Climate In Nova Scotia
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada on the East Coast of North America. People get the idea that we are near the Arctic Circle but not so! In fact, NS is half way between the North Pole and the Equator. If you are not familiar with the geography of the area, Nova Scotia is a peninsula that looks like a fish and is just east of the State of Maine.
We have a ferry that connects Yarmouth NS to Bar Harbor Maine. Because we are somewhat stuck out in the ocean our climate is quite moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream which travels in the Atlantic Ocean from the gulf of Mexico and past, NS, NF and onward to Iceland and Europe.
This means we are climate zones 5 - 6 for the most part. This climate allows us to grow a broad range of plant material quite successfully.
We have a ferry that connects Yarmouth NS to Bar Harbor Maine. Because we are somewhat stuck out in the ocean our climate is quite moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream which travels in the Atlantic Ocean from the gulf of Mexico and past, NS, NF and onward to Iceland and Europe.
This means we are climate zones 5 - 6 for the most part. This climate allows us to grow a broad range of plant material quite successfully.
Enhance The Winter Landscape
Add Colors On Your Garden
Some years, like this one, we do get a lot of snow and can get extreme cold, but not usually. A couple weeks of -10 Celsius is usually as cold as we get. So, between snow and frozen ground we do not actually do much gardening in the winter other than in greenhouses.
I have spent most of my working life in the nursery business, growing trees shrubs and other plants. Mostly woody or herbaceous material, not annuals. We grow lots of large trees of many species and sell and plant trees right up to 10” in diameter.
Some years, like this one, we do get a lot of snow and can get extreme cold, but not usually. A couple weeks of -10 Celsius is usually as cold as we get. So, between snow and frozen ground we do not actually do much gardening in the winter other than in greenhouses.
I have spent most of my working life in the nursery business, growing trees shrubs and other plants. Mostly woody or herbaceous material, not annuals. We grow lots of large trees of many species and sell and plant trees right up to 10” in diameter.
A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. — D. Elton Trueblood
Plan your ornamental garden
Think About Winter Interest
- The use of conifers in the landscape is a great way to get winter color. Contrasted with the snow the soft greens, blues and yellows of conifers can be a great enhancement to your gardens. Some choices are Fir, pines, junipers, Cedars, Chamaecyparus and a few others.
- Add to the some of the beautiful “Broadleaf Evergreens” and you can add a great deal of color interest and texture. We like to recommend Euonymus Fortunei cultivars like Emerald Gaiety and Canadale Gold. Also, great choices are the hollies like Blue princess and also Kalmia, Pieris, and Rhododendron make great winter time plants.
- Next idea is to add more bright colors with colored wood stems and bright berries and fruit. Some of the dogwoods like Red Osier, Yellow Twig, Siberian pearls, and others enhance the winterscape. Kerrie Japonica offers bright green stems and also, some of the Japanese maples add great winter stem interest. There are some amazing stem colors and striation in the small maples like Acer pennsylaticum, (striped or Moosewood maple).
- So what else can we do to enhance the winter landscape? A couple ideas are to consider plants or trees with interesting forms like some of the very erect pyramidal trees like pyramidalhornbeam and columnar English oak. Which by the way, often holds it leaves well into winter? Some plants and trees display wonderful bark interest like Bur Oak, Burning bush, Sycamore, and some of the prunus species.
- And finally, many trees and shrubs display wonderful colored berries into the winter. This include some varieties of Viburnum, Roses (beautiful hips), Sorbus (Mountain Ash with large corymbs of berries), Euonymus Alatus (burning bush), coral berry, snow berry, cotoneaster and even flowering crabs will hold well into the winner with some species. And these encourage the regular visits of bird life.
More Winter Garden Ideas
Now, we have considered plants that can be used for winter interest. We can also use structural features like stone work, statuary, Old cars, used tires , whatever tickles your fancy. Wooden arbors, you name it. It is very easy to build some fixtures that enhance the winter landscape.
These are but a few ideas but let me suggest one more idea! By piping some water out doors in the winter when the temperatures are below freezing you can create some amazing water sculptures just by letting the water direct in the air with a moderate flow and some amazing ice sculptures will be generated.,
These are a few ideas but... We are only limited by our imaginations!
These are but a few ideas but let me suggest one more idea! By piping some water out doors in the winter when the temperatures are below freezing you can create some amazing water sculptures just by letting the water direct in the air with a moderate flow and some amazing ice sculptures will be generated.,
These are a few ideas but... We are only limited by our imaginations!
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