Garden Plants at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

The majority of plants usually suggested for the winter garden are happy only when temperatures stay above 0°F. I have chosen hardier plants so my plan for a winter garden is for the majority of readers. Like the autumn garden, it is not a specific spot of ground. Rather it consists of small trees, shrubs, and a few plants to be spread about the garden, bringing welcome color to the snow and ice.

Garden trees; Hedges; Shrubs for year-round interest; Rhododendrons; Climbing and screening plants; Clematis; Colorful perennials; Annuals and biennials; Bedding plants; Fuchsias; Bulbs; Rock-garden plants. Climate, more than any other factor, determines the success or failure of the gardener. A garden requires adequate sunshine and rainfall if plants are to thrive in it, but it also needs protection against extremes of weather.

Flowering tobacco plants come in both day-flowering species, including the very large tobacco plant (Nicotiana Tabacum) of the annual garden (see page 24) and the following night-bloomers for the evening garden. All are treated as annuals with seeds started indoors six weeks before the last spring frost. Plants like a good garden soil liberally laced with compost or manure, and a location either in full sun or partial shade. Set them 1 foot apart. All do well when grown in 12-inch pots on the terrace, as long as they get plenty of water. Space plants 1 foot apart in the garden.