Sunday, December 15, 2019

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up December 2019: Garden Views & First Snow!

December 2019
Welcome to my December garden and the last Bloom Day post for 2019! Like last year, December has been a unpredictable month with a little bit of everything weather-wise. The first snowfall on the 3rd. really got us onto the holiday spirit here in the northeast, followed by a second snowfall om the 11th, and now the temperatures are seasonably cold (in the 30's and 40's) with a surprise day in the 50's every now and then. The garden is in hibernation mode, but the evergreens and structural elements are keeping the interest going for into the winter months. Come along and see what the December garden has to offer!
Hypertufa Planter with Evergreens
Fist stop is the Hypertufa planter with a combination of Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (right), Juniper (middle), Golden Boxwood (left) and thyme. I purchased it at the local nursery this past fall. As I walked in, I had no intention of looking for a planter, but this one grabbed my eye and quickly won me over. It came home and I am really enjoying it!
Garden Whimsy
Throughout the garden I have some playful statues that also give enjoyment during the colder months. Here is one of a girl and boy playing, which brings back memories of childhood.
Garden Gal with Black Mondo Grass
Garden Gal is still sporting her Black Mondo Grass, which stays mostly evergreen throughout all the seasons.
Dried Sedum Flowers
There is beauty to dried flower stalks. This is Sedum 'Brilliant'. After blooming late summer into fall, the flowers dry to provide late season interest.
Dwarf White Pine and Weeping Norway Spruce
In the backyard are Emerald Green Arborvitae, Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf White Pine, with Gold Lace Juniper and Skip Laurel in the backdrop. The sky looks very ominous behind them.
Weeping White Pine Seed Cone
One of the things I love most about fall and winter are the large seed cones that form on the Weeping White Pines. Here is a view of one close up. 
Crape Myrtle Bark
Crape Myrtle has an interesting bark, which is more prominent this time of year. I love how it peels to expose new layers underneath. At times, it appears like a rainbow of hues.
A Favorite Combination!
In the back garden bed is one of my favorite foliage combinations. Here are perennials Japanese Golden Sedge and Heuchera 'Caramel'.
Late Fall/Winter Foliage
Add some Gerard's Azalea in the backdrop and you get a really nice splash of fall color, that will last into the winter. The Azalea is evergreen and the Sedge and Heuchera are both mostly winter hardy (semi-evergreen) here in zone 7.
Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce
Remember the new Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce that was planted in the pool garden a few years back? Well...here it is and growing nicely. It is now about seven feet tall.
Front Property December View
Follow me around to the front garden. In the foreground are Dwarf Cryptomeria (left) and Weeping Norway Spruce (right), Weeping Japanese Maple (center) and Blue Atlas Cedar (back left). It's mid-December and the leaves still remain on the Weeping Japanese Maples, which has been the trend for the last couple of years. With the fluctuating temperatures, some of the ornamental trees are taking their time to defoliate. 
Blue Atlas Cedar
Majestic as ever is the Blue Atlas Cedar on the northeastern side of the property. It was brought home in the trunk of a Ford Probe back in the early 1990's, before I became a landscape designer and acquired a truck! It wouldn't fit in either one now!
Front Walkway December View
Come along to the front walkway. The walkway is lined mostly with evergreens and you can get a glimpse of the red branches of the Coral Bark Maple glowing in the backdrop.
Nellie Steven's Holly Berries
On the northwestern side of the property, red berries are prominent on Nellie Stevens Holly.
December Views
Looking out from the front yard onto the street are the defoliated branches of trees on the median in front of the very ominous sky...
Driveway Garden View
and here is a close up view of the lamppost and Weeping Norway Spruce in the driveway border garden.
Welcome Frogs!
Around by the back patio, the Welcome Frogs are enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa!
December 3rd. First Snow!
The snow is now melted, but the beauty of a virtual tour is that I get to share the views. On the evening of December 2nd, plummeting temperatures and falling sleet were followed by a couple of inches of pure beauty on the 3rd. The event happened again on the morning of the 11th, covering the landscape in a blanket of snow.
Snowdrops on Hypertufa!
Each snowfall covered the landscape and transformed it into a winter wonderland for a couple of days...
December 11th. Second Snow!
then disappeared as quickly as it came. 
December 2019 Snow!
Decorated with snow, Welcome Bear guards the outdoor garden...
Thanksgiving Cactus
while the cactus blooms away on the inside to bring in the holidays.
December 2019 Garden
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed your tour of my December 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 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, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, 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 every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Homestead Blog Hop  and Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays.

The holidays are here! Treat yourself or the gardener in your life to one or more of my books-all written from my experiences as a lifetime gardener and professional landscape designer/consultant for over 20 years. Each is filled with gardening advice, design techniques and garden musings, making for a thoughtful gift!


Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.

43 comments:

  1. A beautiful landscape whether snow covered or not. Obviously you don't have a deer problem.

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    1. Thank you. There are deer on the island, but fortunately none in my area. I have done quite a few “deer resistant” designs in my job and the good news it that there are plants that they will likely avoid for their texture, taste or aroma. Moral of the story...you can have an attractive “deer resistant” garden!

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  2. Hello Lee,
    what nice playful kids and garden Gal in your December garden. Yes snow covers our gardens, here it falls and melts later. I love all your photos, my favorite is of Front Property December View. Stunning!

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    1. Thank you Nadezda! I love the first snow of the season. I enjoyed your indoor blooms. The Christmas cactus is a beauty and I love the color, right in time for the holiday!

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    2. Dear lee,
      I WISH YOU AND YOURS
      A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
      FULL OF JOY AND HAPPINESS
      BLESSINGS,
      KISSES,
      HUGS

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  3. Your garden looks beautiful, Lee. I always hear tales of how difficult it is to maintain a garden's beauty through the winter in cold climates like yours but your design keeps the garden story going despite the weather. I can only wish my own garden in sunny SoCal looked as good! I loved the wide view shots.

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    1. Thank you Kris. That means a lot. Your California garden is beautiful and a feast for the eyes this time of year. I am in awe viewing all the blooms!

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  4. Love all of those mature evergreen plantings. They make your garden lively even during winter. I especially like your pot of smalls. Happy GBBD.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Lisa. I loved all your festive holiday decorations and your home looks so warm and inviting.

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  5. This might sound weird, but I sort of miss living in a four season climate. We so rarely get snow in the urban areas here in Portland, OR, so I usually don't get to see my garden covered in a blanket of white. Which - at that point - would be a nice change - to my mind at least!

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    1. I completely understand. It's funny-I've always admired Portland because it's the perfect growing climate, but I do enjoy the changing seasons. The thing is that the first few snowfalls are beautiful, but get old and I can't wait for spring! I guess that's what keeps it interesting!

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  6. Wonderful garden views, Lee. Your garden is truly a four-season one! P. x

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    1. Pam-your December garden is absolutely beautiful and I love the snow covered weeping trees. Happy Bloom Day and wishing you all the best for the holiday season!

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  7. Wow ! the transition from no to full snow covered landscapes is breathtaking,Holly berries are drool worthy,I still await for thanksgiving cactus to come into blooms.Happy bloggers blooms day.

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    1. Thank you Arun! I am so glad you enjoyed the stroll through the December garden. Happy Bloom Day!

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  8. Love the seasonal tour and the winter interest garden, Lee. The moody skies set a wonderful backdrop for the evergreens (and those resistant deciduous plants!). Merry Christmas to you!

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the tour. I enjoyed touring your new home with all its holiday cheer! Wishing you all the best for a wonderful holiday season!

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  9. Beautiful!
    Have a great week and Merry Christmas!

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    1. Than you Lea. Enjoy your Amaryllis and Hellebore blooms! Happy Bloom Day and Merry Christmas!

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  10. Lovely photos. I especially like the holly berries! Have a grand week!

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the photos Cathy. Thank you for sharing your magnificent views of Ireland.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Carol and thank you for sharing all the wonderful Christmas views. I really enjoyed them!

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  12. Wonderful sights! Our garden looks dreary this time of year. Yours is delightful!
    Thank you for joining us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/12/coffee-shop-humor.html

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  13. Lovely photos! Really beautiful garden and props.

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    1. Thank you so much! Your photography of the birds is amazing and I especially enjoyed the Asian Koel...beautiful!

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  14. I enjoyed your garden tour. So many different evergreens, I like that. We don't have any kind of evergreen growing in our yard. Maybe it's time.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and I am glad you enjoyed the post Susie. I am enjoying your blog!

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  15. Great shots! I especially like those brilliant red holly berries.

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    1. Thank you and I am so glad you stopped by! The holly always comes through with some holiday color.

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  16. Lee - your garden is a wonderland at any time of year, and the shots in snow are especially mesmerizing. The mosaic at the beginning of your post is a pop of color and texture and variety - fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing your property with everyone at Mosaic Monday!

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    1. Thank you for hosting Angie. I enjoyed your last post. I had never heard of Flat Stanley before. Looks like fun!

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  17. These are some terrific plant photos! I love the diversity of the colors and the snow is so pretty...at least, the first one!

    It's terrific to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

    My Corner of the World

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    1. Thank you so much for hosting Betty. I always enjoy your beautiful posts and am glad I could tag along!

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  18. Bellissime conifere! Sono il mio punto debole, le amo alla follia! Le tue pendule e l'abete orientale sono uno spettacolo. Sotto la neve ancor di piĆ¹! Complimenti davvero!

    Ti auguro buone feste e un buon inverno :)

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    1. Thank you Gabriel! Your gardens and post are beautiful! Best wishes for a holiday season filled with all good things!

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  19. Winter gardens have a beauty all their own. A dusting of snow is the icing on the cake. - Margy

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed the views Margy. Sending best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

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  20. Just stopping by to wish you a happy and healthy 2020, dear friend! P. x

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    1. I am so glad to have met you and become virtual friends and am looking forward to enjoying one another's gardens in the upcoming year. Happy New Year Pam!

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  21. Awesome garden!Those adorable statues are to die for!Amazing flowers!Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words and Happy New Year to you and yours! Your table settings are always so beautiful and I look forward to more in 2020!

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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!