Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June 2017: Everything is Coming Up Roses!

June 2017 Garden

Welcome to my June garden! It's time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up and as the song says,"Everything is coming up roses!" After a very cool and rainy start to spring, the temperatures are now rising up into the 70's and 80's with blooms everywhere. Come along with me and take a look at what is blooming in my Long Island garden!

Itoh Peony Bartella in Perennial Border

The hybrid Itoh Bartella Peony in the perennial border just keeps getting more and more beautiful as the years go by.  They are now in their third season, and I look forward to their gorgeous blooms, which are short lived, but well worth waiting for!

Itoh Peony Bartella 

Let's get a close up of the beautiful yellow blooms that are 5-6 inches in diameter.

Peony 'Karl Rosenfield' and Salvia May Night

Peony 'Karl Rosenfield' Double Peony are also blooming in the perennial border with Salvia 'May Night' in the foreground. The two reach peak at about the same time every spring.

Peony 'Karl Rosenfield'

Of course we need a close up of 'Karl Rosenfield'. I just adore its blooms!

I

Allium Globemaster

In the western pool garden, Allium 'Globemaster' rises above 'Stella D Oro' Daylily with their voluminous purple blooms. Behind the Allium is Spirea 'Limemound' and Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select'.

Hosta Shadowland Autumn Frost and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' and Hosta make a colorful combination in the back garden.

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

One of my favorite blooms in the garden are the Double Knock Out Roses. They bloom from late spring until the first frost, and have an amazing color and fragrance.

Cornus kousa chinensis 'Greensleeves'

New to the property for its second season is Japanese Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'. 'Greensleeves' is a newer hybrid that is more cold hardy and disease resistant.  It is literally covered in greenish-white blooms for several weeks in late spring and has become a favorite of mine in the garden.

Cornus kousa chinensis 'Greensleeves' Blooms

Here are the star shaped blooms close up.

Red Double Knock Out Rose

I did refer to Ethel Merman's "Everything is Coming Up Roses" at the beginning of this post. Here's continuing the theme with Double Red Knock Out Rose!

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Here is Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' in all its glory...

 Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' Bloom

with a close up of its blooms.

Kinetic Mobile

There's always room for a little garden whimsy. I purchased this kinetic spinner in Las Vegas a couple of years back and enjoy watching the blue ball as it mysteriously appears to climb and fall along the spiral.  The optical illusion is very mesmerizing.

Japanese Forest Grass and Leucothoe in Shade Garden

As we continue the tour, you are viewing the back shade garden. Follow the Pennsylvania Bluestone path that passes by the Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass), Leucothoe 'Axillaris', and various species of Hosta on the left. 

Hosta Patriot

Hakonechloa Japanese Forest Grass

Shade Garden with Astilbe Peach Blossom (Back)and Caramel Coral Bells (Front)

On the right of the path, is a combination of Hosta, Astilbe 'Peach Blossom' and Coral Bells 'Caramel'. As you continue to follow the path into the "secret garden", you will come to this birdbath, which is backed by a wall of English Ivy.

End of the Garden Path in the Secret Garden

Weeping Japanese Maple Viridis

Now, let's venture into the front yard. Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis' now stands at a stately height of eight feet tall...

Skylands Oriental Spruce

and the Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce that I planted in 2008 has developed into a mature tree.

Iris pallida Aureo Marginata and Spirea Magic Carpet

Along the southern section of the driveway is  Salvia 'Magic Carpet' that was introduced into this bed just last summer, along with Salvia 'Caradonna' and Weeping Norway Spruce. Variegated Iris (Iris pallida Aureo Marginata) is brand new this year.

South Driveway: Magic Carpet Spirea and Salvia Caradonna

Iris pallida Aureo Marginata

North Shade Garden
Back around full circle is another shade garden at the western side of the property and as we end the tour, Garden Gal is nestled under the Weeping Pussy Willow Tree near the back patio, with Black Mondo Grass in her planter for a little more whimsy.

Under the Weeping Pussy Willow: Black Mondo Grass in Garden Gal's Planter

I hope you enjoyed this month's tour through my garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides and Wednesday Around the World.

June 2017 Garden

Wishing you much gardening happiness. Thank you for visiting!

MY BOOKS ON AMAZON:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved

This Month's Color in the Garden: 12 Shades of Purple Blooms for Your Garden!

This Month's Color in the Garden!

Welcome to This Month's Color in the Garden! Throughout history, the color purple has been associated with royalty, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, nobility, luxury, and power. Throughout history, purple robes have been worn by royalty, and many believe this came to be due to the rare occurrence of purple in nature, making the dye expensive to create. Purple represents nobility, as in the Purple Heart awarded by the The United States Military to soldiers wounded in battle and In Thailand, purple is the color of devotion and peace for mourning widows. The lighter shade of purple, or lavender, has long been associated with beauty and femininity. And finally, in landscape design, purple is considered a cool, peaceful and calming color, which is wonderfully complemented by the warmer and more fiery shades of yellow and orange. Here are 12 shades of purple blooms to carry you throughout the gardening season.

Dutch Crocus Remembrance 

Crocus bulbs, when planted in fall, produce large blooms that are one of the first flowers to appear in early spring. Crocus are available in a variety of colors, this one known as Remembrance, due to its vibrant purple blooms. These beautiful bulbs are great for naturalizing in garden borders, and should be planted  in an area of full to partial sun. Hardiness Zones 3-8, Height 4-6", Bloom Time: Early Spring. 

Purple Hyacinth-Early Spring

Hyacinths are a familiar sight in spring, generally blooming after crocus. Hyacinths are available in a variety of colors, but one of my favorites is the intense purple of the variety shown above.  Plant Hyacinth bulbs in fall along with crocus for colorful and fragrant spring blooms.  Hardiness Zones 3-9, Height 5-12 inches, Bloom Time: Early-Mid Spring.

Phlox subulata 'Purple Beauty' Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox offers weeks of profuse and slightly fragrant blooms in late spring and are an attraction to butterflies and hummingbirds. After blooming, mossy foliage serves as a ground cover  in the garden. Hardiness Zones 3-8, Height 4-6", Bloom Time: Mid-Late Spring.

Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria

This hardy, deciduous vine can be twined into a tree that blooms in late spring. Wisteria displays long hanging clusters of fragrant pea-like flowers in blue, violet, pink or white, followed by hanging velvety green pods.  There are many varieties of Wisteria, different mostly in the length and color of  flower clusters. Hardiness Zones 4-9, Height 10-25 ', Bloom Time: Late Spring, Deer Resistant.

May Night Meadow Sage

Perennial Sages are known for their intense display of spiky flowers in the early summer border and are available in a number of cultivars. This selection is medium in size, with  deep indigo violet-blue blooms that appear in May. Remove faded blooms to encourage repeat flowering, and clip back hard after blooming to rejuvenate the foliage. Hardiness Zones 4-9, Height 18-24", Bloom Time: Late Spring-Mid Summer, Deer Resistant, Hummingbird Friendly

Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'-Walker's Low Catmint

Gray-green, aromatic foliage gives way to a soft lavender-blue flowers which are produced over a long period in summer. Thriving with little care and quite drought tolerant when established, this is an excellent perennial for herb gardens and tall borders.  Here, Nepeta is planted along with variegated Hosta for a dramatic effect. Hardiness Zones 3-8, Height 2-3', Bloom Time: Late Spring-Fall, Deer Resistant and Butterfly Friendly.

Dandy Man Purple Rhododendron 

Rhododendron is a well known flowering evergreen shrub in the garden. This hybrid displays beautiful rich purple blooms on a hardy plant that can be used in an informal border or as a specimen. Hardiness Zones 4-9, Height 6-8', Bloom Time: Late Spring.

Liatris spicata Purple Gayfeather, Blazing Star 

Liatris is a plant native to the northeast that forms small clumps with tall upright stems.  Tall narrow spikes of mauve-purple flowers flower for long periods of time and are drought and heat tolerant once established. Hardiness Zones 4-9, Height 30-36", Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early Fall.

 Hydrangea macrophylla 'Piihm-I' Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout Hydrangea

Twist-n-Shout Hydrangea produces abundant pink to purple blooms (depending on soil type) in late summer. Twist-n-Shout displays elegant delicate blooms on a lace-cap variety of hydrangea that blooms on both old and new wood, making it hardier in colder climates. A neutral-acidic soil encourages purple blooms. Hardiness Zones 4-9, Height 3-5', Bloom Time: Mid-Late Summer.

Buddleia davidii Lo & Behold

Lo & Behold Buddeia is a dwarf form of butterfly bush, grown for its compact, non-invasive habit and elongated clusters of flowers, This dwarf variety has silvery gray-green leaves on a low spreading multi-branched plant, and produces clusters of fragrant, purple tubular blooms. Hardiness Zones 5-9, Height  2-3', Bloom Time: Late Summer-Fall.  Deer Resistant and Butterfly Friendly.

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Muskogee'

Lagerstroemia, or Crape Myrtle is available is a multitude of varieties and are known for their long bloom time. 'Muskogee' produces light lavender blooms that appear in late summer on glossy green foliage that turns red in fall. The interesting cinnamon colored bark peels to a shiny light gray for a dramatic effect. This large shrub or small tree makes an excellent specimen or group planting. Hardiness Zones 6-9, Height 15-20', Bloom Time: Late Summer-Fall.

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' Early Amethyst Beautyberry

Finally, 'Early Amethyst' Callicarpa displays arching branches with clusters of pale lavender-pink flowers in summer, that develop into masses of glossy amethyst berries in fall. Callicarpa is easy to grow as a specimen or hedge, and is good for naturalized areas. Hardiness Zones 5-8, Height 3-4', Bloom Time: Summer with Berries in Fall, Butterfly Friendly. 

Purple blooms are versatile and fit into just about any garden style. They can add a stunning display of color to your space throughout most of the gardening season, and in some cases, these gorgeous purple blooms are known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, due to their vibrancy and fragrance. Be sure to add some purple to your garden plan this season, and it will be sure to delight!

Are you an experienced gardener or just wanting to learn? If so, be sure to check out my two published books on Amazon. My first book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, is loaded with ideas for different types of gardens and what plants to buy, along with gardening tips and advice on how to maintain your garden once implemented. The second book, Landscape Design Combinations, is geared towards the hands on "DIY" gardener who is looking for a little guidance, along with a dash of inspiration! This latest publication builds on the first and is full of successful landscape designs that can be used as is or as a guide. The book also teaches design principles using evergreens, flowering trees, shrubs and perennials. To preview each book, simply click on the links below!

VISIT MY BOOKS ON AMAZON:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Color Our World Round-Up May 2017: Got Those Low Down Gardening Blues!

Welcome! It's time for another Color Our World Round-Up post. Each month the knowledgeable bloggers from Project Beautiful get creative by writing articles with focus on a particular color. The month of May is all about the color blue in the garden. There are a limited number of options for introducing blue blooms into your landscape, but the ladies at Project Beautiful have proven that there are many possibilities! Click on the links below to further view each article, and enjoy reading all about the color blue!

First up is Terri Steffes from Our Good Life with her tips on how to keep your hydrangea flowers blue. "When we picked blue for our color in #ColorOurWorld last year, I thought my hydrangeas would be up and blooming, but due to a wild and wet week, the hydrangeas are still in the bud stage.  I still want to share with you about getting a nice blue in your hydrangeas. First, you have to have the right hydrangea plants. I have a pair of oakleaf hydrangeas that will not have blue blossoms, no matter what I do to them.  You have to have what are known as mopheads or lacecaps in order to get the blue blooms.  These plants can change their bloom color based on soil chemistry.  Acidic soil gives you blue blossoms, while a more alkaline soil gives you pink. First you will need to know the acidity level of your soil.  Use a pH kit to find out.  You can purchase them in most garden stores.  This will give you the natural pH of your soil.  Then you will determine what you need to do to get blue blooms.  The pH range for blue blossoms is 5.2-5.5  If your pH is higher, then you will want to LOWER the pH by adding soil acidifer (follow the directions on the package.)  If the soil pH is lower than that, you will want to RAISE the pH by adding powdered garden lime, also available at your garden store"...more here.

Next is Lynee Cherot from Sensible Gardening with her post Gardening with Blue. "It is often the use of colour that gives a garden its particular appeal, whether that be calming or startling. Colour is also that aspect of gardening the allows the gardener to unleash their personality and expression to create a living work of art. Of all the colors available blue flowers are often the most coveted. This may be because  fewer flowers bloom in the blue tones than say reds, oranges or yellows. Blue is rather unassuming in the garden left to itself  and is often benefited by pairing it with other colors. If you want your blue flowers to stand out, grow them alongside yellow blooms. If you prefer a dreamier look, plant them amongst pastel pinks and mauves. Blue in the garden emits a cool, restful scheme. I’ve gathered up some photos of the blue plants that I use and enjoy in my garden along with a few that I dream of having someday"...read more here.

Susan Brandt from Blooming Secrets shares her post The Year in Color-Oh! Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully Blue. "Nothing is more unique in the garden or in nature for that matter than the color blue. Plants with “true blue” flowers and leaves are hard to come by and as a result are coveted by gardeners around the globe. I make this bold statement based upon a YouGov Poll that found that blue was the most popular color in the world! It’s not hard to see why when you look at the blue skies and deep blue oceans that surround us. If you don’t think the color blue has anything to do with the month of May than maybe this fact will change your mind." Read more here.

Next, Renee Cumberworth from The Garden Frog, discusses Blue Lobelia with her informative post, In my garden with the Blue Cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica). "I love the color of the Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia siphilitica) in my garden where it receives morning sun and a bit of dappled afternoon sun. I have to keep it regularly watered because it does not like to dry out. It has reached about 32″ tall in the clay soil under the Oak tree and it started blooming about 2 weeks ago (Mid July) and will continue until early fall. Lobelias need moist soil and will tolerate partial sun but prefer full sun in your garden or native areas. You can find Lobelia (or Cardinal flowers) along streams and swampy areas. This native beauty is seen in the eastern part of the United States and received its name ‘siphilitica’ because it was once used to treat the venereal disease syphilis." Read more interesting facts about Lobelia siphilitica here. 

Finally, here is my post, This Month's Color in the Garden Color Your Garden Blue-Blue Blooms for Your Landscape! "Welcome to This Month's Color in the Garden! The use of the color blue in the landscape symbolizes optimism and stability and often relays a feeling of calm. According to the language of flowers, "The pale blue hues of a hydrangea or the deep blues of an iris can calm worries and preoccupation." The blue hue of flowers represent peace, openness, and serenity, and are believed to be an antidote for anxiousness. There are few species that naturally occur as true blue in the garden. For the month of May I am going to focus on some of the varieties of blue blooming plants that you can add to your outdoor space. The first is Muscari, also known as Grape Hyacinth. Hardy in USDA zones 2-5, Grape Hyacinth creates a carpet of blue grape-like blooms which are gorgeous when bulbs are planted in clumps. These bulbs are available in a variety of colors, but blue seems to be the all-time favorite! Muscari is a breathtaking site when planted in mass in a woodland or naturalized setting and is a welcoming sign of spring. Plant in full sun to partial shade for best results." Read more about blue blooms for your garden here.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed #PB Color Our World Round-Up for the month of May. If you are enjoying these monthly Round-Ups, please leave a comment, and do share your thoughts about the color BLUE! Also, be sure to visit these wonderful bloggers regularly for their inspiring articles on gardening, home remedies, DIY projects, decorating, culinary delights and more! I am also linking to Floral Friday Fotos. Be sure to check out their weekly meme!

NEXT UP is This Month's Color in the Garden on the 7th, where it's all about the color purple. Then, join me for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up each month on the 15th, and Round Up posts at the end of the month! Also, be sure to check out my two books with lots of design and gardening tips! Makes a great Father's Day gift!

As Always...Happy Gardening!

CHECK OUT MY BOOKS ON AMAZON!

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations