Bergenia leaves

With 8 degrees of frost last night there were some good Blipfoto pickings in the garden this morning. The chosen study is bergenia leaves. The common name for this plant is "elephants' ears" which suggests greyness, but nothing could be further from the truth. It has richly coloured, bold, architectural foliage and is one of winter's hardy perennials with leathery rounded leaves up to 12 inches across.

As the cooler weather sets in the leaves develop the rich winter colouring - maroon, crimson, bronze and beetroot red. I have used the artistic poster edges filter to emphasise the frosted edges and the vein structure. Bergenias are great plants because they are undemanding, grow happily in shade or sun and don't need particularly fertile soil. All I need to do is nip off the old foliage as it turns brown so plants look a bit smarter for spring, and when the clumps become gappy I just replant the young strong shoots. These plants came with the garden and they've survived now for over 20 years.


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