Winter Interest Around The Backyard - January 2024

This morning, we're getting walloped by a big snow storm, which will leave behind six-or-so inches of new, fresh white snow.  Yesterday, before that arrived, I walked our kitchen compost out to the bins (and of course, dumped it in the active compost collection bin with the "Feed Me" sign hanging on it), figuring that it might be a couple of days before I was going to get back there.  

On my way back to the house, I was struck by some of the 'winter interest' that I came across in the garden.  Most of the time, it sure feels like when I read about 'winter interest' that they're mostly talking about evergreens.  Shrubs, trees, etc.  And, those surely provide interest during the winter.  But, as I've posted about (and have some regret about), I've made a long-term mistake by neglecting conifers as a key part of our garden and rather focused on deciduous trees and perennials.    I've begun to address that conifer situation and will continue to do this growing season.  

But, what most stood-out for me in terms of 'winter interest' in our garden was STRUCTURE.  Below are a few photos showing what I saw:  the collection of firewood stacked against the fence.  The newly-started Stumpery and the Greenspire Linden Espalier branch.  All topped with snow and making the garden feel a little alive during the winter. 

What's that tell me?  Structure, elevation and installations are a real part of creating 'winter interest'.  I'll keep doing this - via some 'garden vignettes'  and maybe even those gabion pillars or that pizza oven I posted about a few days ago.