Sunday, December 29, 2013

2013 Gardening Year in Review and Happy New Year!

2013 January Garden
It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone by so quickly.  As we welcome the new year I reminisce of the gardening year past and have high hopes for the season upon us.  The year of 2013 was an eventful one both weather wise and plant wise for my zone 7 Long Island garden with lots of new events and additions. The month of January came in like a lamb with mild temperatures in the 40's and 50's which was a relief for the garden after the hurricane and frequent northeasters from last year...but that's just the beginning!
2013 February Garden
By the end of January the temperatures started to plummet and by February 8th and 9th we were blanketed under 19.8 inches of snow from Blizzard Nemo with up to 3 foot drifts in certain areas of the island.  I remember the island was pretty much shut down for those two days and it seemed like we wouldn't even get out of the house for a while.  Now I know for some of you that doesn't seem like a whole lot of snow but for us it was one of the larger storms we had had in some time.  Spring seemed far away.
2013 March Garden
In March 40 and 50 degree temperatures had arrived and the garden did start to show some signs of spring.   Catkins appeared on the Weeping Pussy Willow and opened into glorious white puffs and hyacinth bulbs were showing their crowns.  The garden started to get back on track after the disruption of the hurricane last year, but still seemed several weeks behind, since the blooms were much more frequent last year.
2013 April Garden
By April the temperatures had risen into the upper 50's to mid-60's with one day topping at a balmy 81 degrees!  The sudden rise in temperatures snapped the gardens right back on track with blooms of crocus, hyacinths and Start Magnolia and the fragrance of spring was everywhere.  Last fall I had finally added several clusters more of purple crocus around the yard and really enjoyed seeing them bloom this spring...purple...purple everywhere! 
2013 May Garden
In May temperatures in the 70's with spring rains brought along Ajuga, Spirea and Azalea with vibrant blooms.  Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang', my newest addition this year, has become a favorite in the garden with a different color foliage each month ranging from orange with pink tips to yellow and pink and then to a lime green, also displaying the largest and deepest pink blooms I have ever seen on a spirea.  Spring was definitely "bursting out all over"!
2013 June Garden
June came in like a lion with heavy rains and temperatures in the 70's which were the perfect conditions for the blooms to explode making the garden a summer wonderland.  Blooms of Spirea, Daylily 'Stella D Oro' and Salvia 'May Night' were the focal points during this month. Out of all the gardening months it is difficult to choose which is my favorite but June seems to rise above the rest.
2013 July Garden
After the abundant rain in June, July arrived with high temperatures topping in the 90's, causing the garden to flourish.  Coreopsis, Pardon Me Daylily, Hydrangea 'Endless Summer', Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' (in front of garden statue in photo) and Hosta were at their prime displaying magnificent blooms.
2013August Garden
Dragonflies were abundant in August lurking on the stalks of the Hosta while Knock Out Roses and Platycodon were in full bloom.  Crape Myrtle blooms kept on blooming from the month before and continued throughout fall.  August was a bit cooler than usual and many of the blooms seemed to have a longer lifespan.
2013 September Garden
Fall was wonderful this year with some of the mildest temperatures and bluest skies I can remember.  Crape Myrtles were in full bloom along with Hydrangea and Liriope and Mockingbirds enjoyed the blooms from up above.  I found some new birdbaths while on a ride out east that were added to the garden such as the one in the above photograph.
2013 October Garden
The mild temperatures in the 60's continued into October.  At this time of year Buddleia and Sedum were in full bloom while ornamental grasses formed their wispy plumes and cones were definitely noticeable on the branches of Blue Atlas Cedar.  The Dwarf Buddleia Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' which is relatively new to the garden just completed its third season.  Since it has been doing so well I couldn't resist adding three more to the front revised berm this past summer.
2013 November Garden
By the time November rolled around the temperatures started to decline into the 50's and the garden starting showing signs of going to rest with the changing colors of fall.  Literally overnight the temperatures plummeted into the 30's with the first dusting of snow announcing that winter was on its way.
2013 December Garden

December brought in winter with temperatures declining into the 30's and 40's with an occasional dusting of snow and a more permanent chill in the air.  We ended the year with two additional snowfalls of 2-3 inches each...just enough to bring in the holidays!

To all of you out there I have enjoyed having you as virtual gardening colleagues and thank you for your interesting, informative and enlightening posts throughout the year. I appreciate your visits and comments and look forward to visiting all of you throughout 2014. May all your days be merry and bright and the new year be a time of good health and prosperity filled with many wonderful gardening experiences.

As Always...Happy Gardening and Happy New Year!

Linking with Mosaic Monday


Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
 

20 comments:

  1. Wow! I really enjoyed your collages, and I appreciate the time and effort you took to make them wonderful. It is hard to choose, but I think I like your November collage the best. Your garden is gorgeous, and I look forward to following it through the coming seasons. Thank you also for visiting my own blog and for your kind comment. Happy gardening in 2014!

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I look forward to visiting you as well. Best wishes for a Happy 2014!

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  2. Wonderful collages of yearlong gardening! To say I could really use a landscape designer is an understatement. A very Happy New Year to you and yours!

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    1. Thank you Ellen and a very Happy 2014 to you! I loved visiting your blog and collages of the beautiful glass artwork. I will look forward to more visits in the upcoming year.

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  3. Beautiful photos and mosaics! Your gardens looked wonderful, I am already looking forward to Spring.. A wonderful look back!

    Wishing you all the best in 2014, Happy New Year to you and your family!

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    1. Hi Eileen. Your kind comments are very much appreciated! Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2014 and all the best to you and your family.

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  4. I enjoyed seeing the seasons of your garden, a nice project to compile.
    Happy New Year.

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    1. Thank you Judith. It is always a pleasure visiting your beautiful blog. Best wishes for a wonderful New Year to you and yours!

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  5. Lots of beautiful garden memories over the past year. Hopefully 2014 will bring many more. Valerie

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  6. Beautiful garden photos...I look forward to visiting your blog more often this coming year.

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    1. Thank you Charlie. I am enjoying your blog and will be catching up on all your gardening articles in 2014! Happy New Year to you!

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  7. Really beautiful composition of your collages. I do like your panel of the Photoshop oil paintings. They look nice all together too.

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    1. Thank you Donna. I will be working more on my photography in 2014. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!

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  8. gorgeous review of the year 2013. I wish you all the best in 2014!

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    1. Thank you! BTW...your photography is beautiful! Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

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  9. Lee - I really enjoyed your review of 2013 - Wishing you well in 2014! Happy Hogmanay!

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    1. Happy New Year and a wonderful Hogmanay celebration to you. All the best for 2014!

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  10. Lovely review of 2013 and beautiful photo mosaics. Spring and summer 2013 seems so long ago now, once Christmas is over I tend to just forget about last year and just look forward to spring – not long to go now before the first spring flowers are ready to pop in my garden.
    Happy New Year and hope 2014 will be a great gardening year!

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  11. Thank you Helene and a very Happy New Year 2014 to you and yours. I look forward to your first blooms which means mine are not far away! Our first blooms appear in March (hopefully!) Happy Gardening!

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!