By all local accounts this past summer in Alexandria was “mild”. Having moved from Rhode Island in mid-June (where I was still cranking up the thermostat at night) I found the quick change to an Alexandrian summer stultifying. However, here I am at the other end (i.e.; autumn) and I am happy as could be. I’ve got open windows day and night, when it’s not too chilly, and I’m enjoying the crisp air and blue, blue skies by day. I’ve even got a monster coleus in a terracotta pot still sitting out on the patio. The only down side to autumn in my book is shorter days.
The sun is lower in the sky, temperatures drop, prevailing winds pick up, rain and/or snow are in the forecast. All of these conditions combine to produce greater need for heat and light and are accompanied by higher energy bills. Intelligent plantings can help temper the effects of weather and save energy and money.
Although my focus is more on landscaping and horticulture rather than making all sorts of green pronouncements, sometimes these subjects dovetail rather nicely and cogently. Don’t panic; I’m not going to suggest that you tear down the old homestead and install a completely new net zero structure. All that would accomplish is starting a completely new and potentially heated conversation on feng shui, sustainable historic preservation and the ramifications of new green construction; another time, perhaps after I awaken from my winter hibernation next spring and I’ve downed a few mimosas.
Right now I’m simply going to suggest that you observe the seasonal changes in your yard and how your landscape helps or hinders how you control your environment; indoor and outdoor. Yes, control, since gardening is not about nature at all, really. It’s about subjugating nature to one’s will (insert evil laugh here). A few questions to ponder are: How are trees or shrubs affecting the light that reaches your kitchen (where many of us spend more time in the cooler months) or other rooms that need strong winter light? Would it be prudent to remove or limb up a few deciduous/evergreen trees and replace one type with the other? Is the landscape having any kind of impact on prevailing winds (directing it toward the bathroom window, say)? Obviously, the living landscape elements that have the most impact are the largest ones, i.e.; trees, so it's smart to consider them first, then move on to a review of shrubs.
Whether you like him or sometimes find him irritatingly arrogant, Frank Lloyd Wright had some witty and useful things to say about the built environment. These two quotes come to mind:
Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun.
A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.
The right plants correctly situated can actually help you mitigate the effects of weather on your home, and as Wright suggests, divert attention from less than stellar architectural qualities. Here are some basics to consider:
An evergreen screen on the north side of the house helps block winter winds and provides refuge for wildlife all year long.
Deciduous trees or shrubs on the south side provide shade during the hottest time of year then drop their leaves to let in light when you need it most.
As for Wright’s suggestion about vines, few things are more inviting in any landscape than a vine-covered pergola, trelliswork or brise soleil. Outdoor structures like these provide shade in summer and, if covered with deciduous vines, the bare structure remains all winter providing a focal point and possibly a jolt of hot color in an otherwise chilly scene. Such permanent structures might even entice hardier souls to venture outside on a mid-winter day.
I’m not quite ready to consider winter just yet. I feel a nap coming on.
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