I said I would do a blog on colorful twigs since I ran out of space and time when I tried to cover both berries and twigs the first time. The next couple of months these plants will be their best. The cold weather has really brought out the color in their stems. Admittedly I wasn’t too thrilled about tromping through a foot of snow to get the images, but just like when I used to have to go out and feed the cows in winter, once outside I rather enjoyed the time. I do miss the cows at times, especially later in spring when it would have been prime calving time. I just loved the birthing season. By the way, that birthing scene in City Slickers? TOTALLY fake. Just so you know. Anyway, now is the time when we need a little color in the garden. I mean the Sutphin Fountain is perfectly lovely this time of year.
Sutphin Fountain
But I need some color! These deciduous shrubs with yellow, orange, green, or red stems provide it like nothing else in the middle of a Midwest winter and are a hardy easy to grow group of plants. The colors really pop against snow or evergreens but are excellent in any situation. Don’t be afraid to cut a few to bring indoors too.
