Make use of evergreens.  They provide the backbone of a landscape and come in various shades of green and blue.

Leave ornamental grasses uncut until spring for their contrast in color and texture.

Add shrubs with berries. The bright red will add a burst of color in the otherwise monotone landscape and looks especially striking in the snow.

Plant winter blooming perennials.  Hellebores, or Lenten Rose, bloom in late winter and early spring in shades ranging from white to magenta to deep burgundy.

Make use of garden ornaments or structures.  Like evergreens, garden ornaments and structures can serve as backbones of the landscape, and visually they add dimension as well. Examples are stone obelisks or a wooden arbor.

Use plants with interesting branching patterns or bark. Weeping crabapple, river birch and paper bark maple are all examples. 

Rebecca W.