More light play. This Bigleaf Magnolia has a number of interesting features. I love the way those big leaves capture intriguing shadows at various times of day. The underside of the leaves have a matte, white appearance; sort of a bloom that is very reflective. Mine sits to one side of a swimming pool. When the light hits the moving water, the underside of those leaves reflects a shimmering blue. Absolutely mesmerizing!

As gardeners we attend workshops, meetings and design seminars that describe the interplay of mass, movement, color and form. Selecting a variety of each of these and the artful juxtaposition of them, gives our gardens a certain mood and allows each plant to shine in optimal fashion. One important point that is rarely discussed is the effect of light on our designs. Ornamental grasses are great garden subjects. They can be statuesque, colorful, drought tolerant and fairly low maintenance. I think one of their best features is how they play with light in the garden. This miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan', is great to look at from the front, but from the back at sunset, it simply sparkles! Those fronds capture sunlight and wave in the smallest breeze. I've seen no sign yet that it's an invasive seeder. During the terrible drought in the upstate this summer, this plant stood proudly with just about zero watering from a tired, hot gardener. I'll be adding another couple of these to my beds this year!

Sitting here in winter, looking back, I am reminded how important the trees are to this garden. Providing food, shelter, shade and character, they are the workhorses of the property. They are my stalwart friends of comfort and largesse. Without them, nothing else I plant would make sense. The butterflies love the nectar from these tulip poplar flowers, as do the hummingbirds. In fact, they produce so much nectar, they weep tears of honey in the late spring. Butterfly larvae feed on the tender leaves. Hawks sit in the top to patrol for rodents. The exposed roots on one side of a drainage channel, house a local groundhog. The roots also stabilize the soil in a very slopey garden. So many practical things to notice. On a more romantic note, I love how they ask my eyes to rise up and seek the sky in all seasons. Even in the grey of winter, those skies are worth looking at if you tone down your expectations a little. As I stroll down the hill into the lower garden, the shade deepens and air cools by degrees. I can't imagine a garden in the South without big trees. And for all that, I see these friendly giants being cut down or topped every year, leaving the homes they sheltered naked and baking in the sun. How can a few leaves or twigs falling be worth the loss of energy savings and cool comfort? Yes, some trees were planted in the wrong place and have to be dealt with for safety's sake, but cutting down your channel to blue heaven because you don't want to pick up leaves?