A Walk in the Winter Woodland

There are many days in the winter when the weather is really nice for a walk outside. As you walk along, you’re sure to have questions about the plants you see. winter woods wiltshire magazine

 

In the cold winter months, deciduous trees reveal interesting details about their buds, bark, twigs, and branching patterns not obvious in the leafy shade of summer. During this time, we can focus on the beautiful silhouettes of our trees and shrubs, some of which are so distinctive that they may be used for identification. You can even plan a special winter display of beautiful plant forms in your own garden. Take a walk and uncover the mysteries and the quiet beauty of the winter woodland.        


One of the first things you will notice in the winter woods is that some green can still be found. As the leaves fall from the broadleaf, or deciduous, trees, the dark green forms of scattered evergreen trees, such as, pine, hemlock, cedar, and holly, become focal points in the open woodland. The green winter mantle of these evergreens is made possible by their thick, leathery leaves or needles, which can survive the winter cold and dryness (ice is not a liquid and cannot be taken up by plants). These “winter leaves” do not actually remain on the tree “forever,” but do stay on the tree for a full year or more, and then usually turn brown and drop off in late spring, summer, or early fall. This gives new leaves plenty of time to fully develop. The trees thus appear “ever green.”


Get ready for your next woodland walk by reading the rest of Richie Bell and Anne Lindsey’s article, “A Walk in the Winter Woodland.”


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