Textures & Colors of my Winterscape

The predominant colors of the southeastern winter landscape are various shades of gray and brown. I often read articles about how to brighten this drab palette but I find that if you look closely these grays and browns offer a great deal of interest.

Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge and wisdom so it seems to reason that Mother Nature should cloak much of the winter terrain with this color.

I think this stump looks rather brainy, don't you?

 

Moss creeping through this bark creates an interesting abstract and lovely contrast.

Even the female birds stand out against the gray backdrop.

Being the color of earth, brown is associated with the maternal side of life. It is also the color of solidarity and makes a great background color. 

Fallen trees look fantastic in the landscape. Not only are they beneficial to wildlife but they also make great structures to plant around.

The American Beech trees hold their leaves until spring. They look like little scrolls hanging from the branches.

The insects and birds have been busy on this dead tree giving it a second purpose.

The leaf scar lined with tooth-like spines on this Devil's Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa) looks like a vicious bulldog collar.

The monochromatic colors of winter don't have to be boring. If you take a closer look they offer varied textures and patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed at other times of year. What are you finding in your winter garden that is providing you with some inspiration?