Stop 8. Winter stems and reflections
Oranges, reds, yellows, whites – the coloured winter stems create a fiery scene. Their reflection in the water, when the sun streams through, is the essence of the Winter Walk.
Explore the bark path at the corner. Among the
Cornus (dogwood) and
Salix (willow), look out for plants considered slightly less usual for winter stem colour such as
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ (lime) and the maple
Acer negundo ‘Winter Lightning’. The arched white-bloomed stems of the bramble
Rubus cockburnianus and fiery stems of
Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ add to the colourful effect.
Circle back to the hard path and the main path. To the right of the junction another type of willow,
Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ bears furry pink catkins in late winter. Beside it
Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Red Dragon’ is a red-orange cultivar of the edgeworthias growing at Stop 4. Keep on the hard path, enjoying the
Helleborus HGC Ice N’ Roses Red (‘Coseh 4100’) (Ice N’ Roses Series) in late winter, and follow the
Hamamelis (witch hazels) until you reach Stop 9.