Evergreens - The most useful plants in your garden


The gardens of Cumbria's Lake District National Park do not have many species that truly belong.   The people who introduced plants to the county searched throughout the world for rare and unusual species to place in the gardens of England.   

Native evergreen species include Box, Holly, Juniper, Scots Pine and Yew.   Trees and shrubs that have established themselves without the hand of man. 

When the temperatures drop below freezing, as they have today, the evergreens still look sensational.    This year, for the Christmas holiday, I clipped evergreen shrubs from the garden.  Arranged leaves and branches in a variety of containers, positioned them on windowsills.   Conveyed the outdoors within.    Joining the native species were Choiysia ternata, Osmanthus, Ligustrum, Eleagnus pungens, Virburnum tinus and Hedera.

Moving the garden into my home gives a sense of wonder during these long winter days. 


Our resident red squirrels love evergreens too.   We have attached their feeder to an ivy clad pole.    Please don't tell our electricity supply company how much the squirrels love the pole they placed in our garden many years ago!


   

     

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