Saturday, December 15, 2018

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up December 2018: Winter Landscape Interest

December 2018 Garden
Welcome to my December Long Island garden! Only six days away from the official start of winter in the northern hemisphere, the garden has quietly gone to sleep. Colorful evergreens and structure are the main focus during this time of year. Come along with me to see the ever-changing landscape. Better bundle up...it's cold outside!
Welcome!
With daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 30's over the past week and a few snow flurries, winter seems to be arriving sooner than later here in the northeast. Now that all the leaves have fallen, evergreens are holding down the fort with their color and interest. Some semi-evergreen perennials, such as Heuchera (Coral Bells) are still displaying their caramel and purple coloring. The evergreens seen here include Western and Emerald Green Arborvitae (backdrop), Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (left), Gold Mop Cypress (left under Cedar), and Gold Spot Euonymus (middle).
Northern Border
I always enjoy pine cones, but they become more prevalent at this time of year, as you can see on this Weeping White Pine by the back pool area.
Decorative Pine Cones 
Garden Gal is still holding her basket of Black Mondo Grass. She got an honorable mention in my newest book, Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener, which I am pleased to announce just released a week and a half ago!
Garden Gal
I love the color on this Dwarf Cryptomeria (making its first appearance) in the wintertime. It turns from a lime green to this bright golden-yellow.
Dwarf Cryptomeria Autumn/Winter
In the driveway garden is Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce. As you probably know, it was planted as a memorial tree for my mom back in 2008 and has great sentimental value. It is also one of my favorite evergreens on the property for its seasonal interest.

Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce
Here are the interesting seed cones close up, which appear purple in early spring as they are forming.
Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce Seed Cones
The Northern Cardinals are so beautiful and appear exceptionally vibrant during this time of year.

Cardinal Visitor
The leaves have fallen off everything except this particular Weeping Japanese Maple in the front yard. It just doesn't want to give up fall. 
Weeping Japanese Maple Autumn/Winter
I enjoy focusing on its structure when I can see it. The changing seasons do have their benefit in showing the garden in a different perspective.
Weeping Japanese Maple Autumn/Winter Structure
There is something alluring about dried hydrangea flowers. I even like to enjoy them in a vase during winter, as it's a way of bringing a little of the outdoors inside.
Mophead Hydrangea Dried Flowers
As we move along, here is the front walkway and planting leading to the front door. The Golden Variegated Sweet Flag on the right under the Weeping Birch is one of the most reliable perennials on the property. It has been there for about twenty years, stays evergreen and needs no maintenance. It's a win-win plant when put in the proper location. This is eastern exposure with morning light and shade under the tree later on in the day.
Front Walkway
In front of the Sweet Flag is Juniperus 'Blue Star' and to the far left on the island bed is Hinoki Cypress 'Fernspray', which reaches about fifteen feet.
Newest Garden Addition
Here's the newest statuary addition to the garden with Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' plumes behind her.
Holiday Bear!
As the holiday season has arrived, I wish all my readers the best for wonderful times spent with family and friends, with good health, peace and happiness in the new year.
December 2018 Garden
I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my December garden. Please feel free to stay a while and catch up on some of my other posts. 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 has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsDishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled RoseImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party on the 17th with Everyday Living.

Check out my newest book Dream, Garden, Grow! - a story about a dream, a garden and growing as a lifetime gardener (more info to follow).

  ~As Always...Happy Gardening ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

26 comments:

  1. Beautiful landscaping! Love the evergreens!
    Congratulations on the new book!

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    1. Happy Bloom Day Lea! Your rosebud still looks good and it's funny how the dandelion is still blooming! You reminded me. I need to get an Amaryllis!!!

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  2. The structure of your weeping maple is stunning, Lee. I think the evergreen plants, particularly conifers are so beautiful in winter time, they decorate any garden and yours looks pretty.
    Happy GBBD!

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    1. Happy Bloom Day Nadezda. Your indoor blooms are so beautiful and I especially love your Dendrobium orchid. Happy holidays to you and yours!

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    1. Thank you! Your purses and table settings are so elegant and beautiful. You have such a creative touch. Merry Christmas!

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  4. Your garden is beautiful at every season.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Dorothy. You have so many wonderful blooms still going, which are all eye candy for northerners at this time of year!

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  5. Your garden looks beautiful every month of the year, Lee. I love that Japanese maple with its artistically contorted limbs.

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    1. Thank you Kris. I try to find the positives of each season and focus on them. Your many blooms there in Southern California are certainly eye candy for us northerners. Happy Bloom Day and Merry Christmas!

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  6. I wish some day I can get that Beauiful landscapes for every month of the year for my garden too.
    have a great week ahead.

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    1. Your blooms are beautiful Arun, and I especially love your yellow miniature roses.

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  7. K+Lee, it is always such a pleasure being taken on a tour of your grounds - thank you! My Japanese maple has yet to shed its leave too. I have a neighbor who was actually on a ladder and shaking the limbs of his trees this past week, lol. One thing I've learned as a gardener is you cannot control Mother Nature. Merry Christmas to you, and I'm looking forward to next year's gardening.

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    1. Thank you Rita! It has been a pleasure getting to know you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  8. So much beautiful foliage! Definitely an inspiration!

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    1. Thank you Shelly for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed your visit!

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  9. Beautiful design Lee - most folks fail at 4 season gardens

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    1. Thank you Carol. That means a lot. Your post on that wonderful salad is making me hungry. I may have to try it out!

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  10. Wow! Such gorgeous scenery along with bits of color.

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    1. Thank you Betty! Merry Christmas and all the best for a wonderful 2019!

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  11. The cardinal certainly makes his presence known! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Yes, he does! I love when they come to the feeder! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  12. Wow..Your fall/winter garden is wonderful and the maple...Mine is mud now... Please have a very Happy Holiday season...Michelle

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    1. Thank you Michelle. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season to you and yours and all the best for a happy 2019!

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  13. A lovely series. Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/12/46-years-and-i-still-love-this-guy.html

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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!