Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: October 2014 Garden - Autumn Blooms!

As the daily temperatures drop into the 60's with nighttime temperatures in the 50's and a sudden briskness in the air it is time for a walk in my Long Island October garden for this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up.  There are still many reminders of summer visible in the garden as the changes of fall slowly creep in causing the landscape to burst into an array of color which I have enjoyed photographing. Come along with me and take a stroll in my October garden.  
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' with Canon Telephoto Lens
During the more brisk days of fall the sky is often a surreal deep blue which acts like a canvas behind the colors of the blooms that are still around.  Here Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' is proving to be one of my favorite additions to the garden this summer as it is still blooming in October.
Echinacea PowWow ® 'Wild Berry'
Echinacea PowWow ® 'Wild Berry', also a new addition this summer has been providing lots of enjoyment.  I am hoping both these varieties fair well over the winter for I have really become attached to their profuse blooms.
Monarch Butterfly October Garden
This beautiful Monarch Butterfly has landed on my lantana just in time for bloom day.  I have seen a real decline in butterflies this season, probably the least number of visits in a long time and have been missing them.  It is such a delight to enjoy the beauty of this one as he has made an appearance in my gardens.
Knock Out Rose 'Double Red'
Here are my reliable Double Red Knock Out Roses as they are still very much in bloom.  I love how they profusely bloom all the way into winter and continue to have buds even as the first snow arrives.
Bumble bee on Nepeta Bloom
The bumble bee population is up again and has been doing fine this season. They have been frequenting the nectar of the blooms all summer long...
Bumble bee on Sedum 'Brilliant' Bloom
and are in their glory enjoying the fall blooming nepeta and sedum.
Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro' Daylily October

The Stella D Oro daylilies are showing the last of their blooms for 2014.  I had rejuvenated them back in early August and have been enjoying their extended season.
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' Bloom
After blooming for three months my Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' has one lone bloom on it that held out just for Bloom Day so you could see it here as the rest of the landscape leads into fall with a whole new look.
October Perennial Border
  Shades of oranges and gold now grace the garden as the perennial border by the back  patio goes into fall mode.
Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' is showing its delicate second round of blooms for the month of October...
Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
and the colorful seed cones are now very prominent on the Blue Atlas Cedar.
Front Driveway Garden-Coral Bark Maple behind Oriental Spruce 'Skylands'
The fall foliage on the Coral Bark Maple is changing from pale green to hues of orange and golden-yellow.  Soon the bark will be turning a bright coral-red as the name of the tree implies.   Plumes from grasses nearby sway gently in the breeze and you may notice remaining hints of yellow and purple-blue from Coreopsis 'Zagreb'  and Nepeta 'Walkers Low' against the maroon of Barberry 'Royal Burgundy' to the left.
Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima'
The larger plumes on the 'Yaku Jima' Maiden Grass make a much bigger statement in the backyard...
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
as dainty white flowers on the Nandina turn into berries that will appear in the upcoming months.
Hydrangea 'Tardivia'
The panicle hydrangea along the side yard continues its show as its elongated white blooms start to transform into shades of pale pink with the arrival of cooling temperatures.  There is also still a faint fragrance that can be noticed as you pass by.
Front Meandering Walkway and Garden 
There is change in the gardens along the walkway as well as the variegated liriope's purple blooms turn into tiny black berries and the foliage is very full.  There is also a hint of October orange from the Caramel Heuchera up ahead.
Miscanthus 'Yaku Jima'  (Dwarf Maiden Grass) and Sedum 'Brilliant' Combination
The plumes of the Maiden Grass remind me somewhat of a horse's mane as it cascades over the sedum below it, making for an interesting fall foliage combination.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Cones with Canon Telephoto Lens
In the distance cones are forming on the Norway spruce signaling fall is here.
October Garden-Echinacea Digital Art
I hope you enjoyed the walk through my October garden. 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 with Creative Country Mom's Home Sweet Garden PartyToday's Flowers, Floral FridaysMosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro and Macro Monday 2. Thank you so much for visiting 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



53 comments:

  1. I loved the yellow "Cheyenne Spirit" Echinacea. What a bright addition to the garden and to see it blooming so late in the season is awesome. I also love the pink crepe myrtle. That has to be one of my favorites. Wish we could grow that up here, but it wouldn't survive our Zone 4/5 gardens.

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    1. Thank you for visiting Susan. I am also enjoying the 'Cheyenne Spirit' and hope it over-winters well. Your autumn foliage colors are beautiful up there....I enjoyed the tour!

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    2. Thanks for checking out my blog post Lee. Yes, we've had a beautiful fall here. Won't last much longer though. I'm anxious to see how your "Cheyenne Spirit" survives the winter.

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  2. Oh, I have admired your echinaceas many times before, and so I do today too, they are gorgeous, and I am so jealous - they don't like my shady London garden. Your October garden looks lovely and colourful and rich, with lots of things going on. Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thank you Helene-your gardens are beautiful and lush as always and I enjoyed visiting. Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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  3. Your garden is just beautiful. Lots of color and so beautifully photographed.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. Even after two frosts your autumn gardens are looking amazing. I enjoyed your combinations of evergreens along with your Sedum 'Neon'...lovely!

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  4. Oh yes i enjoyed the tour, but i love your photos more than the flowers because i haven't seen those temperate flowers of yours. I am familiar with the term Echinacea, and your shot is really awesome specially that natural one! Amazing details.

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    1. I was intrigued with your tropical blooms. I only get to see anthurium as a houseplant and I have never seen hoya before. The fun of Bloom Day is that we get to see gardens from all over the world...thank you for visiting and sharing!

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  5. Lee how much more grows and flourishes still in your garden just downstate...lovely to see it as always especially the echinacea!! Happy GBBD!

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    1. Happy GBBD Donna! The temperatures are holding in the 60's here so we still have some blooms...but fall is starting to kick in. I enjoyed your gardens and your new autumn crocus-good idea!

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  6. Yes, I enjoyed the walk through your garden! You have so many lovelies still blooming--I'm amazed that your Coneflowers are still so healthy. Mine faded a while back and are full of seeds for the birds now. What an amazing photo of the Monarch! We still have some here in Wisconsin, too, but I'm hoping they will make it to Mexico at this point--although, interestingly, we haven't had a killing frost and don't have one in the foreseeable forecast. Very unusual for this point in the fall. Happy Bloom Day!

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    1. Thank you Beth! The Monarchs have been scarce this season and I have just started seeing them now in October, They usually hang out around my butterfly bush all summer but not this year so I am glad to finally see quite a few of them in the gardens. The Echinacea were just planted this season so it will be interesting to see their growing habit next year. Hopefully they will bloom for just as long. Thank you for visiting my Long Island gardens!

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  7. This is a delightful series of beautiful and colorful photos. Love them all! Thank you so much for sharing them with Today's Flowers and I hope your week is going well.

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    1. Thank you so much for hosting Denise. I am so glad to have found this meme and am really enjoying all the wonderful blooms week after week!

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  8. Your October garden is amazing and I do so love those Echinaceas. Beautiful plants.

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    1. Thank you so much Dorothy. I enjoyed your beautiful roses and daisies!

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  9. Wow! Wonderful series of photos from your garden!

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting. I just visited your blog and you photography is amazing! I am looking forward to more.

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  10. Just about 100 miles southeast of here and there seems to be so much more still blooming in your garden, Lee. Especially like the Stella D'Oro, vibernum, and nepeta. P. x

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    1. There are still quite a few blooms and after today's rain we now have blooms and fall color! You still have a lot going on in your gardens as well Pam and it was so nice to see the Monarchs. Happy Bloom Day!

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  11. Real beauties in your October Garden!

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  12. Great post. I do hope you get Pow Wow through winter, I lost mine a few years back.
    I love your bed with the Acer and Spruce - what a marvelous sight for your neighbours that must be.

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    1. Thank you for the kind words Angie. I do enjoy the Coral Bark Maple's show in the fall. Your gardens are looking beautiful, especially your roses and Salvia Amistad! Happy Bloom Day to you!

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  13. Hi Lee!
    beautiful garden with many blooms, although we're in October. I love your Maiden Grasses they are still pretty in this season. I should plant them next spring but I'm not sure they are hardy enough. Happy GBBD!

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    1. Hi Nadezda. The Maiden Grasses are hardy in zones 5-9. I am not sure which zone you are (maybe 4)so they would be borderline or they would be grown as annuals. It may be worth a try if you put them in a sheltered spot and mulch. Thank you for visiting and commenting and Happy GBBD!

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  14. Hi Lee
    Thank you for a most enjoyable walk around your garden. You have such a lot of colour still, despite the advancing season. I love your Hydrangea.

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    1. Thank you so much Jane. Out of all my hydrangea this is the only one that bloomed this year because of the past harsh winter that killed all the buds...ole reliable!

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  15. Hi Lee, your garden looks gorgeous and your photos are absolutely beautiful. I love echinacea too. Fortunately for us in Virginia, they do very well here. I grew some milkweed this year so I saw 18 Monarch hatched and feasted on our flowers before heading south. It was a thrilling experience. I really like your blog. I will come back often to see more of your photos. Have a nice weekend. Christa

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    1. You have made my day Christa. Thank you so much for visiting and your kind words. I am so happy for you that you got to experience so many Monarchs, I am finally starting to see them here after all summer. I enjoyed your post and marvelous close ups of the bumble bees...nice photography!

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  16. Beautiful! I love the coneflowers.

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  17. Beautiful lily selection on Today's Flowers, too. I really liked the Nandina for some reason. Lovely set if photos, all of them. In Seattle things are getting pretty rained on right now, so we'll see what's left after a break.

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    1. Thank you for visiting Sara! I enjoyed you tulip photo...a nice reminder of spring. We got a lot of rain two days ago and the temperatures are plummeting into the 50's for a high after this weekend-fall is definitely here!

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  18. Hi Lee, I am back to thank you once again for sharing your photos on our Today's Flowers home page and for being our guest friend. Your selection is gorgeous!

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    1. Denise-thank you so much for featuring my photos...I am honored! Also thank you for hosting such a wonderful meme. I am really enjoying it. Have a great weekend!

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  19. I'm usually not crazy about the newer hybrid Echinaceas, but I like that 'Cheyenne Spirit'.

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    1. I am enjoying them so far and they seem to bloom a lot longer than the traditional types. I am curious to see how well they overwinter (hope they do well) and whether or not they convert back to their original form or stay multicolored, since I really love the variety of blooms. Time will tell. Thanks for visiting Jason!

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  20. I enjoyed the walk through your garden, especially since I'm always on the lookout for new perennials to try. I see 'Cheyenne Spirit' has captivated others as well, beautiful golden colour to it.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Judith and for hosting Mosaic Monday. 'Cheyenne Spirit' has been a success so far in my garden for its first season. I am still getting new flowers now at the end of October...sure hope it overwinters!

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  21. Beautiful flowers! The coneflowers and the hydrangea are some of my favorites.. Thanks for sharing your lovely garden.. Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thank you Eileen! I so enjoyed your lovely photographs of the birds in your garden. Have a good week as well!

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  22. Great post with lovely photos!
    Many thanks for linking through to Floral Friday Fotos!

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting Nick and thanks for hosting Floral Friday Fotos!

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  23. I particularly like the mix of texture and color along the walkway and the front driveway. I have yet to add a red barberry and admire how nice the Barberry 'Royal Burgundy' looks in the front driveway garden.

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    1. Hi Jennifer, The 'Royal Burgundy' Barberry has that amazing color all season long and stays very compact at about 18-24 inches in height. Thank you so much for dropping by and for your kind words!

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  24. You have such an amazing amount of plants still in bloom, they are beautiful! I especially love the shot of the bumble bee on the nepeta, a great photo!

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    1. Thank you Paula! There were lots of bumble bees around this summer which was a good thing after a bit of decline the season before. Have a great day!

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  25. I really like that dwarf buddleia -I have never seen those here in Spain. And those "weeping" evergreens, too. Having grown up in New England, I have fond memories of "petting" Lambs Ear but when I've tried to grow them here, they don't survive the summer. Yours are lovely!

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting and for your kind words. I always enjoy seeing all the amazing plants in different areas of the world. I recently visited Arizona and saw the Desert Botanical Garden....very different from where we live!

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  26. Such a great series of photos! ABsolutely amazing! So beautiful flowers.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting Mary. I enjoyed seeing all your beautiful blooms!

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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!