This article is a little behind, but I wanted to share some beautiful images we had of the snow in Hurley Park a few weeks ago.

One question we always get during the winter is, “What is there really to see in the park in winter?” Unfortunately, many people think of winter as being dull and boring or full of snow and ice. For this article, I wanted to show my readers that there are some truly exquisite examples of beauty in the park throughout the winter months.

One of the challenges true gardeners look for when selecting plants is trying to find ones that have interest throughout many of the seasons. One of the perfect examples is deciduous hollies. They have small white flowers in the spring, but their best show is in late fall and winter, when their deep crimson berries are on display. Birds love the fruit, so if you are an avid bird watcher, this is one plant to have. If you have a white background (like when it snows), the red berries really pop with color.

Another great berry plant is the Viburnum. There are numerous varieties, but some have some showy flowers in the spring (some scented) and then beautiful ruby-colored berries that birds enjoy. In the park during the snow storm, we captured some gorgeous photos to show how appealing they look to the camera and to birds.

Berries are more common, but bark can be appealing, too. The bark of different plants can show a variety of textures in the garden. There are even some barks that have a color. Although Hurley Park does not have a specific colored bark plant, there are new varieties coming out that have striking colors of red, yellow, purple and even a combination of colors.

In Hurley Park, I think the peeling of the bark, vine growth and some of the different shades of color can be very appealing while walking through our trails. Mixing evergreen and deciduous plants among your landscape can give a nice curb appeal, as well.

All in all, winter can be a beautiful time in the park. Our park is well known for our plant specimens and just being a peaceful place to enjoy throughout the seasons. We could tell our park was well used throughout the snow storm by the many foot prints in the snow by people and animals. If you missed out on the early snow storm, I am sure we will have plenty of opportunities to see Hurley Park during the winter since this is only the beginning of the season.

If you have questions about Hurley Park or you would like to donate or volunteer at the park, please contact us by email, phone, or through our social media. For more information and to donate to Hurley Park, please visit: https://salisburync.gov/Government/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Hurley-Park, like us on Facebook and Instagram @HurleyParkSalisbury or call us at 704-638-4459.