The Garden in Winter

The winter garden is a haven for the little creatures of the land; it provides them with shelter, food and cozy nooks to hibe
ate.
The gardener can lend a hand, goodness knows the wildlife can use all the help it can get during the coldest days of the year.
Add bird feeders to your backyard and you'll be greatly rewarded by the flock of colorful birds that gather near them on snowy days: finches, cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, titmice and sparrows. Hang up a few suet cakes too, your backyard visitors need the fat calories to keep warm.

Plant late blooming flowers, like asters and sedums, and don't forget the berry shrubs and trees - rowans, hollies, hawthorns and wild roses.

Don't trim down the perennial seed heads, not only they provide winter interest to an otherwise sparse landscape, but they are a good source of nourishment for birds and little animals. The best plants for this purpose are ornamental grasses, cone flowers, bergamots, black-eyed Susans, daisies and asters.

Leave a little portion of the garden untidy, to give hedgehogs, chipmunks, rabbits and squirrels a place to hide. The dried up chords, leaves and stalks are excellent insulators and make good locations for their burrows.

Last, but not least, put up nesting boxes and bird houses for your winged visitors. Bonus, they're colorful.