Friday, September 15, 2017

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September 2017: The Garden Brings Peace

Hello September Garden!
Welcome to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up in my Long Island Garden. The month of September has arrived and there are signs of perhaps an early fall. Temperatures have been consistently in the 70's by day and 50's and 60's by night, very early for this time of year, and the Atlantic has been bombarded by several hurricanes, with Hurricane Irma making history after Andrew years ago. As I write this post and look at clear skies above, my heart goes out to all those affected by Irma and wish them safety and a quick recovery. I have been taking numerous walks out into the garden, for the garden is my sanctuary and brings me peace. It's time for another stroll and there is much beauty to be seen, so come along with me.
Dwarf Butterfly Bush
The first bloom we come across that is prominent this time of year is that of Dwarf Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Low & Behold Blue Chip) with its brightly colored fragrant blooms, which are an attraction to bumble bees and butterflies. The elongated purple blooms are one of my favorites.
Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'
Rudbeckia 'Little Gold Star' (Black Eyed Susan) is blooming in the back border garden. This dwarf variety blooms for several months, and grows to about 18 inches high, making it excellent for smaller spaces. It also tends to stay in tighter clumps and does not take over like the original species.
Variegated Liriope Blooming for September
One of my favorite blooms in September are those of Variegated Liriope (Lillyturf). While the foliage is striking all summer long, the stalks of vibrant purple blooms make the plant come even more alive late summer and fall.  
Sedum Dragon's Blood
There are many varieties of Sedum that bloom throughout the late summer months into fall. This one by the back pool garden is called Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'. It serves as a ground cover, growing to only four to six inches tall and spreading to about 24 inches wide. It's foliage forms interesting wine-red tips in late summer along with blooms.
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar & Sedum
In the front garden, below this Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is Sedum 'Brilliant', a medium sized variety, growing to approximately 18-24 inches tall with deep pink blooms. Mugo Pine rests between the two.
Hydrangea Tardivia
Another favorite late summer bloomer is Hydrangea 'Tardivia'. Each September I love to collect cuttings and bring them to my neighbor Joan, the dear lady next door who is like a second mom to me, and to whom I dedicated my second book. She returns the vase I delivered them the following September and I refill it for her. The flowers have a light fragrance and keep for a long time, then can be kept as a dried flower display over the winter.  
Pool Garden
Take one last peek at the pool area in summer mode. I am enjoying the gardens with the pool open for a few more days and then it will be all tucked away for the winter season. I can't believe how quickly the summer has passed, and that autumn is already on the way. 
Pink Knock Out Rose in September
There are still reminders of summer as this Double Knock Out Rose keeps on blooming along the patio garden. These hardy roses just keep on giving, right through the first hard frost!
September Foliage
As autumn approaches, much of the attention is on foliage. Here in the front raised garden, a towering Blue Atlas Cedar has Juniperus 'Gold Lace' and two varieties of Heuchera (Coral Bells) as a second and third layer beneath it for all season interest.
Back Secret Shade Garden
In the back secret shade garden is Heuchera 'Caramel', which gets as big as hosta, while remaining semi-evergreen throughout winter. I cannot get enough of this plant and it has also become very popular with my clients. If you're wondering, Caramel Coral Bells are hardy in USDA zones 4-9.

Welcoming Water Hole
In the back of the secret garden is this decorative birdbath that I purchased out in eastern Long Island a few years ago. I love the engraving on it and the saying inside which says, Love is on the sparrow and I know he welcomes me." If you get closer up you will see that it goes down pretty deep and that there is actually water in the birdbath for the birds to enjoy, along with the engraving! 
Rejuvenated Daylilies for September
Do you rejuvenate your Daylilies?  This is a clump I rejuvenated back in August and it is now full of brand new foliage and blooms. It works very well with these Stella D Oro's.
Stella D Oro Daylily Blooms for September
I do enjoy the prolonged blooms into autumn.
Crape Myrtle Sioux September
Lets walk around to the southern portion of the backyard where the Crape Myrtles are blooming. These two trees supply blooms for several months, and I always look forward to the end of July, when they usually start to show their first buds.
Crape Myrtle Sioux 
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'  and 'Muskogee' are both hardy in zones  6-9. 'Sioux' displays  large deep pink blooms...
Crape Myrtle Muskogee September
while 'Muskogee' produces lilac-pink blooms. This 'Muskogee' is the newer of the two, just completing it's third season.
Back Shade Garden
Let's take a look at some more of the shade garden where Rependens Yew, Japanese Forest Grass, Variegated Boxwood and Leucothoe thrive. Here...it is all about the foliage, and I enjoy combining different shades and textures.
Hakonechloa macra
The Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) has grown to several feet wide over the years and I get so much enjoyment from it as it fills in this spot.
Perennial Border
Here at the perennial border, there are signs of autumn approaching. As blooms turn into seed heads, food is supplied for the birds. The other day a beautiful Eastern Goldfinch was enjoying the Echinacea seed heads in the backdrop (right). I ran for my camera, but he flew away too quickly for me!
Viburnum Summer Snowflake Blooming in September
As we approach the back western garden, Summer Snowflake Viburnum is showing off its last hurrah with a third round of blooms for the summer season, while there are subtle signs of fall in the other areas.
Nellie Stevens Holly Late Summer Berries
The berries on the Nellie Stevens Holly have become much larger and are a brilliant red, while the Weeping White Pine shows off its handsome pine cones.
Pine Cones on White Pine
One thing I love about this time of year is when the large wispy plumes of 'Yaku Jima' Maiden Grass sway in the slightest breeze. 
Almost Fall!
Last, but not least, the garden has a new visitor. This bunny was probably born on the property and we have watched him grow from youngster into adult throughout the summer. He has been very respectful of the garden and spends most of his time nibbling the grass.
A New Garden Visitor
As we come to the end of strolling through my September garden, I will leave you with this quote by Abram L. Urban. "In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful." The quote just seems so fitting to me, as I gaze upon my garden and gather my thoughts at the end of each day, finding peace and tranquility.
Thanks for Visiting My September Garden
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 FridaysMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides, Wednesday Around the WorldDishing It & Digging It and Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday.

 ~SHARING MY PASSION WITH MY BOOKS ON AMAZON~
Landscape Design Combinations

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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

28 comments:

  1. I love reading topics regarding landscapes & landscape designs! Your article is really very appreciative having great content consists of a lovely collection of gardening designs. Thanks for posting & keep blogging!
    Landscape Architecture Firms Long Island

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    1. Thanks for visiting Scott. It's always nice to hear feedback from colleagues.

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  2. There is such wonderful texture and colour in your garden! I like the variegated Liriope too - it's very striking. Your pool looks welcoming - isn't it a shame when they are put to bed at the end of summer? How are you rejuvenating your daylilies?

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I enjoyed how you fill in the gaps with annuals at this time of year and your Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch' and Zinias are beautiful. How am I rejuvenating daylilies?...the secret is in my first book, but it does have something to do with cutting back in August!

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  3. I see why you consider your garden to be a sanctuary, it is! My stroll with you was pleasurable and relaxing. Everything was beautiful and it was a contrast to my ragged garden. Thanks for sharing and letting me enjoy it.
    Jeannie @ GetMeToTheCountry.Blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for visiting Jeannie and I am glad you are safe from the storms. You still have some flowers that survived all the rain and wind. Hope your garden recovers quickly.

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  4. Another relaxing and beautiful walk through your gardens, Lee. I envy you your crape myrtles. They wont grow in the mountains here. I think you are right and we are getting an early fall. So sad to see the gardening season coming to an end. But it's doing so beautifully in your garden. P. x

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    1. I appreciate your kind words Pam. As always, your gardens are beautiful and the photo of Kat's Field with the goldenrod is stunning!

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  5. I want to know how you trained your bunny to just eat grass, lol. I have already had to do a lot of garden clean up. Fall is definitely in the air.

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    1. He is very well behaved Denise! I have started some clean up as well and it feels like it is earlier than usual. Your garden still looks wonderful with all its blooms.

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  6. I love your sparrow birdbath. I will have to try rejuvenating my daylilies. I'm not sure how it will work with my shorter growing season. You say, "Temperatures have been consistently in the 70's by day and 50's and 60's by night, very early for this time of year," but we have been having similar temps and I say, "Gosh, it's so warm for September!"

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    1. Than you Kathy! Our temperatures will be dropping soon, right after warm spurt we are getting now. I am enjoying the nice weather as much as I can. Have a great week!

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  7. Oh, how I love your weeping white pine and Japanese forest grass. Such great flow and texture. Everything is looking beautiful, Lee. Thanks for joining in on Foliage Follow-Up!

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    1. Thank you for hosting Pam. It is always a pleasure visiting your gardens!

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  8. What a golden-pink autumnal garden, Lee. I liked your reddish hydrangea ans sedum. I put some sedum flowers in a vase, it looks nice. I remember your White Pine in winter, and honestly say it's wonderful in any time.

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    1. Thank you Nadezda. Over the past several years I have been focusing more on autumn interest to extend the gardening season. I loved all the beautiful annuals in your garden and how you have grown them from seed. Happy Gardening!

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  9. I very much enjoyed the tour! the Weeping White Pine with its wonderful cones is pure delight, as is the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. Both are plants I have coveted for my own garden. I once planted several white pines, not the weeping form, but they are marginal in my area. Only one survives today. I still aim to find a place for a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. I truly admire all the layers of foliage in your garden and the variety of foliage colors. Beautiful in fall as well as other seasons!

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind words. I am a huge fan of evergreens, and the more the better. The Weeping White Pines are one of my favorites for all season interest. Have an enjoyable week ahead!

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  10. Such a cool birdbath. We soon need to replace ours.
    Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/09/orchids-endless-variety.html

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    1. Thank you for hosting Sue. Sometimes you find the most unique garden additions when you aren't even looking! This was one of them and on sale at the end of the season, so it came home!

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  11. Gorgeous! I am hoping to make it to our botanical garden next week before we loose all the blooms. fall is slowly creeping in and I want to soak up every minutes of the season. Have a lovely week.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Kelleyn and I do hope you get to visit some gardens as planned! Have a good week!

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  12. Your garden looks like a wonderful place to spend some time!

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  13. Marvelous floral shots!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-view-from-mount-washington.html

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  14. Beautiful blooms! I featured the Sedum Dragon's Blood for Flower Friday.

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    1. Thank you Kristin! It is a great little plant that is no maintenance, and the magenta blooms are a highlight in the late summer garden.

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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!