As spring blossoms all around, there are still some who crave the winter season’s unique charm, even though it’s already doing its thing, in all the ways that only winter can. For those who’ve grown weary of endlessly scrolling through 4.6 million #springgarden posts, let me offer a fresh perspective on the #wintergarden. Over the past 85 days, I’ve challenged myself to document this often-underappreciated time of year on Instagram, from January to March. And while spring’s arrival is a welcome shift, winter will be back before we know it. The choices we make—or don’t make—right now during the planting season will heavily influence whether we get to experience the beauty of a four-season garden in the future.
Or perhaps, the pleasures that come with it.
It’s About Patience
This year marks the first time I felt like my winter garden truly had “body” to it. After all the planting and preparation, I was pleasantly surprised to see it starting to take form. When viewed at just the right angle, at the perfect time of day, and maybe with a bit of celebratory drink in hand, I could almost call it a “winter garden” after six years of work. The way the sunset bathed the space in its glow was magical, though a little cleaning might have helped it shine even more.
It’s About Managing Expectations
Winter gardens, like any garden, evolve over time. They improve year after year, getting better with each turn of the seasons. But where we tend to forgive the little frustrations of our summer gardens, we hold winter gardens to a much stricter standard. Maybe it’s because we’re cold, impatient, or just longing for the full splendor of a Kew Gardens-style winter. But let’s be honest, most of us don’t have the perfectly mature Libani cedar with a yew hedge or an elegant birdhouse tree.
There’s also a lack of honest winter garden inspiration out there. Most books, influencers, and publishers are eager to show us the picture-perfect final product, but rarely do they help us understand the beauty of the early stages of a winter garden, when it’s just starting to develop. It’s not an easy sell, and the landscape can feel barren—especially when you’re not looking at lush greenery but instead at a blank canvas.
It’s About the Little Details
That said, there is tremendous value in those aspirational photos. But the real beauty of a winter garden lies in its framework—the structure that builds over time, not in a single season. It’s easy to get discouraged when the garden doesn’t resemble the glossy images we see, but as with most things in life, time is key. Building a garden isn’t an instant process, and the gradual unfolding of nature’s magic is something that can’t be rushed.
Instead of getting caught up in comparison to the perfect winter landscapes online, focus on making steady progress. Planting snowdrops and daffodils near the front door is a wonderful start. Eventually, those early touches of life will start to combine with the perennials, hedges, and hardscaping, leading to something far greater than the sum of its parts. One day, you’ll pause and realize—yes, it’s coming together.
Parts of a Whole, Not Just Single Showpieces
A winter garden isn’t about one specific feature or plant. It’s about the harmony of many elements working together to create something more dynamic. It’s not just the snowdrops or the early daffodils, but the way they complement cold-hardy perennials, the vibrant hellebores that bloom in February, or the leaves of a witchhazel and cornus creating a festive frame.
It’s also the way those humble snowdrops pair beautifully with Iris reticulata, or add delicate grace to a brick wall or stone grouping. It’s about creating a tapestry of rich textures—variegated evergreens, weeping conifers, and the elegant lines of well-placed shrubs and trees. The appeal is in the subtle beauty of lichen, mosses, and even ice sculptures on the coldest days of the year.
Sometimes, it’s about giving the space a good tidy, and other times, it’s simply about leaving things untouched, letting the natural order unfold at its own pace.
A winter garden is a journey, not a destination. With each passing year, you’ll find yourself closer to the vision you once thought impossible, and eventually, you’ll get to witness the full beauty that time and patience have cultivated.