The harsh weather of the last few days has shown the benefit of not only having evergreen plants in the yard to give shape and structure but also how interesting stems can be once bare of foliage.
Deciduous climbers planted against boundary walls and fences create interesting abstract patterns with their bare stems. The dull winter lights cast almost no shadow so the outlines of the stems are stark against brickwork.
The photo shows a 'Russian Vine', the dreaded 'mile a minute' climber that has arrow shaped green leaves in the growing season and then is covered with creamy white flowers from mid summer. The best though I now find to be the shapes and patterns that it draws in the winter with its mahogany coloured stems.
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