Now that most of the main chores are done in your flower garden and winter months are rapidly approaching, it is time to add some color to your garden. There is no reason for your garden to look empty and dull when there are many varieties of winter loving plants that you can add to your garden. By now you should have planted some chrysanthemums which are considered a fall flowering plant for your flower garden. But it doesn’t have stop there as you can also start adding some winter flowering plants to your garden.

Camellias come to mind as a favorite winter flowering plant that you can add to your garden. One preferred winter blooming camellia is called japonica and as the name infers, it is native to Japan but widely seen in Korea and China as well. It is also the official state flower of Alabama and also called the rose of winter. Although many hybrids have been developed from the camellia japonica, one of the most beautiful of all camellias is the Alba Plena. The flowers are pure white and extend 3 to 4 inches across. It blooms early winter and can continue blooming into spring. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

You can also plant American winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and it will add gorgeous color to your garden with its bright red fruit that only ripe in the winter. The American winterberry is a species of holly that is native to eastern North America in the US and southeast of Canada and south to Alabama. During the summer months, the winterberry plant has large green leaves and it blooms with flowers bearing up to eight petals each. When the cool weather approaches, the winterberry will begin to loose its foliage and the plant will display a splash of bright red berries. Those bare branches covered with red berries will add much needed color to your flower garden.

If you don’t want to plant flowers in your garden during the cold weather, plant some in containers inside the house and place them in your window sill. The paperwhite narcissus is a gorgeous plant that is easy to plant in containers and it blooms during the winter. The white flowers come up in bunches and are very fragrant. It is best grown as a house plant and you can force it to bloom around mid December. Unlike other narcissus, paperwhite does not require chilling to promote blooms. The bulbs begin to grow as soon as you plant them and flowers appear in about 3 to 4 weeks. Remember to buy your bulbs from a reputable company like Breck’s for the best quality. Just follow the instructions that are included with your purchase and you will have beautiful flowers properly displayed on your window sill during the winter months. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

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If you are feeling the pain of seeing your flower garden looking dull for the winter months, get some camellias and you will have flowers in your garden. Camellias are a delightful winter flowering plant that can add beauty and color to your garden and are easy to grow. And camellias are known to attract hummingbirds to your flower garden.  There are many varieties of camellias so do some research before you buy them. Some varieties are short and can be used as groundcover while others can be classified as trees that can grow up to 15 feet tall. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

For some types of camellias, the blooms begin early winter and continue until spring. Some bloom from early fall into Christmas so be sure to check your gardening zone as it will tell you whether or not camellias will thrive in your area during the harsh days on winter. One thing is for sure, camellias will add much needed color to your flower garden during the winter and well into the spring season. Use them as hedges or in mixed borders where they can provide fall and winter color to your flower garden. It is recommended that you give camellias a heavy coating of mulch and some acidic soil for the plant to stay healthy.

Camellias are classified as evergreen shrubs or even small trees but there are some that grow short and you can plant them as groundcover or mixed them with other perennials in your flower garden. You can also plant camellias in containers or planters and they look spectacular when they bloom. This is such a beautiful plant bearing thick, glossy like leaves and flowers that come in red, yellow, pink and white. Camellias also bear seeds that are sometimes called the fruit of camellia plants. Follow the instructions that are provided when you buy camellias but as a general rule they don’t tolerate drought conditions so give them lots of water. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

The leaves of a specific type of camellia are used for tea in China and Japan. The seed or sometimes called the fruit is used to make cooking oil which is widely used for millions of people especially in southern China. Other types of camellias are basically grown as ornamental plants in flower gardens to add beauty and color during the winter season which is the time when most flower gardens need it the most. Again, check the gardening zone for your area as most of the camellias I’ve seen thrive in zones 7-10. The good news is that cultivars are coming up with many new varieties that will tolerate greater cold hardiness.

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Back in 1921, Edward Bok used to spend winters in a residential community in Lake Wales, Florida. He especially enjoyed the tranquil beauty of this place and enjoyed taking walks to the top of a place called Iron Mountain to watch breathtaking sunsets and experience bird life. It was during one his walks to the mountain that he got the idea of creating a bird sanctuary and flower gardens on the hilltop, a serene and peaceful place.

To accomplish his quest, Edward Bok contacted a famous landscape architect by the name of Frederick Law Olmsted. He then proceeded to buy the land on the hilltop and told Frederick Olmsted to analyze that sand hill and turn it into a place of beauty. After laying water pipes for irrigation, loads of black soil was brought in. Wanting to create tropical gardens, the architect decided to plant trees and lots of bushes in order to provide food for the birds. These plantings are still there today and serve as a refuge for squirrels and hundreds of bird species.

The gorgeous garden is one of the greatest achievements of the famous landscape architect Frederick Olmsted. The gardens consist of 250 acres of tranquil resting places, shady areas, picturesque vistas and awesome splashes of color. Here you will also find many family friendly garden areas where children can learn about the gardens and play with butterflies and watch lots of different species of birds. There are also many acres of oaks, pines, ferns and palm trees that create different shades of green. In between all this greenery, you will see a spectacular array of magnolias, camellias and azaleas blooms that is magnificent.

The Bok gardens are known for the gorgeous landscape trails and gardens but you will also find human friendly squirrels that you can feed by hand. There is a place called ‘Window by the Pond’ where it might be the best place to see the garden’s native birds and wildlife throughout the place. This is a wooden building with benches and a large window and visitors are encouraged to observe butterflies, reptiles, and many species of birds in their natural habitat.

This historic Sanctuary is open daily and there is an admission fee of $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge. The Bok Tower Gardens is located about 50 miles south of Orlando in Central Florida. The gardens are open from 9 am to 5pm daily. For more information go to: http://www.boktowergardens.org

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