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| Welcome! |
Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! Fall has officially arrived and there are signs everywhere as the landscape starts to transition into an array of color. The month of October has brought cooler temperatures in the upper 50's to low 60's by day, while dipping into the 40's some evenings with mostly clear skies. After a month of drought we finally received a few hours of steady light rain on the 7th, which helped to refurbish the landscape. Join me for a tour for some changing foliage, ongoing blooms and whatever else nature has to offer!
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| Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' |
As we start our stroll, one of my new favorite shrubs for fall is Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'. Planted just last spring, it's white star-like blooms start in late summer and last for months into fall. The blooms are just an added bonus to its colorful evergreen foliage. Joining Abelia are Blue Star Juniper and Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry', with a Blue Globe Spruce in the backdrop.
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| Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' October Blooms |
Here is a view of the foliage and blooms up close!
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| Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' |
It has been a good season for Echinacea as well with its repeat blooms. The gold finches have been enjoying the seeds and now there are a few new buds and blooms lasting well into fall.
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| Salvia 'Blue by You' Still Blooming! |
Salvia 'Blue by You' is a new favorite species of sage that is recently new to the market and to my garden. Its blooms start earlier than those of other varieties and just keep on blooming through fall with just two minimal dead headings.
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| Echinacea (Coneflower) Seed Heads |
As cooler temperatures arrive and the seasons transition, even the left over seed heads of Echinacea are a delight to see in the garden. In my opinion, I think they add a nice touch to the autumn landscape, and that is why I leave them for quite some time.
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| Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' |
In the back pool border, Nepeta 'Blue Wonder', a more dwarf version of catmint is still blooming...
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| Front Island Bed |
as Sedum 'Brilliant displays its dried blooms along with the huge leaves of Hosta.
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| Perennial Border |
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of combining foliage throughout the landscape. Along the perennial border, the soft white foliage of Lamb's Ear complements the golden foliage of Spirea 'Candy Corn', making for a colorful fall display.
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| Front Walkway |
Continuing to bloom in the front walkway border is Variegated Liriope (Lilyturf) with its deep purple spiked blooms. Helpful Tip: Do not cut back Liriope in fall. Rather, leave it for interest during the winter months and cut back in early spring. This will protect its delicate crown from severe cold.
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| Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' |
It is getting a lot cooler outside, but dwarf Black Eyed Susan keeps pushing out some new blooms...
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| Montauk Daisy |
and of course, Montauk Daisy is blooming, which is a sure sign of autumn!
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| Back Garden Border |
As we stroll along the back garden border, the Kousa Dogwood is producing its red fruits, which are edible. The soft pulp of the fruit is sweet with a flavor similar to a ripe persimmon and can be used to make into jellies and jams.
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| Kousa Dogwood Fruit |
Here is a close up view of the colorful fruit.
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| Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' Autumn |
Last month, I introduced the new 'Firelight Tidbit' Hydrangea that were planted where my mother's iris garden used to exist. I am loving the pinkish hues of the long lasting flowers as they transition into fall, and am looking forward to years of beautiful blooms.
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| Dwarf Buddleia 'Pugster Blue' |
In the back garden bed, dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue' is still producing colorful blooms...
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Double Knock Out Roses Still Blooming!
and the Knock Out Roses are blooming too! |
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| Front Island Bed |
As we near the end of the tour, there are more signs of autumn with the changing colors of Weeping Japanese Maple on the front lawn contrasting against the deeper evergreen foliage of Weeping Norway Spruce and evergreen variegated foliage of Osmanthus 'Goshiki'. Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel' with their burgundy undersides give a pop of color in the foreground and Blue Atlas Cedar can be seen in the distance.
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| Sedum 'Brilliant' Seed Head |
Here the dried flower heads of Sedum 'Brilliant' can be seen along with the deep greenish-burgundy foliage of Ajuga...
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| Dipladenia Still Blooming in October! |
while Dipladenia continues to bloom in a planter along the patio.
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| Garden Visitor: Common Darner Dragonfly (Anax junius) |
The autumn garden does bring many surprises. While working in the garden, I encountered this Common Darner Dragonfly with its green body and golden highlights that sparkle in the sun. She stayed long enough for me to photograph her, and now I can share the moment with you.
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| Thanks for Visiting! |
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my October garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have growing in your 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 had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. See you next month and do check out my newsletter and books in the meantime! As always...Happy Gardening!
Sharing a Lifetime of Gardening with My Books! (Garden Design, Planning, Maintenance Tips and more!) - Makes a great gift too!
Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved.
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