The cooler weather has started me thinking about winter and how dreary
the garden was last winter. Maybe it's a part of the natural order that
I should just learn to appreciate, but I'm trying to think up some ways
to add a little life.

Last year was pretty bleak with the vegetables all gone, the clematis a
tangle of dead-looking vines, the weigela completely bare, etc. The
only color anywhere was the hips on the dog rose (which we were planning
on harvesting for jam this year).

I have a little more hope for this year because I've got brussels
sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli for a little life, but I'm
wondering what else I can do.

I'm open to all suggestions, but I was terribly jealous of everyone
else's primulas when they bloomed in the late winter while I was still
waiting for my tulips and daffodils. Not having much extra room, I was
wondering if it is possible to interplant primulas with something else?
I was thinking of putting them under a 1.5-2.0m weigela (abel
carriere, I think) since it is completely bare when they would be
blooming. But since it gets completely full during the summer, I didn't
know if they would tolerate so much shade.

Thoughts? Suggestions?