Every one has his private calendar, and reckons the seasons by a computation of his own, but we may safely say that four long months, if no more, separate the falling of the leaf from its coming again.

Perhaps we ought not to include Magnolias amongst hibernal flowers, though the trees are often white with blossom before the Larch is green; but the list of shrubs which bloom, or are bright with coloured fruit during those four months, would surprise most people who think of winter only as the dead season. The boughs of Sea Buckthorn are loaded with orange berries. Cl.u.s.ters of scarlet peep out of the fresh green of the Skimmia bushes and, so long as the birds do not find them out, _Pernettya_ carries a crop of purple and crimson and pink fruit more showy than the modest white flowers of summer. When November days are growing dark, _Coronilla_, in sheltered spots, puts forth its pale cl.u.s.tering yellow flowers. Winter Jasmine, if the flowering branches are not ruthlessly pruned away in autumn, covers its long green shoots with golden stars. The evergreen Clematis (_C. calycina_) is never happier than when clinging to some terrace bal.u.s.trade where it may have a little kindly shelter, which it repays by wreathing the stone-work with garlands of finely-cut bronzed foliage, hung with creamy freckled bells.

More than one kind of hardy Heath, if grown in spreading ma.s.ses, will deck the garden with sheets of colour the whole winter through.

The Chinese Honeysuckle (_L. Standishii_) arrays itself in its fragile white flowers as early as January. Witch Hazels hang their bare branches with twisted petals of gold or amber or, sometimes (as in _Hamamelis zuccariniana_), borrow the pale-green tint of the under wing of a brimstone b.u.t.terfly. Soon after Christmas, Mezereon flushes into rosy purple, and bushes of Winter-sweet (_Chimonanthus fragrans_), independent of a wall (as few people know), will breathe out its perfume from leafless branches studded over with waxen-yellow flowers. It is strange how many of these winter-blooming plants keep their leaves well out of harm's way, brave as their flowers may be. But so it is, and so we learn that if we would gain their fullest winter beauty, we must group them with evergreen shrubs as foil or background.

And what store there is of these to choose from, not green only, but colour-tinged--_Berberis_ of many kinds, the shining ordered leaf-rows of _Azara_, the purple tints of _Mahonia_ and _Gaultheria_, the bronze of _Andromeda_ buds, the deep dull green of _Osmanthus_, the wine red of _Leucothoe_, the pearl grey of _Atriplex_, and a hundred more will respond to our beck and call. Only we must choose with judgment, for whether our lot is cast in north or south, in the black east or soft caressing west, makes all the difference to our choosing. Only be sure that more important still than climate are the wind-breaks we can plan, and the shelter we may contrive. Yet when we are in doubt we can always come back with satisfaction to the quick-growing hardiest shrubs and find in them some fit setting for our garden picture. The slender angled branches of green Broom, the rigid spiny Furze, scented Rosemary, or h.o.a.ry Lavender--all will lend their varied tints and attributes as we need them. And if a pool or stream only gives us opportunity, what can surpa.s.s the winter colouring of osier twigs--golden and crimson and olive, mirrored in still water or broken into a thousand reflections by the ripple of a running brook?

Perhaps, amongst all the wealth of winter evergreen shrubs the rank of those which show variegation is too much exaggerated. Popular as they are, the effect is not always good, unless more than ordinary care is taken in their placing. Some few, like the best golden and silver Hollies, are very beautiful, though not all of these are improvements upon the finest green forms. No variegated shrub, probably, is more universally grown than the Aucuba, and it has excellent points; it is hardy in const.i.tution, handsome in outline, and bold of leaf. By ill-luck, as it happened, more than a hundred years ago, the spotted variety was sent home first from j.a.pan, and became domiciled in English gardens and rooted in English affections before the far more worthy green species made its entry.

It is but a private opinion and not given as dogma that it might possibly be a distinct gain to gardens, large and small, if the spotted Aucuba were practically banished and the true green-leaved forms--some of which are generally beautiful when well set with large coral berries--allowed to take its place. The variegated Oleaster (_Elaeagnus pungens_), a remarkably fine shrub when taken by itself, sadly disturbs the repose and dignity of the garden outlook in winter, though doubtless positions might be found in which it would harmonise with its surroundings.

We need only con over, mentally, all the more familiar examples of shrub variegation to find, probably, that we should do as well without a goodly proportion of them, though we may frankly admit some to be very handsome. The secret of our discontent, possibly, lies in the fact that variegation in plants that are normally green is not, in its essence, a sign of health but of wasting sickness. In any case, whatever our feelings may be on this particular point, it is well worth while to weigh the merits of each shrub, variegated or green, before we plant it, not only individually, but in relation to its neighbourhood to other garden a.s.sociates, and more especially with regard to its winter aspect.

Mr. Bean writes as follows about the winter beauty of trees and shrubs: "Even in November and December there are trees and shrubs that brighten the garden with their coloured bark and fruits. Although not abundant, the members of this cla.s.s are not used so extensively as they might be.

"Among Willows, for instance, there are the golden and red-barked varieties of _Salix vitellina_. These, though scarcely ever seen, are capable, when properly treated, of producing bright warm effects that are especially charming from November to February. When allowed to grow naturally this Willow--known popularly as the Golden Osier--forms a graceful tree of large size. Its twigs have a golden or red tinge, according to the variety, but on fully-grown trees these twigs are not large, and as it is, of course, the bark of the preceding summer's growth only that is coloured no very marked colour effect is produced.

To obtain a really bright patch of colour it is necessary to plant these Willows in goodly-sized groups and to prune them hard back every spring.

By treating them in this way a great cl.u.s.ter of long, wand-like growths is made every year, the bark over the whole of which becomes a bright yellow or red as winter approaches. An effective group is produced by mixing the red and yellow-barked varieties.

"Another striking Willow is _Salix daphnoides_. The young bark of this species is covered with a thick glaucous or vivid blue-white 'bloom.'

_S. acutifolia_ is similarly distinguished, though not quite so markedly. Different from any of these Willows, too, is the variety of _S. triandra_, with purplish-brown bark. To bring out fully the ornamental qualities of these Willows they should be treated as advised for _Salix vitellina_. All these Willows are especially charming near the edge of water. Not only are their moisture-loving propensities satisfied, but their beauty is doubled by reflection in the water.

"Somewhat similar to the Willows in the character of their bark, but useful in being adapted for drier situations, are the Cornels (_Cornus_). The best of the genus in this connexion are _Cornus alba_ and its variety _sibirica_. They produce bark which for one or two seasons remains a bright red during the time the branches are leafless.

A group of _Cornus alba_, with _Chionodoxa Luciliae_ or Winter Aconite planted thickly beneath, gives a very pleasing bit of colour early in the year. A yellow-barked form of _Cornus stolonifera_, known as _flaviramea_, deserves mention.

"Several shrubs are notable for the particularly bright green of their bark. The forms of _Kerria j.a.ponica_ and _Neillia_ are very bright during the winter on this account, but still more effective is a near ally, _Stephanandra Tanakae_, a comparatively new shrub, also from j.a.pan, but of little value in any other respect. Finally, I may mention the Rubuses with white stems. As in _Salix daphnoides_, the bark is covered with the waxy secretion known as 'bloom,' and of a blue-tinted white.

Some six or seven species of Rubus have this character. Of those obtainable from nurseries, _R. biflorus_, a Himalayan species often to be had from dealers under the erroneous name of _Rubus leucodermis_, is the best. Dr. A. Henry has introduced a Chinese species, _Rubus lasiostylus_, which is even better than _biflorus_; the bloom is more distinctly blue, and the stems st.u.r.dier and more self-supporting. The species is, however, an extremely rare one in cultivation. It is scarcely necessary to repeat how essential it is that these Brambles and Cornels should be planted in bold groups.

"Among trees the most noteworthy as regards the colour of their bark are the Birches. The beauty of the Common White Birch has not been overlooked by planters. A single specimen or a few grouped together make a bright winter picture when a.s.sociated with evergreens. The Canoe Birch of North America (_Betula papyrifera_) has a bark of an even purer white than our native species. The Yellow Birch (_B. lutea_) shows warm orange-brown tints on the more recently exposed surfaces of its bark.

The bark of the River Birch (_B. nigra_) is not brightly coloured, being of a dull dark brown, but it gives the tree a notably curious aspect owing to the way it stands out from the trunk and branches in great ragged-looking flakes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A WITCH HAZEL IN FLOWER: HAMAMELIS j.a.pONICA VAR.

ZUCCARINIANA._]

A FLOWER GARDEN IN WINTER

"It is possible to make a new feature in gardens by setting apart a piece of ground exclusively for the cultivation of trees, shrubs, and bulbs--in short, any plants that flower or are bright with fruit or bark between, say, the beginning of November and the end of February. One might term it 'an outdoor winter garden.' For the purpose there would be required a well-drained piece of ground, the soil of which was fertile and open. The situation should be fully exposed to the south and west, but guarded well on the north and east sides by a thick belt of evergreen trees and shrubs. The shelter would be still more complete if the site sloped rather steeply to the south-west. Such shelter would be welcome, not only to the plants that grew there, but to those who might visit and tend them. Some of the more noteworthy trees and shrubs with ornamental barks I have already mentioned. Plants that carry their fruit into winter might be included, such as the Hollies, especially the yellow-berried Holly; _Crataegus Crus-Galli_ and _C. cordata_; _Cotoneaster rotundifolia_, which is the best of all the Cotoneasters, and frequently carries its bright-scarlet berries till March; and _Hippophae rhamnoides_, the Sea Buckthorn, whose orange-coloured fruits are borne in such profusion and retain their colour till past Christmas if the frosts are not too severe. The scarlet-fruited _Skimmia j.a.ponica_ and its varieties are very ornamental during the winter months, but of these (as well as the Hippophae) it is necessary to grow male and female plants together. Groups of variegated evergreens would not only help to give shelter and warmth, but would also add to the brightness of the garden. The best of them are the golden and silver variegated Elaeagnuses, the Hollies of a similar character, and the best of the Aucubas, of which there are now some very fine forms; the female plants are also very ornamental as fruit-bearers. _Pinus sylvestris aurea_, a variety of the Scotch Pine that turns golden in winter but is green at other seasons, and _Cupressus macrocarpa lutea_ are the two best Conifers of their cla.s.s. Many of the variegated Conifers lose most or all of their colour as autumn and winter approach.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _ULMUS ALATA._]

"With regard to the trees and shrubs that bear flowers between November and February, the number is not, of course, great; still, they const.i.tute a group that is larger, perhaps, than is generally supposed.

The following list, which comprises all that I can call to mind, may be useful even to those who would not intend to bring them together in one spot. Some country houses are only occupied during the shooting and hunting seasons, and these winter-flowering plants are of especial value in such places. The tree or bush Ivies are very beautiful, and may be had in great variety, such as yellow berried, _palmata aurea_, _rhomboidea ovata_, and _amurensis_."

_November_

Arbutus hybrida.

,, Unedo and vars.

Daphne Mezereum grandiflora.

Elaeagnus glabra, macrophylla, and pungens (all delightfully fragrant).

Hamamelis virginica.

Jasminum nudiflorum.

Lonicera fragrantissima.

,, Standishii.

_December and January_

Chimonanthus fragrans.

Clematis calycina.

Crataegus monogyna praec.o.x (Glas...o...b..ry Thorn).

Erica mediterranea hybrida.

,, carnea.

,, ,, alba.

Garrya elliptica.

Viburnum Tinus.

_February and early March_

Berberis j.a.ponica.

,, nepalensis.

Cornus Mas.

Corylopsis spicata.

Daphne blagayana.

,, Laureola and var. purpurea ,, Mezereum.

,, ,, var. alba.

,, oleoides.

Erica mediterranea.

Hamamelis arborea.

,, j.a.ponica.

,, mollis.

,, zuccariniana.

Prunus davidiana (pink and white forms).

,, Amygdalus persicoides.

Populus tremuloides pendula.

Parrotia persica.

Pyrus j.a.ponica.

Rhododendron altaclarense.

,, dauric.u.m.

,, n.o.bleanum.

,, praec.o.x.

CHAPTER IX

TREES AND SHRUBS WITH BEAUTIFUL CATKINS