The successful garden is one that provides us with something to look at all year around, regardless of the weather. In fact, proper plant choices and placement can transform your snow filled backyard into a winter paradise for you and the other beings that live nearby.

A well placed berry bush can provide season round beauty and food for the songbirds who visit in the Spring and Fall; it can also help sustain those birds that spend the winter with us.

I advise people that when they are planning their garden they give thought to all four seasons, just because winters can be long and cold does not mean that you should ignore your plant choices for that season. Just as you plan for a succession of colour throughout the growing season do not forget the snow covered months.

The seed heads of ornamental grasses, for example are not only attractive to look at, especially when covered with snow or ice but also provide food for the winter birds.

Ornamental grasses can complement your birdfeeder when it comes to attracting birds to your yard. Ornamental grasses will not take over your garden and are relatively simple to care for. They may need to be cut back in the spring.

If you have a small yard, you can use ornamental grass as a center piece or you can select one of my favourite shrubs the red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). The dogwoods red branches look great against the white of winter’s snowfall.

Dogwoods are very valuable to both wildlife and humans. The branches will provide shelter for many species. The dogwood flowers provide nectar to pollinating insects and then become fruit that is sought after by birds and mammals. So as well as looking great they enhance your backyard as a wildlife habitat.

While there is almost no gardening work that needs to be done during winter you can still enjoy the garden and reap the benefits of the work that you did in the months before.

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