This piece has been extracted from “Shrubs and Small Trees” by “Simon Akeroyd”. Seasonal color is the hue that mirror the shades seen in the four seasons of nature. Services on this can be availed through “Tree Service in Oakland“. We extend our gratitude to the author for this beautiful extract.
Seasonal color: Spring blossom, flowers, and fruit trees
There’s always a sense of anticipation in the air for gardeners as spring heralds the start of a new growing season. The garden awakes from dormancy, the leaves unfurl, and spring blossoms color the landscape.
Heathery heaven This heather, Erica x veitchii ‘Exeter’, starts its flowering season in the bleak cold of winter and continues through to the middle of spring. Bees adore its dense clusters of sweetly scented white blooms, as it’s one of the first flowers of the season and therefore a good source of early nectar.
Japanese Cherry blossom reminiscent of brightly colored clouds, Japanese cherry trees are smothered in delicate flowers in spring. The Japanese love these trees so much that they hold celebrations called hanami, where people picnic and party under the blossoms. Shown here, Prunus incise ‘ Kojo- no- mai’ is a lovely choice for a small garden with light red buds that open to reveal pale pink flowers. Flowering beneath is Erica Carnea’ spring wood White’, the winter heath. Most fruit trees have pretty spring blossoms, including plums, apples, and quinces.
Rhododendron Flower Power Spring is the highlight for many woodland gardens with camellias, magnolias, and rhododendrons all bursting into bloom. This effect can be replicated in much smaller spaces by adopting a simple planting combination of two or three spring-flowering shrubs, such as the bright rhododendrons seen here. Rhododendrons and camellias are evergreen shrubs that require acidic soil and prefer dappled shade.
Spring Jewels There are many shrubs that emerge in spring with an understanding charm. Stachyurus chinensis is one such plant; a stunning, graceful shrub that is not seen in gardens as often as it deserves. The subtle but beautiful pale yellow flowers are particularly valuable because they appear very early in the season when little else is in flower; they hang from the plant like jewels on a necklace in late winter and early spring before the leaves emerge.
Seasonal color: summer flowers and fruit
Long evenings and warm weather make summer the season for outdoor living. Since all the preparation work is now complete, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labors as flowers unfold, fruit ripens, and leaves glisten.
Colorful Courtyard Decks or patios need to be at their best now, as you will spend more of your time here in summer. Trees and shrubs offer height and a sense of enclosure, as well as bountiful flowers, like this pink hydrangea and white buddleja. Containers provide further planting opportunities for shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Modern roses Traditionally, roses were planted in single beds where the different varieties could be compared and admired. Modern designs use them in mixed borders, where they mingle with other flowers.
Mop head mixes The highlight of late summer with their large, showy flowers, hydrangeas are reliable flowering shrubs for mixed or shrub borders.
Summer bounty decorate your garden with fruits, such as currants, gooseberries, strawberries, cherries, plums, pears , and early apples-all will fit into a small yard.
Climbing bouquets These beautiful classic roses can be trained up posts or into trees to add height and make an eye-catching feature. The choice is huge, so it is easy to match one to the existing planting plan.
Fall color: berries, nuts, leaves, and fruit
Take advantage of fall color to ensure that the growing season ends with a grand finale. Choose ornamental’s for their showy leaves and berries, and fruit trees for their spectacular harvest.
Fall explosion Gardens can be a blaze of color as the leaves of fall take center stage. These colors stand out even better when they are deliberately planted to contrast with one another. In this picture, maple, vine, and mahonia leaves all play their part, along with the subtle russet tones of the sedum flower heads, which will stay on the plant well into winter.
Bunches of berries Gardens are not just for people,. They are for wildlife too, and birds adore the red berries of Viburnum opulus. This is a wonderful plant for an informal hedge; the leaves also turn a beautiful red in fall.
Exquisite color Not all leaves are a riot of bright color in fall. Some trees take on more refined, subtle hues, like this yellow birch( Betula alleghaniensis ) with its beautiful buttery yellow foliage, or the common beech ( Fagus sylvatica) , which turns a glorious coppery color.
Wild bout nuts With the onset of the fall harvest, ripening crops, like these hazelnuts, hang on to the last vestiges of summer sunlight. Squirrels and other animals will try to raid the trees before winter arrives.
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