The sanctuary theme is seen as a calming, a place to retreat from the frenzy of Christmas shopping and preparations, predominantly in shades of blush and rose gold. To me a garden is the perfect place to retreat even on a cold winter’s day, a chance to stop and inhale the winter scents that fill the air with a steaming mug of coffee to keep your hands warm.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’

Pastel shades of pink can be found in abundance in winter flowering plants, starting with the large shrubs of Viburnum tinus‘Eve Rose’, tiny pale pink flowers against the dark evergreen leaves or the deeper pink of ‘Lisarose’. For the rest of the year the deep evergreen leaves make the perfect backdrop to highlight spring and summer flowering plants. If you prefer the flowers to be the star then deciduous winter flowering shrubs with their bare brown branches make the perfect plant. Viburnum x bodnantense‘Dawn’ has deep pink buds that fade to pale pink flowers, with the added bonus of being highly scented. Daphne bholua‘Jacqueline Postill’ (grows up to four metres high) and Daphne odora(grows up to 1.5 metres), both are strongly scented with delicate pale pink flowers, flowering from January to February and sometimes into March (although best grown in sheltered spots as they may need protection from frosts). Daphne odoraworks well planted in partially shaded areas, the edge of a woodland or near overhanging trees. Daphne x transatlanticais becoming more readily available in nurseries and garden centres, a smaller more compact variety but is fully hardy unlike some of its taller cousins, Daphne xtransatlantica‘Pink Fragrance’ has beautiful pink flowers and would fit perfectly in a small space or garden.

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’

Moving down the scale or if there isn’t the space for any more shrubs hellebores have cheerful pink, nodding flowers from the white with pink freckles of Helleborus × hybridus ‘Harvington white speckled’, the white with pink splash’s of Helleborus × hybridus ‘Pretty Ellen Pink’, like some has painted the petals with watercolours to the pink of Helleborus × ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’. Hellebores are perfect winter and early spring fillers for just about any garden, liking sun or partial shade they will cover up patches of bare soil, planted around the base of deciduous shrubs will add colour and interest and make darker areas of the garden come alive. Cyclamen are another perfect winter flowering plant for dotting around the base of deciduous shrubs, covering up the soil and adding colour through the winter branches and twigs. Or adding to pots and planters for a splash of colour near the house, from the pale pink of Cyclamen hederifoliumto the deeper pink of Cyclamen coum.

Hellebores

Shades of gold aren’t colours typically associated with plants (even those with gold in their name are shades of bright yellow) but to add a glittery element leave the seed heads on grasses and perennials like Phlomisto capture the winter frost and watch them twinkle in the winter light.  Adding lighting will also make the garden sparkle, uplighters will highlight a focal point, a favourite tree or piece of sculpture or scattered amongst the borders will add a diffuse glow to the plants. Strings of outdoor lights will give that Christmas feeling, wrapped round the bare bones of a large shrub or deciduous tree or around topiary at the entrance to a house or garden.

Christmas lights outside RHS Wisley

About the Author

Camilla Grayley is a garden designer based in York, mainly working in and around Yorkshire but has travelled up and down the UK to design gardens and is always happy to travel to help clients with their gardens. I love creating gardens with strong architectural outlines softened by voluminous planting that draws on year round interest, ensuring there is something to capture the eye whatever the season. Gardens should always evoke all the senses from the colour palette on the eye, to the rustling of plants swaying in the wind to the amazing perfumes that can be inhaled, whether on a summer’s evening or the depth of winter.

Services

If you would like to know more working with me please feel free to have a look at my Garden Design and Garden Consultancy Services.