A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING

Monday, June 15, 2026

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Welcome to My June Garden!

Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden. Located on the south shore of the island, the weather for June has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride with days ranging from the comfortable mid-70s', followed by days in the mid-upper 90's with high humidity, making time spent outside limited. The late afternoons and evenings do bring cooler temperatures, a time for me to venture out into the garden and collect my thoughts, since the garden is my happy place.

Welcoming Committee

To begin the tour, the infamous welcoming committee is here to greet you. Today's beverage of choice is iced tea, or perhaps some lemonade, since the temperatures are a bit warm! We are going to start the tour with some views from a couple of weeks ago, because we just could not pass them up!

Rhododendron in Southern "Secret" Garden

This was the best year I have ever seen for the Rhododendron in the back secret garden. It is something I see when I wander around the back corner and caught it just in time for some photos, as it was bursting with an abundance of blooms. Since the blooms are not long-lived, I got a quick capture to share with you.

Allium 'Globemaster' Pool Perimeter

The Allium was blooming at the same time, so we had to catch them at their best as well. The blooms are now starting to fade, but they are still amazing, and the Daylilies are starting to chime in, which we will visit later.

Patio Border

It has also been an amazing year for Peony 'Bartzella'. It's blooms have been more enormous than ever! It is accompanied by Salvia 'May Night', Mugo Pine 'Slowmound', Spirea 'Candy Corn', Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple and Lamb's Ear.

Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'

Here is a single bloom up close! 'Bartzella is a hybrid cross between a shrub and tree form of Peony.

Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'

Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' is also abundant with greenish-white blooms this year. Juniperus 'Gold Lace' resides next to it.

Driveway Border

Following along to the driveway border and joining Weeping Norway Spruce, Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is blooming along with Salvia 'Caradonna' and Japanese Iris. The Japanese Iris are from the original Iris patch that my mom planted when I was just a child.

Front Lawn

Along the front lawn are island beds with a mixture of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials, including Weeping Japanese Maple, Blue Atlas Cedar, Mugo Pine, Japanese Andromeda, Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae and Hosta.

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Back around to the patio and pool area, Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' is blooming away...

Hen's & Chicks Succulent Grouping

and the Hen's & Chicks with Sedum 'Angelina' (Stonecrop) are doing well.

Allium 'Globemaster' and Daylily 'Stella D Oro'

It is June, so Daylily 'Stella D Oro' is now blooming at the base of Allium 'Globemaster' in the pool border. Even though the blooms of the Allium are fading a bit, I still enjoy the structure they provide throughout the entire summer.

Daylily 'Stella D Oro'

Here are the Daylily blooms up close, and also the bright deep pink blooms of Spirea 'Candy Corn'!

Spirea Blooms!

I love this newer cultivar of Spirea, as it is more compact, has wonderful foliage and blooms, and the new spring growth pushes out fiery red twisted stems.

Patio Planters

Along the patio the hydrangea in planters are getting ready to bloom, with the garden in the distance...

A Friendly Visitor!

and this little Song Sparrow visitor is not shy at all. He baths playfully in the water on the patio after I water the Hydrangeas each day.

Patio Planters

As we approach the end of the tour, here are more patio planters with a mix of evergreens, flowering shrubs and succulents, which are cold hardy enough to stay out and be enjoyed all year.

Herb/Vegetable Garden

Last, but not least is my husband's herb and vegetable garden which he uses for cooking. I taught him how to set it up and he planted it himself this year with great pride! I have made a gardener out of him after all these years!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June 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, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden.

Connect With Me 🌼

It's time to plan your garden! Visit my Author Page 👈to learn about and purchase my books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey! If you have read any of my books and have found them to be useful, reviews are very much appreciated!

Also, check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe or you can pledge a donation to show support for my work, or upgrade to receive extra perks monthly right into your inbox!

Find me on Instagram at Northeastern Gardening and Facebook at A Guide to Northeastern Gardening Blog & Author Page.

Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Monday, June 1, 2026

Hens and Chicks: The Plant, the Story...the Legend!

Hens and Chicks with Sedum Angelina (Stonevrop)

The Plant: Today's feature plant, Hens and Chicks (scientific name Sempervivum) is an easy to grow outdoor succulent that is not only drought tolerant, but cold hardy to USDA zone 6, and the perfect selection for xeriscaping, planting along rock walls, along a pool border, or grown with other succulents for a decorative touch to the garden. While being drought tolerant, these evergreen perennials are also low maintenance, and supply interest throughout the year. Plant Hens and Chicks in a location will full sun and a well-drained soil, and they will thrive. In addition, these evergreen succulents attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. There is some mystery however; where did the name "Hens and Chicks" come from? Why aren’t they referred to as goose and goslings, or pig and piglets or duck and ducklings?

Hens and Chicks Poolside

The Story: Now it is time to solve the mystery! The attention catching name, Hens and chicks, came from the way they propagate. The larger mother plant is called the "hen," and as it multiplies it produces an abundance of tiny offspring through lateral stems, known as "chicks," that sprout up and cluster closely around it. Hens and chicks produce tall, thick stalks crowned with star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in summer that signal the death of the mother plant. This is only part of the life cycle though, as the mother plant has already produced several offspring, and the “chicks” will continue to grow and divide after the “mother” rosette dies.

Hens and Chicks with Rosettes

The Legend: Being cultivated as far back as ancient Roman times, these plants were grown in vases in at the entry of a home as a symbol for prosperity. There was also a belief that Hens and Chicks would protect against lightning, as their rosette-shaped leaves resembled the bearded, crowned face of the Roman god Jupiter. During the 8th century across Western Europe, Frankish King Charlemagne ordered his subjects to plant Hens and Chicks on their thatched-roof homes as a protection from lightening and possible fire, as their water retaining, fire-resistant leaves acted as an insulator and fire retardant. In European folklore, planting Hens and Chicks near the front door was believed to bring good luck, love, and fertility to the household. Scottish folklore claimed the plant could ward off black sorcery, and in rural areas of Wales and parts of England, the plant was believed to protect against storms, while also welcoming prosperity.

Hens and Chicks Poolside Rock Garden

Overall, these versatile and incredibly hardy succulents are low maintenance, drought tolerant, pollinator friendly, known for surviving freezing temperatures outdoors, and basically thrive on neglect! I hope you enjoyed your visit, and until we meet again...Happy Gardening!

Friday, May 15, 2026

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Join Me For A Walk Through My May Garden

Welcome to my May Garden!

"It's into the garden I go to lose my mind and find my soul", is a well-known quote by John Muir and one that I live by. As the garden awakens in May, it is one of my favorite months of the gardening season. After an unusually cold April and start to May, the temperatures are now finally rising from the chilly 50's into the 70's and maybe even the 80's by the end of the week! There are new blooms to be seen everyday as the garden explodes with new growth and color. Join me on a tour of my zone 7b Long Island garden!

Rhode Island red Japanese Maple & Salvia 'Blue By You'

The first stop is my Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple, which I cherish. The new foliage is a beautiful and vibrant pinkish-burgundy in springtime, then ripening into a darker maroon throughout the rest of the season. This compact maple is perfect in the patio garden and just keeps getting better with time! Salvia 'Blue By You', a repeat blooming Salvia, stands in front of the maple and is starting to display its purple blooms!

Kwanzan Cherry Bloom

In the southern border, Kwanzan Cherry was full of blooms, a sight I look forward to every spring. I am holding on to every remaining flower as they slowly drop to the ground, creating a sea of pink.

Patio Border

Along the patio border is Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Cryptomeria, Nandina 'Obsession' and Blue Star Juniper. In the backdrop along the fence is newly planted Nepeta 'Cat's Meow' (Catmint).

Nepeta 'Cat's Meow'

I am enjoying the vibrant blooms!

Allium 'Globemaster'

Here are the buds of Allium 'Globemaster' along the pool border, getting ready to explode into an array of large lavender blooms, which should happen by late May into early June.

Spirea 'Candy Corn', Lamb's Ear & Daylily

Along the patio border, the vibrant foliage of Spirea 'Candy Corn', white, fuzzy foliage of Lamb's Ear and spiky foliage of Daylily can be seen, with blooms to follow!

Relaxing in the Garden

Relaxing in the northwestern patio border is a statue I can see year round outside my window, and it always makes me smile...

Peony 'Bartzella'

and in the western patio garden is Peony 'Bartzella, which seems to be loving the snow cover we had this past winter and cooler spring temperatures. It is getting bigger by the day and seems even larger than I remember from previous years.

Peony 'Bartzella' Bud

I am hoping that the blooms turn out to be even more abundant this year.

Azalea Girard's Pink

Azalea 'Girards Pink' resides in the back pool border, and as I travel around the winding path in the back garden, the blooms are there to enjoy.

Twombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Along the patio border is Trombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple, an upright and more slender form of red maple...

Pool Border

and here is my favorite statue of all time, one which reminds me of childhood. It stands among a patch of mixed cultivars of groundcover Sedum.

Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' Blooms

Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' is not only an attractive broad-leaved evergreen, but it also displays lightly fragrant bell shaped white blooms in springtime. Two groupings of three can be seen along the right and left of the main waterfall.

Pool Waterfall

Here is a closer view of the waterfall, with Weeping Norway Spruce, Upright Variegated Boxwood, Golden Pacific Juniper and Sedum.

Weigela 'My Monet'

In the back raised island bed, Weigela 'My Monet' is getting ready to show its pink blooms along with its variegated foliage...

Front Island Bed

and in the newly renovated front island bed is a new hybrid of Nepeta called 'Chartreuse on the Loose'. It blooms all summer and the foliage remains the color it is now, so I hope it does well!

Patio Planters

Last but not least, are two of the planters by the back entry providing color with Spirea 'Candy Corn' and groundcover Sedum. I started having planters along the entries and patio area years ago, as they can be enjoyed every time one steps out the door!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May 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, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden.

Connect With Me 🌼

Find me on Instagram at Northeastern Gardening and Facebook at A Guide to Northeastern Gardening Blog & Author Page.

Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Friday, May 1, 2026

A Step Inside History: The 2026 Long Beach Historical Society House & Garden Tour

Historic Garden Tour

Each year, the Long Island Historical & Preservation Society opens the doors to some of Long Beach’s most fascinating private homes, and the 2026 tour continued that tradition with a fresh lineup of residences. This year’s event took place on Sunday, April 26, 2026 and unlike a typical museum visit, this experience was immersive and personal. Guests move from home to home by either walking or driving along a roughly mile and a half route while discovering interiors and gardens rarely seen by the public.

Museum House Garden: Hollywood Juniper & Kerria

The tour officially kicked off at the Society’s museum, located at 226 West Penn Street, a historic home dating back to 1909. Here, visitors receive a brochure outlining the route, background information, and highlights of each property. From that moment on, the day becomes a self-guided exploration through Long Beach’s architectural past. Beyond the interiors, the gardens are a highlight in their own right. Spring in Long Beach provides the perfect backdrop for coastal-friendly plantings, backyard retreats and historic landscaping elements that echo early 20th-century style. These outdoor spaces offer inspiration for gardeners and plant lovers alike, blending ornamental beauty with practical design suited to seaside living.

Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria or Japanese Rose)

A Little Garden Whimsy!

Garden of Eaton Dedication

Museum House Garden

Spring Tulips

Residential Garden

Residential Garden Raised Planters

Residential Garden Arbor

Daffodils are Blooming!

Grape Hyacinths

A Little Something Extra While on the Way-Topiary Garden

Topiary Garden

What makes this tour truly special is the collaboration behind it. Homeowners, volunteers, and local historians all come together to create an experience that is both educational and welcoming. The event also serves a larger purpose, supporting the preservation work of the Historical Society. Proceeds help maintain the museum and fund restoration projects that keep Long Beach’s heritage alive for future generations. The Long Beach Historical Society House & Garden Tour isn’t just an event, it’s a journey through time, told through homes,landscapes, and the people who preserve them.

If you’ve ever wondered about the history your neighborhood holds, a house and garden tour is the perfect chance to step inside and discover the past, one doorway, one garden, and one chapter of history at a time.

Welcome!

Welcome to A Guide to Northeastern Gardening. I am a landscape/garden designer, consultant, speaker and book author from the south shore of Long Island. Involved in the horticultural field since 1996, I started this blog so that I could share my love of gardening with others. Join me for over 350 articles on general gardening, landscape design principles, gardening tips, planting, pruning, garden maintenance, feature plants and more. I look forward to and welcome your comments and will try my best to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you for visiting and do come back often! Happy Gardening! ~ Lee (A Guide to Northeastern Gardening)