The Winter Garden in Southern California

 I intentionally fill my gardens with some foliage plants that will go dormant in the winter. I like to see changes in the seasons.

 It is entirely possible to have a garden that looks the same year round in Southern California, and many of them do, but not mine. 

 The grapes and stone fruit trees loose their leaves, as do the wisteria, hydrangeas and fig trees. Boston ivy turns lovely shades of fall before going bare. Sweet gum trees and the birches loose all their foliage for a few months. Roses are cut back and stripped of foliage, forcing dormancy.

Of course there are still plants that maintain their year-round color so there is still lots of green to keep it looking fresh, especially after all the rain we have had so far this year. But on a day like today, waiting for a cold rainy storm to ascend upon us, walking around the garden is nice, but being indoors with a warm fire is nicer. The garden and I are in winter mode.