Thursday, September 15, 2016

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September 2016: Late Summer Views

September 2016 Garden
Welcome to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up! The month of September has arrived and there are subtle signs of the seasons starting to change.  After a week with Hurricane Hermine lingering off the eastern coastline, we have finally received the much needed rainfall that we have been waiting for all summer. It's much more comfortable in the garden now, for the temperatures are stabilizing in the 80's after a long, hot and dry summer. There is a combination of new growth and continuing blooms in the landscape, along with seed heads of past blooms and grasses pluming for autumn. Come along and walk with me in my Long Island September garden.
Pool Garden
Many of the blooms by the pool garden are done for their season, so now its time for the foliage to shine, as evergreens along with deciduous trees take front stage.  The Dwarf Maiden Grasses are starting to form their plumes (which we'll take a closer look at later), and the foliage of Weeping Japanese Maple and Caramel Coral Bells is looking more prominent.
Perennial Border
The perennial border is starting to look a little fall-like as Echinacea 'Pow Wow' and Astilbe 'Pumilla' show their seed heads and Lamb's Ear displays its upright flower spikes. Dwarf Fountain Grass 'Hameln' is forming its plumes in the backdrop in preparation for its autumn show. As the garden changes throughout the seasons, I always enjoy the new views.
Northwest Garden
Here is the northwest garden with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Gold Mop Cypress, Dwarf Butterfly Bush Low & Behold 'Blue Chip' and Heuchera 'Caramel'...
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' September
and the voluminous blooms of  Crape Myrtle 'Sioux', which takes center stage on one of the island beds in the backyard.
'Stella D Oro' Daylily September
Daylily 'Stella D Oro' has all new foliage and is re-blooming in September after I did a rejuvenation on it in August.  
'Stella D Oro' Daylily September next to Peony Foliage
Here are some of the blooms close up!
Bumble Bee on Dwarf Butterfly Bush
Speaking of up close and personal, this little bumble bee visitor had no issues with me being in his face with the camera.  He was too busy collecting pollen from the butterfly bush and was covered in it...making for one happy bee!
Double Red Knock Out Roses September
Along with Butterfly Bush blooms are the blooms of Double Knock Out Rose, which continue throughout the entire summer from June until frost. We are looking at the red variety here, while the pink is below.

Pink Knock Out Roses September
They continue to be one of my favorite long-blooming shrubs in the garden. 
Garden Visitor
Besides blooms, there are many visitors to the garden, including this little sparrow who frequents the birdbath. He's enjoying his solitude for now, for later on there will be a massive bathing frenzy, with water splashing everywhere as others join in.
Shade Garden
As we approach the back area of the property, there is a hidden shade garden with a path leading to it. A collection of plants known for their foliage thrive here, with selections such as Leucothoe, Boxwood, Yew, Hosta and Japanese Hakonechloa Grass.
Front Walkway
Along the front walkway, Variegated Liriope is now in full bloom with spikes of bright purple flowers that appear from September through frost...
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Sedum
and Sedum 'Brilliant' sports its bright pink blooms as well.
Updated Southwest Lamppost Garden
As we move back along to the front driveway entrance, we pass by the newly renovated lamppost garden. The tall grasses that had resided there have been replaced with Spirea 'Magic Carpet', which will produce blooms all summer, along with Salvia 'Caradonna' and Agastache 'Kudos Yellow'. So far the plants seem to be happy in their new home.
Southeast Lamppost Garden
On the other side of the driveway is the established cottage-style garden with coreopsis, nepeta and coneflowers.
Front East Garden
To the left of the lamppost garden is my mature Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, one of the two that are on the property. This particular one spans approximately twenty feet.
Hydrangea 'Tardivia' September
Along the north side is Panicle Hydrangea 'Tardivia' with its creamy white elongated blooms. This variety blooms later than many of the other hydrangeas, creating interest for the later part of the summer and into fall.
Variegated Liriope September
Let's take a look at some more foliage. Here is Liriope, which displays its wonderful variegated foliage all season long with blooms as an added punch...
Weigela 'Spilled Wine'
Weigela 'Spilled Wine', with its lovely burgundy foliage...
Heuchera 'Caramel' with Golden Japanese Sedge
and another glance at Heuchera 'Caramel', along with Golden Japanese Sedge. The Weigela 'Spilled Wine' is my newest additions to the garden. Not only is the foliage wonderful, but it also produces bright pink blooms in spring. Hopefully it will overwinter well so I can look forward to the blooms next year. 
Still Enjoying the Birdbath!
As our garden stroll comes to an end, I believe the same little visitor is still enjoying his alone time at the birdbath.  As we exit, we pass by some familiar foliage...
Leucothoe 'Auxillis' and Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'.
and some new, as we view the plumes of Dwarf Maiden Grass very close up.
Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' September Plume
Add some garden whimsy...
Garden Whimsy
and some sunflowers in a vase...
Sunflowers In a Vase on Monday
and our tour is complete.
September Garden 2016

I  hope you enjoyed your stroll through my September 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 FlowersFloral FridaysI Heart MacroMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden UpdateIn a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden, Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day and Saturday's Critters.

For more gardening tips and design information, you may be interested in my published book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer (Gardening in Zones 3-9).  If you have read my book and found it to be helpful, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon. Your help would be very much appreciated!

As Always...Happy Gardening!


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

34 comments:

  1. Such wonderful autumn interest! I am particularly interested to see how rejuvenating daylily plants works here. I have made a note in the diary for next August! I like the late-flowering Hydrangea very much. I will look out for that as I would particularly like to extend the Hydrangea season here. Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I wrote a whole section on rejuvenating daylilies in my book, and it does work!!! I do enjoy the later blooming hydrangea, since they give interest into fall, and even look nice as dried flowers. Happy Bloom Day!

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  2. Your wonderful garden is such an inspiration - something for me to aspire to. Happy Bloom Day!

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  3. Such beautiful garden design. Now, if you could only find a crepe myrtle that would survive in zone 5b Binghamton, I would be all set. Seriously, enjoyed each and every one of your pictures. Especially the bird! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. They are working on hybridizing hardier Crape Myrtles, so maybe someday! Thank you for visiting and I am glad you enjoyed the garden photos. Just came back from your Bloom Day post...love the Dahlias!

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  4. What a pretty garden! The sunflowers are so BIG and gorgeous! I hope my garden looks half as good as yours this year.

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    1. Thank you Betty. I read about your seeds and I hope they do well. As we head into fall, best wishes to you for an outstanding spring garden!

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  5. Your garden is so beautiful. It looks like paradise

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    1. Thank you Carol. Gardening is my passion. Your Crape Myrtle blooms are lovely and I am glad that you got to see them when you returned. Have a great weekend!

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  6. Your September garden is lovely, Lee. We share some of the same plants such as the reliable Double Red Knock Out. I've recently introduced Japanese Hakonechloa Grass to my shade garden (which isn't so shady since the silver maple was removed.) I think I made a good choice as it will take a little morning sun. We didn't get the rain yet so my garden isn't as lush-looking as yours right now. Happy GBBD! P. x

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    1. Thank you Pam! You have lots of blooms for September in your garden and I enjoyed the views of the Monarchs as well. Hopefully you will get some rain soon. Happy Bloom Day!

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  7. I always enjoy seeing the change in seasons in your garden too Lee, and the autumn is marvellous with all the different colours to come. Lovely to see your Liriope, I haven’t got any here in my new garden and I miss them – so many plants to grow, so little space! Loved your sunflowers and I saw your previous post about the history about them too – I didn’t have any sunflowers last year because I moved house and I missed them so much. This year I have sunflowers again and they make me smile every time I see them :-)
    Have a great weekend in the garden!

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    1. Helene-it is always a pleasure to hear from you. Your gardens are looking fabulous and all the tender loving care you put into them is very evident. Happy GBBD and happy September!

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  8. Excellent garden photos of a very beautiful garden.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the views of my garden. Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by. Have a great week!

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  9. What a wonderful garden!
    I am very fond of beautiful trees, shrubs and ornamental grass. makes a complete garden, interesting at all seasons.

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    1. Thank you! I am so happy that you enjoyed my gardens. I strive to create interest for all year round, especially since we have the seasons and the garden is constantly changing. I have been trying to incorporate even more interest for especially now, in the fall, over the past number of years.

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    1. Thank you Endah! I always enjoy your pretty blooms as well. Have a great week!

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  11. I did enjoy this tour round your garden. It is beautiful. I am particularly impressed by the colour and texture of your gorgeous foliage.

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    1. Thank you Chloris! I am glad you enjoyed the tour. At certain times of the year...it is all about the foliage!!!

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  12. Fantastic post and I am very happy you linked with Today's Flowers. Thank you so much and have a great week :)

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    1. Thank you for hosting Denise and it is nice to hear that you enjoyed my gardens. Happy almost weekend!

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  13. Enjoyed this post so much. Love the grasses, but can't get them to come back. last year I bought a few for driveway and Spring came they died. Your garden is fantastic. Love that gold mop cypress. Going to look for some. yvonne

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    1. Hi Yvonne. The gold mop cypress should do fine where you are. Some of the grasses had a hard time coming back after last year's winter. They didn't start really filling out until well into June. Your grasses also could have gotten damaged from snow piling up on them or salt from the roads, since they were near the driveway. Perhaps you can try them again, and a helpful tip is to not cut them back until late spring until you see them start sprouting. Keeping them intact over winter helps to protect the roots.

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  14. Lee, Thanks so much for info. I will try the grasses in the spring. That was so nice you helped me. yvonne
    Going to look for that Cedar today,

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  15. No luck, Going to another Garden center today. Now I am finding spiders,
    They are in the carport/ garden room also in the Garage. Now in my house. I hate them, almost as much as Trump. Hahaha. Heard white vinegar works.
    Going to get some spray, I have my wonderful Mr. Bennie, he is the best dog. Can't chance some of that spray. yvonne

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    1. Good luck to you. Hope you find the Gold Mop Cypress. The scientific name is Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop'if that helps. If you find it, make sure it gets lots of water before winter sets in the and ground freezes!

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  16. Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words Brigitta. I am so sorry for the much delayed reply. I just saw your comment here. Hope all is well.

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  17. Really nice a series of photos. I am gathering ideas for my garden using oak garden sleepers and some of these plants would suit nicely.

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    1. Thank you Ian. I am glad you are finding the information to be helpful. Have a good day!

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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!