Friday, April 15, 2016

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up April 2016 - Spring at Last!

April 2016 Garden
Spring arrived like a lion as Mother Nature graced the landscape with her last snow of the season. It quickly melted within the same day to expose the spring bulbs that had been well under way.  After an unusually mild winter, the first week and a half of April had been one of the coldest on record with prolonged periods of rain.  Now we cannot complain too much about the rain, since “April showers bring May flowers”, as the expression implies.  Also, within the past two days spring has finally arrived in all its glory, with temperatures in the upper 50's and 60's and blooms starting to appear everywhere.  Come walk with me through my Long Island garden.      
Spirea 'Limemound' Foliage

We start the tour with some new spring foliage. Just within the past couple of days the foliage on the 'Limemound' Spirea has appeared with its new pinkish-orange hues for spring. One of the interesting characteristics of Spirea is that the foliage transitions into many hues throughout the different seasons, and of course the blooms are lovely as well.
Dwarf White Pine and Daylily 'Stella D Oro' 
In the back gardens, evergreens such as this dwarf White Pine are showing new growth, and 'Stella D Oro' Daylilies are emerging with their bright green foliage.

Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix caprea 'Pendula')
One of my favorite trees in the backyard is this Weeping Pussy Willow, which is abundant with brightly colored catkins every spring.  I can see this one right from my kitchen window and there is a lot of activity, as the birds love to nest in it.
Magnolia 'Royal Star'
The 'Royal Star' Magnolia is another welcomed sight every spring.  Its beautiful white blooms cast a fragrance that can be detected across the property and I just cannot get enough of this lovely tree.
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bloom
The blooms are like a piece of nature's artwork that appear in many forms with no two exactly alike.
Magnolia Royal Star
The flowering period is short-lived, but worth every moment!
Nepeta 'Walkers Low' April
As we stroll around to the back garden beds, Nepeta 'Walkers Low' is starting to emerge from its winter's sleep and is sporting its lovely silvery foliage, which will soon give way to brilliant lavender blooms.
Miniature Daffodils
The Miniature Daffodils are showing their delicate yellow blooms. They were introduced into the perennial border just last year.
Miniature Daffodils
This is also the second year for Allium 'Globemaster', which has been pushing up foliage since March. I wait in anticipation for the giant stalks to form which will be topped with voluminous purple blooms in June.
Allium Globe Master New Foliage
Here are Hyacinths, which are very reliable in the perennial border...
Pink Hyacinths
with hues of pinks and purples and fragrant scent. I bought more purple bulbs this year because I just couldn't resist! They are always such a welcomed sight.
Purple Hyacinths
Violas are also fun to look forward to in spring.  I purchased these from the local nursery on opening day in March and they are still blooming away. There are also some in the garden bed that re-seeded from last year, which I am enjoying as well.
Violas
As we take a look at the front gardens, there are hints of life as perennials start to appear among the evergreens...
Driveway Evergreens and Perennials Starting to Show
and of course the evergreens are what provide reliable structure in all the seasons.
Front Gardens and  Walkway
The Caramel Coral Bells are also showing spring is here as they sprout new growth after the winter. Grape Hyacinths are also showing their delicate purple blooms.
Grape Hyacinths
Hellebore 'Shooting Star' April
Here is another one of my favorite additions to the garden.  Planted last winter, these Hellebores have been blooming from January until now...making a bloom time of four months. They have bloomed through snow and cold, and everything else that has been handed to them.
'Skylands' Oriental Spruce and Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku')
In the distance behind the Golden Oriental Spruce, you can see the buds of the Coral Bark Maple swelling to display a pinkish hue.  Soon the leaves will appear as a light green. Coreopsis 'Zagreb' is showing the start of foliage and will also soon be in bloom.
Back Perennial Border

Now that the Hyacinths and Daffodils are coming to the end of their bloom period, Daylilies, Allium, Astilbe, Coneflower and Hosta are all starting to emerge, preparing for the next round of blooms.
Violas
April 2016 Garden
I  hope you enjoyed the stroll through my April 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 Today's FlowersFloral FridaysMosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart MacroMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update.

Celebrating my 200th Post!

Have you checked out my book A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer?  Here it is on Amazon

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved


24 comments:

  1. Enjoyed strolling with you through your April garden, Lee. Your magnolia is stunning! Happy GBBD! P. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you enjoyed the stroll Pam. That Magnolia has been a favorite of mine over the years. There used to be two but I lost one just last year due to old age, so a new Crape Myrtle now stands in its place. I enjoyed your beautiful gardens as always,

      Delete
  2. I always love a stroll through your gardens. I'm wondering if you can name for me the evergreens in your 'Front Gardens and Walkway' photo with the Caramel Coral Bells. It is a lovely combination!! Edgygardener.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words ShellE! The evergreens behind the Caramel Coral Bells are a low growing Japanese Garden Juniper (scientific name Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'.

      Delete
  3. Oh, dear! What a treat this magnolia, Lee, lovely! Your hyacinth are so colored. Do you think this spring is too late? I do think.
    I liked how the drive way looks, very good landscape. And in your back garden I see a pine- do you prune it or this is just a variety?
    Happy GBBD!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nadezda. Spring started in February and March this year with very early blooms, but then we were hit with cold, snow and a hard freeze at the end of March and into April, setting everything back. The pine in my back garden is a dwarf white pine (Pinus strobus 'Blue Shag'). It grows to a mature height and width of about 4 feet over time.

      Delete
  4. Loved your garden. So spic and span. And absolutely beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your Magnolia royal Star really is a star, it is magnificent! Love all your little violas too, they are such pretty flowers with their sweet little faces.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy the Magnolia and violas each spring Pauline and do get a lot of enjoyment seeing the planter of violas right outside my door step. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

      Delete
  6. Lovely to see your garden waking up – I know spring is short and sweet with you, over here it has been a long, drawn-out affair and unusually cold. It’s colder now in late April than it was in January! We are still waiting for warmer weather and tonight it will be near freezing. My seedlings are spending the night in my shed – yet again.
    Your magnolia is magnificent and I always admire your evergreens, they give such a nice backdrop to everything in flower, and every one of them is a feature in itself. Thanks for the stroll, I always love to come visit your garden Lee :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You made my day with your kind words Helene. It is always a pleasure to stroll in your gardens as well and I always look forward to your latest additions. We also had a cold start to spring, but we seem to be getting back on track this past week.

      Delete
  7. Loved the walk in your garden. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations on 200 posts! I really enjoyed this one. I especially like all your evergreens with their many shades and textures. And it is marvelous to see your spring blooms. Hopefully winter has departed. Happy spring gardening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Deb! I just read about your arbor garden in your last post and just want to jump right into your photos and sit on the lovely swing overlooking the lush landscape. Thank you for sharing...made me smile!

      Delete
  9. I had to Gasp! at the entry, so pretty.
    Is that a white Japanese magnolia?
    Maine has buds on the fortheisia and a few bulbs
    the deer didn't eat. yvonne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Royal Star is a Japanese variety and its blooms are gorgeous. It sounds like you are about two to three weeks behind us. Once the temperatures turned for the better everything started to pop! Happy spring!

      Delete
  10. Your April seems to have treated your garden a bit nicer....love seeing all the first flowers but oh that stunning foliage! Just fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Mrs. Miller, I have a cousin who lives in the Hamptons. Well, there us a smile on my face and sore back Maine has 4 days in the 60-70's Everything is coming up. It's truly God's world. Happy Gardening yvonne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Yvonne. The Hamptons aren't too far from where I am...about a 45 minute ride. The temperatures hit 90 degrees here yesterday...a quick jolt of summer!

      Delete

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!