title: The Prairie Winterscape: Creative Gardening for the Forgotten Season (Prairie Gardener)
author: Barbara Kam
description: TOP TEN REASONS TO HAVE A WINTER GARDEN <P>1. The frost-free period is only 105 to 160 out of 365 days on the northern prairies, depending on location. That means the majority of the year is not part of the traditional gardening season. It's a long season, but it doesn't have to be bleak. <P>2. To our knowledge, this is the only book specific to our region that amalgamates information on fall clean-up, winter care, and winter aesthetics in a single reference. Other winter garden books exist, but they are directed to warmer climes where plants actually bloom and grow during their so-called winter. <P>3. The prairie winter garden has been largely ignored due to a dearth of information on the subject. There is a prevailing sentiment that it is "too cold", so you "can't garden" here. This book defines winter gardening based on prairie conditions as one of "set up", staging, and a bit of management. It gives practical ideas to create beauty for when it is too cold to actually be outside. <P>4. Most of winter is spent inside looking out. Without forethought, there is limited plant evidence to differentiate an award-winning border from the neighbor's dog-run.. This book focuses on creating beautiful vignettes where they can be admired from the warmth of indoors. <P>5. We appreciate the drama of black and white photographs as a distinct art form from color pictures. So too can can gardeners admire the elegant palette of winter as distinct from summer's Technicolor(tm) <P>6. Winterscaping works, even for the somewhat lazy or burnt-out summer gardener. It is about setting scenes. After initial planning and set-up, there is little actual yard work beyond shoveling snow. <P>7. Many birds have now made their homes in urban environments. Winter can be hard on them without adequate shelter, food, and water. You can learn how to invite birds into your garden in winter with proper plant selection. <P>8. This book challenges the notion of the traditional fall clean-up and presents an alternative. Many plants can be left to add vertical elements to the garden. <P>9. An existing garden lacking winter-attractive plants can still look good without massive replanting. This book contains projects and crafts for winter containers and lighting help make any garden look great. <P>10. This book includes informative lists of questions to ask to create a great winter garden, trees with interesting and colorful bark, colorful needles, seedheads that withstand much of winter's vagaries, how to winterize a pond, plants for winter containers, and even food and feeders to attract different birds.
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  Also by Marjorie Harris  
    
  
  
  _How to Make a Garden_  
   _Botanica North America_  
   _The Canadian Gardener_  
   _Seasons of My Garden_  
   _Marjorie Harris’ Favorite Garden Tips_  
   _Pocket Gardening_  
   _In the Garden_  
   _Favorite Annuals_  
   _Favorite Flowering Shrubs_  
   _Favorite Perennials_  
   _Favorite Shade Plants_  
   _The Canadian Gardener’s Year_  
   _The Canadian Gardener_
  
  
  ![](images/Harr_9780307366658_epub_L03_r1.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/Harr_9780307366658_epub_tp_r1.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _For Auntie Marge_  
   _and all the other gardeners_  
   _who are serious about_  
   _our survival on this_  
   _beautiful planet_
  
  
  ![](images/Harr_9780307366658_epub_L02_r1.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  # CONTENTS
  
  
  ![](images/Harr_9780307366658_epub_L02_r1.jpg)
  
  
  [_Acknowledgements_](Harr_9780307366658_epub_ack_r1.htm)
  
  
  [_Introduction_](Harr_9780307366658_epub_itr_r1.htm)  
    
  
  
  1: [**SOIL: The Real Dirt**](Harr_9780307366658_epub_c01_r1.htm)
  
  
  [Earthworms](Harr_9780307366658_epub_c01_r1.htm#c01-s01)