Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: June 2016 Long Island Garden

June 2016 Garden

June brings sunshine and abundant blooms to my Long Island garden and this year is no exception. After the cold snaps we experienced over the past couple of winters, the perennials seem to be bigger and brighter than usual and this gardener is enjoying the view.  The landscape has burst into a colorful display as the temperatures rise up into the mid to upper 70's with some recent days in the 80's. Another month has passed, which means a stroll in the June garden is in order. Since the blooms are waiting, come join with me in a walk through my June Long Island garden!

Itoh Peony 'Bartella'

First stop is one of the latest editions, hybrid Peony 'Bartella' which is going on its second season in the garden. I positioned these right in line with our patio window so I can start each day by taking in these giant sized breathtaking blooms before I go to work on client's gardens.  They bloom for only a few short weeks, but the flowers are worth it, and makes the wait for them even more worth looking forward to!

Perennial Border June

The perennial border along the patio is in bloom for June with Salvia 'May Night', Weeping Salix (Pussy Willow), Gold Mop' Cypress in the backdrop and Peony 'Bartella' in the foreground.  Also, the purple foliage of 'Palace Purple' Heuchera (Coral Bells), and white-bordered foliage of hosta are included for additional interest.

Itoh Peony 'Bartella' Close Up!

As we approach the Peony 'Bartella', let's get a close up view of its voluminous yellow, plate-sized blooms with deep yellow centers.

Peony Karl 'Rosenfeld' and Salvia 'May Night'

In the same border is Salvia 'May Night' in front of Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'.  Blooming simultaneously, they create a combination of shocking pink and purple in the garden.

Salvia 'May Night'

I am happy to see all the pollinators out and about, as they are very much attracted to the Salvia 'May Night'.

Allium 'Globemaster'

Around to the pool garden, Allium 'Globemaster' is in bloom among Daylily 'Stella D Oro', which is just starting to come into bloom now. A secret is that the foliage of the daylilies hides the fading foliage of the allium (one of the tips from my book!) and Spirea 'Limemound' adds some extra color in the backdrop.

Knock Out Rose 'Raz Daz'

There is nothing like the color and smell of roses right by the back door.  Here is Knock Out Rose 'Raz Daz' in full bloom. It will go on like this all summer with new buds forming constantly.

Japanese Iris

These Japanese Iris were planted by my mom when I was just a child and they continue to grow along the fence border in the backyard.  I remember them from while I was growing up and they are a reminder of her each time I look at them.

Back Side Garden

Now, around to the back side gardens. In the far left corner, Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' is blooming along with Rhododendron 'Elegans' (back right) and Nepeta 'Walkers Low' (front right). Also seen here are 'Spirea 'Goldmound', Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and 'Caramel' (to the left along the fence). 

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' Close Up Bloom

Here is the Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' close up with its flattened bright white blooms that somewhat resemble the flowers of Dogwood.

Rhododendron Elegans

Rhodendron 'Elegans' is a stable in the garden with its voluminous lavender blooms that signal spring.

Center Island Garden Backyard

As we walk back towards the house, the backyard island bed is visible with Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Salvia 'May Night' and Sedum 'Brilliant' along with Coral Bells 'Palace Purple' and 'Caramel'...

Montgomery Globe Blue Spruce

and of course we couldn't leave out the bright blue foliage of 'Montgomery' Globe Blue Spruce, which we pass along the way!

Front Foundation Gardens

Come on along to the front yard.  From where you're standing you can get a long view of the front beds with Blue Atlas Cedar in the backdrop and two Weeping Japanese Maples, one of the red variety and the other green.

Weeping Japanese Cutleaf Maple (Green)

Here are the maples close up. The green one rises over my head (about six feet) and spans to about fifteen feet wide at this point, after many years of being established.

Weeping Japanese Cutleaf Maple (Red)

The red variety is approximately five and a half feet tall by ten feet in width. Its twisted trunk is starting to come into its element like that of the green tree.

Spirea japonica Double Play 'Big Bang'

Here is the queen of the front island bed, Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang' with its large pink blooms for June and throughout the summer.

Spirea japonica Double Play 'Big Bang' Bloom

The foliage changes color, which adds an extra highlight.

Double Knock Out Rose (Pink)

The Knock Out Roses are a long-time favorite of mine with their semi-fragrant pink blooms, which appear throughout the entire summer and into fall.

Lampost Garden Right Re-vamped June 2016 (East Bed)

As we approach the end of the garden tour for June, here are some of the latest re-vamps done to the garden just one week ago.  The fountain grasses in both the east and west beds had reached their expiration time and were replaced with some flowering shrubs.  In the east bed there is Weigela 'Wine & Roses' as the new addition...

Weigela 'Wine & Roses' 

and in the west bed are Spirea 'Magic Carpet', known for their changing foliage and blooms. They should starting filling in now that they are in the ground!

Lampost Garden Left Re-vamped June 2016 

The very mature Wisteria tree that I had started from just a vine over thirty years ago didn't make it through the last winter, so the new addition is  Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'.

New Kousa Dogwood June 2016

I am hoping it thrives in its new home and has a good long life.

Perfect Patio Planter 2016 (Year IV):  Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine Combination

Back around to the patio area, here its this years version of the Coleus and Potato Vine Planter that will mature over the summer. It's all about the foliage!!!

Garden Visitor

Last, but not least, we have a couple of garden visitors this year and hopefully they will stick to eating only the grass and stay away from the blooms...so far so good. They are cute little fellows so I am hoping we can co-exist peacefully.

Roses in Vase from my Garden

As the tour comes to an end here are some roses from the garden to enjoy on the kitchen windowsill.

June 2016 Garden

I  hope you enjoyed the stroll through my June garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses 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 and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update and In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden.

For more gardening information, you may be interested in my newly published book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer (Gardening in Zones 3-9). You can see a preview here on Amazon. 

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved