Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Temperatures Soar & Blooms Galore!

Welcome to my Garden!
Welcome to A Guide to Northeastern Gardening and to my July Long Island garden! Remember the 1980's song "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!"? Well, that is how it has been in our zone 7b garden. With humid days in the upper 80's and 90's with a record breaking day of 100 degrees, and frequent thunderstorms, the garden is thriving. Join me for a tour!
Feeling Hot, hot hot!!!
Let us start with the pool garden with Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Coneflower), a native to the northeast, in full bloom. Joining the blooms of Echinacea are the blooms of Sedum 'Angelina' (Stonecrop), a groundcover form of Sedum with spikes of yellow blooms in mid-summer.
Pool Border
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' is a hybrid produced from Echinacea which produces many different colors of blooms on the same plant. Along the pool border you can see yellow, pinkish-red and orange colored flowers all in the same clump of blooms. Echinacea is known for its long lasting blooms that attract bees, butterflies and songbirds.
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
Here are the golden-yellow blooms up close, which I think are my favorite!
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' & Blue Globe Spruce
Behind the clump of Echinacea (Coneflower) is a Blue Globe Spruce to add some extra color.
Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'
Here is another variety of Echinacea along the patio border. This one is Echinacea Pow Wow' Wild Berry' (Echinacea purpurea) and is one of the original Echinacea (Coneflower) native to the northeast.
Salvia 'Blue By You' & Japanese Red Pine
Along the patio border is Salvia 'Blue By You' along with Japanese Red Pine 'Low Glow' I am finding that this form of Salvia is producing earlier and much long lasting blooms. It's a keeper! 
Salvia 'Blue By You'
Here are the blooms up close. The bumblebees love it, but are a little shy about getting their picture taken!
Double Red Knock Out Rose
Double Red Knock Out Roses continue to bloom along the northern border (with southern exposure!) and will continue to bloom through fall. I do deadhead the spent blooms and the plants keeps producing new foliage and buds throughout the entire season.
 Twombly's Red Sentinel Red Japanese Maple & Spirea 'Candy Corn'
Twombly's Red Sentinel is doing nicely by the patio along with Spirea 'Candy Corn' If you remember, these were new additions two seasons ago as I renovated that section of the garden. It is much lower maintenance now with lots of color. 
Daylily 'Samuel Russell'
Here is the 'Samuel Russell' Daylily that I did save from the previous planting. I enjoy its bright orangey-red blooms with yellow centers.
Jacob's Ladder 'Golden Feathers'
With all the heat and rain, the Jacob's Ladder in the shade garden continues to push out new blooms...
A Little Garden Love!
and dwarf Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is producing its blooms.
Golden Hosta
Venturing along to the front island bed, this giant golden Hosta now spans over two feet wide with white blooms.
Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'
While the Rhododendrons had a very good season this year, Hydrangeas are not enjoying the heat, but are enjoying the frequent nightly thunderstorms and having a pretty good bloom this year as well. This one is old fashioned 'Nikko Blue', a Mophead form that blooms on old wood from the previous season. I have had it for many years.
Front Northeastern Garden
Along the front northeastern garden Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Caramel') are producing their spikes of delicate blooms along with Golden Hinoki Cypress... 
Veronica (Speedwell)
while Veronica Magic Show variety is producing its blooms along the front walkway.
Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist'
Here is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' with its large heart-shaped foliage that adds a bit of texture to the landscape. It is accompanied by Variegated Golden Boxwood and Blue Globe Spruce.
Visit and Read a Book!
Venturing along to the back gardens, you can perhaps stay a while and read a book...
Back Island Bed
or wander over to the variegated foliage of Weigela 'My Monet' along with Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' in the backdrop and blooms of Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'. 
Pool Border
Here is Astilbe 'Sprite', a variety you do not see very often. I planted it years ago and it blooms after all the other Astilbe have finished and has a more delicate look about it with light pink flowers. Also is another view of groundcover Sedum 'Angelina'.
Back Island Bed Northern Side
As we approach the end of our tour, here is the shadier part of the garden beneath the Crape Myrtle tree in the backyard with 'Caramel' Coral Bells, Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' and Dwarf Andromeda 'Cavatine'. Get ready to see the blooms of the Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' during your next garden visit!
Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue'
And last, but not least are the blooms of Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue', which bloomed just in time for our tour!
Thank you for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my July garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have growing in your garden. Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden

Other Places to Find Me:
You can visit my Author Page to learn about and Purchase My Books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey!

Check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe or you can pledge a donation to show support for my work and receive monthly updates right into your inbox!


Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.  

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

"A Little Garden Music... And Art” Garden Tour

"A Little Garden Music... And Art Garden Tour" 2025
Welcome to This Month in the Garden! On Saturday, June 14th, the Sayville Garden Club and Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts (BAFFA) hosted their semi-annual afternoon garden tour featuring six gardens along with music and art. My husband and I were honored to be part of this local event for the third time since our previous involvement in 2010 and 2018.  It was a cool and rainy day, but leave it to devoted gardeners to combat the weather and endure the elements to visit a garden or six! Despite the weather, it was an enjoyable and successful day!
Patio Planter with Hydrangea 'Jip Blue'


Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Along Patio Border

North Side with Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'

BAFFA Quartet: A Little Bit of Music!

Twombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Spirea 'Candy Corn' and Lamb's Ear (Stachys)

Patio Border

Patio Border and Backyard Island Bed

Entry to the North "Secret Garden"

Back "Secret Garden" (North Side)

Astilbe 'Peach Blossom

Back "Secret Garden" (South Side)

A Little Garden Art!

Back Entry with Double Knock Out Roses

'Caramel' Coral Bells with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Pool Waterfall & Garden

Pool Waterfall & Garden

Cooking Garden-Herbs and Tomatoes

Driveway Border: Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Salvia 'Caradonna' and Weeping Norway Spruce

Front Island Bed 

Front Lawn: Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'

Garden Greeters-Thank You!
The Sayville Garden Club was founded in 1927 and is a community organization which focuses on gardening while maintaining local gardens and encouraging others to beautify their surroundings. The club promotes horticultural appreciation, creates floral designs and offers scholarships for local high school students, garden therapy programs and local clean-up efforts. Established in 1968, BAFFA (Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music and fine arts to the community, including the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The organization features monthly art exhibits showcasing local artists, art groups, student art shows and workshops.
Thank you for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and views from the Sayville Garden Tour. This event occurs every other year and is a favorite of many. Thank you to the Sayville Garden Club for wanting to include us once again. It is a privilege and an honor and we enjoyed meeting and getting to speak with and share thoughts with other like minded individuals who enjoy and appreciate gardening!

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

Welcome!
Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden and I hope you enjoy your visit! The month of June has been the rainiest I can remember and the temperatures have been mostly in the upper 60's and low 70's, with the exception of a couple of days in the high 70's and just this week one day at 88 degrees, which felt like a heat wave! The foggy morning and evening skies and on and off showers have certainly delivered an abundance of moisture to the garden, hence all the plants have been thriving with lots of blooms. I find myself spending a lot of time in my own garden between working with clients, as being surrounded by plants brings on a feeling of peace and happiness. 
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' in early June
As we start our stroll, let's take a moment to reflect back on just a week ago, with Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' along the patio border in full bloom. Their large yellow blooms are a sight to behold and last for only a short time, so I made sure to capture the moment. They are accompanied by Salvia 'May Night', which is still in full bloom.
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'
Here is Peony 'Bartzella' up close. 'Bartzella' is a cross between a tree and herbaceous Peony, so its stems are sturdy and do not flop over with the weight of the flowers. I wish it would bloom longer than it does, but at least the foliage is attractive too!
Allium 'Globemaster'
Allium 'Globemaster' is in bloom poolside accompanied by Weeping Japanese Maple in the backdrop, and Spirea and Daylilies aside it.  This view is also from just a week ago before the blooms started to fade. 
Rhododendron 'Elegans'
The Rhododendrons had a wonderful season which I just had to share. This is a view from the end of May into the first week in June.
Patio Garden
Presently along the patio border is dwarf Spirea 'Candy Corn' now blooming, displaying its delicate rosy-pink clusters of flowers along with the spiked blooms of Lamb's Ear (Stachys). Balloon Flower (Platycodon 'Komachi') is starting to form buds and Echinacea 'Pow Wow' is starting to form its first flowers.
Patio Garden: Spirea Double Play 'Candy Corn' and Lamb's Ear (Stachys)
I am enjoying the 'Candy Corn' Spirea as it is a smaller, more compact variety of Spirea, only reaching a height of about two feet, and its branches and foliage are a fiery reddish-pink in early spring.
Perimeter Garden-Kousa Dogwood
Along the northern perimeter, Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' is putting on quite a show for the month of June and will bloom for some time. I love the greenish-white flowers on this particular variety.
Perimeter Garden- Double Knock Out Roses!
It seems to be a good season for Double Knock Out Rose as well, despite all the rain. Also in view is Weeping Norway Spruce, and the foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' and Sedum 'Pure Joy'.
Patio Border
Salvia 'Blue By You', a taller and longer blooming variety of  Sage is accompanied by the variegated foliage of Osmanthus along the patio border. To the right is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells). With a little deadheading, the blooms of 'Blue By You' will last into late summer.
Pool Border
Here is a present view of the pool border with Allium 'Globemaster', accompanied by Daylily 'Stella D Oro' and Spirea 'Limemound', which are now in bloom. Up on the waterfall, the Spruce, Variegated Boxwood and Juniper added three years ago are finally getting established and sending out a lot of new growth.
Spirea & Nepeta
With all the newer dwarf varieties of Nepeta (Catmint) on the market, I am enjoying Nepeta 'Little Trudy' in a planter by the back stoop along with Spirea 'Candy Corn' in a planter behind it. 'Little Trudy' stays at a more compact size of  just eight to ten inches high by twelve to sixteen inches wide.
Driveway Border West-Weeping Norway Spruce
As we move towards the driveway border, here is Spirea 'Magic Carpet' with Salvia 'Caradonna', Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Norway Spruce and Japanese Garden Juniper.  Have I mentioned that I am a fan of Weeping Norway Spruce and dwarf conifers? You may have guessed that by now!
Driveway Border-Spirea 'Magic Carpet' and Salvia 'Caradonna'
Here is a closer view of the Spirea and Salvia 'Caradonna', along with Japanese Iris.
Japanese Iris Blooming!
This Japanese Iris is a clump that made its way outside the fence, branching off from the original iris patch that my mother planted back in the 1960's. It is a nice memory to still have a piece of it remaining after all these years.
Front Lawn
As we approach the front lawn, Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells) on the main island bed have certainly been enjoying all the rain, and Osmanthus 'Goshiki' is also pushing out some new growth, which has a pinkish hue to it. Weeping Norway Spruce, two Weeping Japanese Maples and Blue Atlas Cedar are in the backdrop.
Driveway Border East
I had replaced the coreopsis along the driveway border with these three Dwarf Norway Spruce, which have taken well to their home. They are accompanied by Golden 'Skylands' Oriental Spruce, Coral Bark Maple, Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni',  Weigela 'Spilled Wine' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'.
Thank you for visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have growing in your garden. Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden

IN THE NEWS! Our home was selected to be on the local garden tour, "A Little Garden Music and Art," for the third time! It was a rainy day, but visitors came from near and far to see our garden and it was an honor to be part of this amazing venue!

Also, sending out a big thank you to FeedSpot for including A Guide to Northeastern Gardening in their top 20 Best New York Gardening Blogs. It is an honor plus be sure to check out the other blogs that made the list!

My sixth book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants is celebrating five months since publication! If you are into houseplants, this may be the book for you! I cover over 120 plant selections with full color photographs of each one and detailed descriptions on care and maintenance.

Other Places to Find Me:
You can visit my Author Page to learn about and Purchase My Books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey!

Check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe and receive monthly updates right into your inbox!


Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.