make great protective borders as well as wonderful cover for birds to hide from predators. Ideal placement of these plants are in areas away from walkways and where children and pets can't be hurt while playing in the yard or garden. The Winter Jasmine, Rhododendron, and many berry producing plants such as the English Holly are poisonous, so take care with children and animals in mind when placing these plants in your garden. I hope that this information has been helpful to you in planning your own garden space. Join me each month for updates on my winter garden and how the birds in my area are utilizing my new plants. Also, this spring we'll reveal an exciting new plan for the spring garden!  Have fun and work safely! Happy Gardening! By, Jessi Wasell |