OF WINTER FLOWERING TREES AND 

 SHRUBS 



Open sky and cloud does not form a good background 

 for the flowering shrubs of winter. What is needed are 

 darkly-hued evergreens, such as various conifers, the 

 yew, etc. Such afford an effective setting to the flowers ; 

 and they also afford shelter. All have heard, many have 

 experienced, the extremes of heat and cold that occur in 

 sub-alpine heights in spring. In the sun one basks, but 

 in the shade would freeze. On the sun-exposed slopes 

 the flowers are through — they are open ; while on spots 

 untouched by sun, snow still covers the vegetation. This 

 difference of plant growth in sun and shade, although 

 far less noticeable in Britain, should be made the most 

 of in gardens ; for although some shrubs, such as the 

 Japanese witch-hazel, covers most of the winter season 

 with its flowers, the flowering season of others, as the 

 yellow jasmine, is far shorter, and could be much pro- 

 longed by planting in various situations with different 

 aspects. The same may apply to most winter flowers, 

 but one has to take into account the tenderness of some. 

 And the tenderness is no myth. When the flowers of 

 such good shrubs as the jonquil-scented Chimonanthus, 

 the bright-flowered Corylopsis, etc., are ruined with 

 hard frosts, there is little wonder that long ago gardeners 

 tacked their winter flowering plants against a wall, and 

 have ever since left them there. The disadvantage of 

 a wall is that one never can obtain the same show, as 

 only one surface is extended, and that usually a trained 



