In From the Cold
![12.14.Park.Hill.Roots.red amaryllis](http://greaterparkhill.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/12.14.Park_.Hill_.Roots_.red-amaryllis-224x300.jpg)
When contemplating what to write about for a garden column in December, I have to admit struggling to come up with a topic. How much can you really do in the garden in December?
After much thought and many conversations, I decided to write about bringing the outside, in. With the cold November behind us and plenty more cold days ahead of us, why deprive ourselves of bloom and fragrance and texture?
There are plenty of ways to do this. The obvious are the fresh boughs and wreaths that adorn our homes – our doors and mantles and tables. Likewise, poinsettias are a wonderful way to add bloom to one’s home. Now, they are available in a multitude of colors – the traditional red, pink and white and the newly cultivated hot pinks, variegated, even blues and purples. Fancy that.
I challenge you, however, to think beyond the traditional. Think about what you have in your yard (or your friendly neighbor’s yard) that you can harvest.
Is there a mature pine or a spruce that you can trim some texture from? Can you snip some bright red twig dogwood canes, tie a bow around them and place them in a glass vase? Do you have a rose bush with plump hips or a Hawthorne tree with red berries that can be integrated into the evergreens? Even some holly or Mahonia can add a nice textural element to a winter arrangement. Fresh berry twigs are readily available at the local florist.
For those that love bloom, paper whites and amaryllis bulbs are abundant this time of year. Not only do they make great gifts, they are affordable (sold at the grocery stores) and are a lovely way to bring some fresh, seasonal and fragrant bloom inside.
I prefer to purchase the bulbs just as they are starting, place them in an inexpensive vase or bowl. All paper whites need is a bowl of water and rocks to help anchor the winding roots. Both bulb varieties will last the whole month long, all the while putting on an awesome show as the stalks slowly grow upward and the blooms gently unfold themselves.
Armed with a little imagination, a warm coat, some sharp pruners and gloves, you would be surprised what you may find yourself creating … bringing the scents and textures from outside, in.
A native of Park Hill, Marne is a professional horticulturalist and garden designer who cultivates her own plot on Dexter Street, where gardens and two kids grow. She can be reached at marnenorquist@gmail.com.
December Garden Tips
• Clip long strands of Virginia Creeper and coil them for winter wreaths
• Harvest fresh boughs from your evergreens
• Deep water trees, shrubs and perennials, especially newly planted ones
• Restock the bird feeders
• Browse seed catalogues
• Check stored bulbs and tubers; Discard any spoiled ones.
• Pile the snow on tender plants (Redbuds, semi-hardy perennials, Japanese Maples, etc.), as it’s the ideal insulator against the cold
• Continue to plan for the coming season
See You In The Garden
After two years of having the honor to be a contributor to the Greater Park Hill News, I am putting down the pen, at least for the time being. This month marks the last installment of my monthly column, Park Hill Roots. It has truly been a privilege to offer tips and various perspectives of gardening to the awesome Park Hill neighborhood and community. To write for this publication has been an honor beyond words. I am grateful to Editor Cara DeGette (and her predecessor, Erin Vanderberg Reynolds) for the opportunity and forum in which to write. – Marne Norquist