There are several deciduous trees and shrubs that keep their leaves throughout much of winter:  beeches, pin oaks, azaleas, and roses are a few.  With frost and winter light they are quite beautiful.  Shrub roses will often continue blooming until we get several below freezing days in a row.

Berries add interest - from the bright red of the hawthorn tree to the dark blues of a viburnum.  Shrubs like hydrangeas can also be beautiful if their dried blossoms are not removed.  The sword-like leaves of some varieties of irises, which turn shades of rosy gold, will persist until they get too soggy.

Many of your perennial flowers and grasses still have (or should have) their seed heads, which can be dazzling on a frosty morning.

If you have a sheltered sunny spot in your yard, there are many types of herbs which will remain green right up until the first heavy snow!

And then there are the evergreens - in addition to the conifers and hollies that we associate with winter landscapes, many perennials have green foliage throughout the winter months.  Thymes, heathers, spikey blue fescue grass, liriope, dianthus and many of the spurges and sedums to name a few.

I hope I’ve persuaded you that winter in your garden doesn’t have to be a dull affair - with a little planning and some restraint at fall clean-up time you can enjoy your property 12 months a year.

P.S.:  please remember to fill the bird feeders and be mindful of wildlife during these chilly days and nights!