Beauty of winter

By Ed Merrison
ACCORDING to Olinda gardener Simon Gaythorpe, winter is not a time for avoiding the garden or resigning oneself to the onset of a few drab months.
On the contrary, Mr Gaythorpe, whose garden gates will be thrown open next February as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme, says winter in the Hills can be as rewarding as any season.
“Certainly the mist in the garden, the dew on the flowers and the scent in the air are romantic.
“That’s the beauty of living in a seasonal climate; there’s always something happening or about to happen,” he said.
There is also no shortage of plants that will flower and fill the air with fragrance.
Mr Gaythorpe favours evergreen shrubs such as daphne, luculia, with its fragrant, pink flowers, and mahonia, which has holly-like leaves and flowers in bright yellow spikes.
The hardy and versatile sasanqua camellia, renowned for performing well in cool climates, also makes the list, as do the annuals primula, cineraria, poppies and pansies.
“They really are just as colourful in the winter as in summer and spring. There’s no reason for the garden not to be beautiful and in flower all year round,” Mr Gaythorpe said.
As well as considering winter aesthetics, there is also the question of preparation for the coming months.
“The more work I do now the less I do in the spring and summer. You can prepare the plants and improve the soil so when they do get going, all the things are there, ready to go and can be a lot better,” he said.
This involves mulching the perennial garden, cutting back the clematis and pruning the roses.
Bulbs such as liliums and perennials such as Mr Gaythorpe’s catmint will be divided with a spade and replanted, multiplying the plants and giving them more room to grow.
And not everything takes work, with the winter rains expected to amply nourish the soil of Mr Gaythorpe’s charmingly landscaped hillside garden.
So winter in the garden is nothing to run away from. Indeed, for this cheerful Olinda green thumb it would be impossible to sit the season out.
“It’s a bit like religion. If you’ve got it you can’t not do it. It’s nice to be outside, you feel good about it and the beauty you create is just incredible,” he said.