A pot in winter - article for Yougardener
A dear friend of mine, who recently bought a rustic farmhouse in the Piedmont countryside to stay in during her vacations and, more recently, during this period of mandatory remote working, called me at the end of the summer, excited, and said, "I finally got around to cleaning out the cellar, and I found a real treasure!" And indeed, a real fortune emerged, at least in our eyes: forgotten and dusty, there were old glass demijohns, all sorts of wrought iron baskets and containers, but above all a wonderful collection of terracotta pots.
These in particular were recovered and placed in various points of the courtyard, terraces, and portico. A smooth terracotta cylinder, almost 50 cm in diameter, with a border, immediately captured our hearts, and it was assigned the important task of enhancing the entrance. This is located under a portico, typical of country farmhouses, which provides shade and coolness during the summer. Since the pots hosting rich annual blooms abound in this space during the warm season, we decided to give it importance and elegance witha composition that would look its best during the winter.
As the undisputed star, I chose an uncommon plant, but one that is unique and certainly capable of intriguing and impressing those who are unfamiliar with it. TheEdgeworthia crysantha, or St. Joseph's wand, is a spreading deciduous shrub characterized by smooth, very flexible branches. When these are still bare, around February, it bears small, creamy yellow tubular flowers grouped in globular clusters, which are very fragrant. It is a truly beautiful bloom, perhaps my favorite among winter flowers, and certainly does not go unnoticed. The flowers are then replaced by large, dark green, lanceolate leaves: over the following seasons, the shrub becomes dense and bright green. As well as being beautiful, it is also easy to grow and not particularly susceptible to disease. It is best to protect it from cold winds and drafts, and to keep it watered (always avoiding waterlogging), especially during the hot season.
To enrich the composition, several snowdrop bulbs (Galanthus nivalis) were placed at the base of the pot to enrich the composition. These will also bloom towards the end of January, almost in parallel with the Edgworthia, covering the bare earth with their bright green fleshy leaves and small white bell-shaped flowers. Of course, there is room for other winter blooms (such as Viola odorata) or spring bulbs such as daffodils and tulips.
At Geranium macrorrhizum, finally, has the task of forming the 'green base'. It will create a compact cushion with its evergreen, fragrant, and irregular leaves throughout the year, light green at first and characterized by beautiful red-purple brushstrokes starting in autumn. From May onwards, it will reward us with beautiful pink flowers. It is also well suited to partial shade and cool soil.
In my drawing, I wanted to depict this composition at its most splendid and elegant moment, with the Edgworthia and snowdrops in bloom, the Geranium in full color transition, all set against the warm tones of the farmhouse.
full article on Yougardener
