Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June 2014: Long Island Garden and 150th Post!

Welcome to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up in my Long Island garden and my 150th post!  There can be something said for a bitter cold winter with abundant snow.  The blooms are more vibrant than I can remember or maybe I'm just appreciating them more after the never ending winter and late arrival of spring.  The temperatures have now worked their way up into the mid to upper 70's with a couple of days soaring right up into the 80's.  Spring has sprung and the gardens are putting on quite a display of color. Come along with me for a tour of my June garden.

Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'

I am enjoying my new macro lens and was always amazed as to how photographers can get images of a bee in flight.  I was delighted to get this shot and excited to see what else this lens is capable of.

Hybrid Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'

This is my newest addition to the garden...Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'.  An established Spirea 'Gold Flame' had expired after this past brutal winter and I had a pretty decent sized spot for something new.  I planted a trio of these beauties and they just keep on blooming.  I have heard that they can produce hundreds of blooms in succession for up to a month once established (see last post) and am looking forward to even more of a display next year!

Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'

'Karl Rosenfeld' is a peony I have had for many years now also in a grouping of three.  I look forward to the beginning of every June for its blooms to start.  You can see another photo of the new hybrid peony below.  I couldn't resist sneaking in one more photo after the rain had landed gently upon it.

Raindrops on Hybrid Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'

Around the corner and along the fence the Japanese Iris are in full bloom and the Bearded Iris will follow.  These iris have been here since I was a young girl and spark fond memories.  My mom had planted them and had enjoyed them for years.

Japanese Iris

 Alchemilla Morris (Lady's Mantle) is another new addition to my front yard island bed.  I had always admired the foliage of this beauty and finally got some of my own.

Alchemilla Mollis (Lady's Mantle)

I am enjoying the yellow blooms as well.

Stachys (Lambs Ear)

The macro lens is coming in handy as we tour the gardens.  Here is Lamb's Ear close up...

Salvia 'May Night' and Stachys (Lambs Ear)

and here is the Lamb's Ear with a backdrop of purple 'May Night' Salvia.

Salvia 'May Night'

Did someone say purple...well here's some more!  It's just seems so much more vibrant this year.

Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang'

The Spirea Double Play Big Bang is starting its show again on the front island. It has been performing well after being planted last season and the foliage has already changed from a bright pinkish-red hue to now a golden-lime color with blooms on the way.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

In the back yard shadier area is Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', always reliable with its pretty snow white blooms in star shaped clusters.

Salvia 'May Night'

The Salvia is outstanding this season after the long cold winter and twice the size it normally is with abundant blooms.  Here is another grouping too purple to pass up!

Double Red Knock Out Rose

Here are the Knock Out Roses...also doing well after the cold winter.

 Evergreen and Perennial Garden

The Nepeta 'Walkers Low' next to the roses is in full bloom as well. 

Golden Oriental 'Skylands' Spruce and Barberry Foliage Combo

Now lets talk foliage.  Here is a foliage combination of golden evergreen 'Skylands' Spruce along with Barberry 'Royal Burgundy'.

Spirea 'Goldmound', Variegated Hosta, Heuchera and Nepeta Combo

As we pass back around to the side gardens there is a combination of Spirea 'Goldmound',  Nepeta 'Walkers Low', Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and Variegated Hosta.

'Buttercup' Hosta Lime Foliage

This is Hosta 'Buttercup'...love it for its lime green foliage.

Foliage and Blooms:  Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Barberry, Gold Mop Cypress, Heuchera and Salvia

In the back island bed you are viewing a combination of foliage and blooms.  The Dwarf Butterfly Bush in the immediate front will bloom later on this summer.  For now the color is supplied by the evergreens, Barberry 'Rosy Glow', Heuchera 'Caramel' and Salvia 'May Night'.  

Foliage Combo:  Weeping Japanese Maple. Japanese Garden Juniper and Heuchera 'Caramel'

Now...around to the pool...and to the pink roses.

Double Pink Knock Out Rose

As we circle around here is the perennial border by the back patio area...

Blooms and Foliage:  Lamb's Ear, Salvia, Astilbe, Hosta, Blue Spruce, Gold Mop Cypress & Peony


and finally our tour ends with the patio planter with a foliage combination of Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine.

Foliage Combo: Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine Patio Planter

I hope you enjoyed the walk through my June gardens.  Please visit our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up.   I am also linking up to Creative Country Mom's new Home Sweet Garden Party. Thank you for the visit and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well!  

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved