The Literary Gardener – November 2015
In the the winter of 1849, Amelia Bloomer published her first edition of The Lily, a newspaper devoted to women’s issues in which she advocated for less-restrictive female garments. More than three decades later, members of the Rational Dress Society daringly suggested that no woman should have to wear more than 7 pounds of underwear. Imagine what these ladies would think if they stepped into a Victoria’s Secret store today!
Although ladies’ bloomers are a thing of the past, we can still follow Amelia Bloomer’s advice and “cast off burdensome beliefs,” one being that our winter gardens must be devoid of blooming color. It’s true that most flowers in the wintertime are not big showoffs; they don’t have to compete for the attention of pollinators like their spring and summer comrades do. Nevertheless, when the weather turns drab, it’s such a delight to see plants growing in the garden, reflecting the subtle beauty of the winter season. Here’s a peek at a few of my favorite winter bloomers:
Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)—No shrinking violet, pansies thrive in cooler weather, providing long-lasting spots of color in a wide variety of combinations. The Majestic Giant, Imperial, and Universal series are all bred for resistance against extreme cold and heat. My favorite is the 4-inch blotched blossoms of Majestic Giant’s ‘Deep Blue’ and ‘Fire’ cultivars. Pansies grow in full sun or partial shade.
December Rose (Helleborus niger)—Interestingly, the ‘black’ hellebore species offers creamy white blossoms that are not really flowers at all but bracts; niger refers to the plant’s dark roots. However, hellebore hybrids are also available in a wide variety of muted pinks, purples, and greens. My favorites are the actual black-colored hellebore (a hybrid of H. orientalis), and the speckled cultivars. They bloom best in at least partial shade.
Heather (Erica carnea)—I grow pink, yellow, and white-flowered heather in sunny areas of my garden and, although I love them all, my favorite is ‘Ice Princess’. This cultivar sends out bunches of small white umbels throughout winter, reminding me of thimble-sized clumps of snow clinging to the tips of branches. Admirably hardy, the flowers of winter heather are surprisingly delicate.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum)—Most people are familiar with the pink, red, and white flowers of potted cyclamen, but these tuberous perennials with pretty mottled foliage make an outstanding groundcover in shady outdoor areas. Color provided by rounded heart-shaped blossoms is an added bonus November through February.
Amelia Bloomer believed ladies’ clothing should be, above all else, practical. She wrote, “It should conduce at once to her health, comfort, and usefulness; and while it should not fail also to conduce to her adornment, it should make that end of secondary importance.” Similarly, with the exception of pansies, all of the winter bloomers mentioned have interesting foliage that make them useful in the garden year-round. Then, just when our gardens most need adornment, they happily oblige. I am sure Amelia would approve.
Rhonda Nowak is a teacher, writer and gardener who lives and works in the Rogue Valley. She has taught literature and language arts for 25 years, the last six at Rogue Community College. In addition to her column for the Jacksonville Review, she writes a weekly column and blog called the Literary Gardener for the Mail Tribune. She also writes articles for Southern Oregon Wine Scene magazine and is writer and editor of Ashland Living magazine. Email Rhonda at Rnowak39@gmail.com.
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