WellesleyWeston Magazine

WINTER 2013/2014

Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.

Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/210435

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gardening in bloom greenhouse flower beds the green scene flora Winter Beauties R U T H F U R M A N writer horticulture ARINAHABICH08 / DREAMSTIME.COM shrubbery every season in New England offers up its own distinctive beauty, even winter. The stillness of falling snow, bare branches in sharp relief against a glittering white background on a cold, sunny day, and a silvery frosting on stately evergreens are just a few of winter's delights that come to mind. For me, it is the evergreens in the winter landscape that define the season with their majesty and grandeur. While there are many tried-and-true that grace local gardens, there are some lesser- known varieties that I have planted and enjoyed getting to know. At the top of my list of favorites is the primeval looking conifer Sciadopitys verticillata, the Japanese Umbrella Pine. The common name refers to the glossy dark green thick needles that We l l e s l e y We s t o n M a g a z i n e | w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4 radiate around its stems, similar to the ribs of an umbrella turned upside down. A slow grower, it eventually reaches 20 to 30 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide, growing best in full sun. Close inspection of the bark, usually hidden by the tree's dense foliage, reveals a surprising orangey-red in exfoliating strips. In its native Japan the wood is highly prized for its waterresistance and pleasantly spicy scent. 'Tis the season for holly and if you have longed for an English holly but haven't had much success (they find our winters a bit too harsh), consider the false holly, Osmanthus hetero- 22

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