Spring is my favourite time in my garden in the Blue Mountains, not far from Sydney. But at this time of year, when it’s winter Down Under, I really appreciate the beauty of a winter garden.
My Winter Garden
We have a cold (for Australia!) winter with regular heavy frosts. This allows us to enjoy wintering flowering plants that hotter parts of the country can’t.
the water in the bird bath freezes in the frost
Leaves have fallen from deciduous trees, revealing the sculptural beauty of bare branches.
the beauty of apple trees in winter
The evergreen plants still have their leaves giving varying tones of lush green. But there’s colour, too.
Sasanqua Camellias
The stars of my winter garden are sasanqua camellias, large shrubs planted over twenty years ago by the previous owner. They’re covered in a mass of exquisite pink blooms from April onwards.
Sasanqua Camellias
The other stars are the hellebores (winter roses) that I planted under two large claret ash trees. The deciduous trees allow winter sun and then shade in summer—ideal for hellebores. Twenty years ago we planted trays of seedlings, my vision was to have a carpet of beautiful pink and white flowers. The reality is just what I dreamed of—my favourite part of the garden.
Hellebores (winter roses)
Jonquils, both yellow and white, start blooming in June and add bursts of bright colour to the winter garden. They also contribute a beautiful scent.
Jonquils
More scent comes from the winter flowering daphne, its tiny pink flowers contribute a rich heady scent that wafts across the garden and into the house.
Daphne
Viburnums flower through the cooler months—there’s always some to fill a vase. Hebes, too, add a splash of colour.
Viburnums 
Hebes
This year, the daffodils came early. And even among this winter splendour, tulips and hyacinths and other spring flowering bulbs are starting to make their presence felt as their leaves push up from the soil.
Daffodils
What’s your favourite season in your garden? I’d love to read your thoughts!
Photos by Kandy Shepherd
Kandy Shepherd is a best-selling, award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her heartfelt, passionate stories are set in exciting locations around the world and are published in multiple languages. Kandy believes in love-at-first-sight and real-life romance—she and her husband of many years decided to spend their lives together after three days! She loves it when readers tell her that her books make them laugh and make them cry. Kandy lives near Sydney, Australia with her husband and numerous four-legged friends.
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