THE BLACK HAWK MARINA GARDEN IN WINTER

NORTH GATE

OLD SAILBOAT, TREE HYDRANGEAS

WEST GATE

GARDEN FISHING TUGS

Thursday, 8:45 AM.  1 degrees F, up from below 0 earlier.  Wind WSW, light with a few gusts, the sky with a high overcast.   The humidity is trending up at at 82%%,  and the the barometer down, at 30.30".  We got a dusting of snow last night, which is normal until the bay freezes over (the steam rises off the water, condenses over Bayfield, and it snows).  It isn't usually a lot, but it sure adds up,

   I thought it would be interesting to try to capture another "garden in winter" , similar to "Martha's Fantastic Garden In Winter, "  (yesterday's blog).  The subject today is the Black Hawk Marina Garden, an unusual and quite beautiful Bayfield private garden open to the public.  I can't think of another boat-oriented garden anywhere.  Use the blog search engine to see it in all its summer glory.
   Larger and older gardens are usually better winter subjects, at least if properly designed with significant "bones" of major trees and shrubs.  A good winter garden needs conifers for contrast, and deciduous trees and shrubs with interesting branch and bark characteristics.  The best winter gardens will also have significant topographical and architectural features, and perhaps some borrowed views.

  The Black Hawk Marina Garden has some background trees and shrubs, but the more significant winter features are the two wooden gates, beautifully hand made by marina owner Ken Dobson, and of course the beached fishing tugs.  The garden paths are not kept open in winter, so one must enjoy it from the car window.