Sunday, April 30, 2017

Color Our World Round-Up April 2017: Yellow Blooms to Brighten Your Garden!

Color Our World Yellow
Welcome! It's time for another Color Our World Round-Up post. Each month the knowledgeable bloggers from Project Beautiful get creative by writing articles with focus on a particular color. Posts cover a multitude of topics including gardening, home remedies, decor and culinary delights. April is the month of "yellow", a prominent color in the garden with the arrival of spring and with summer on the way! The authors are sharing their thoughts on all the possibilities of yellow in the garden, with a little folklore thrown in as well. Simply click on the links to read each article in full.
First up is Lynee Cherot from Sensible Gardening as she delights us with her post They Call it Mellow Yellow. Lynee shares her pick of the many yellow blooming flowers for your garden. "If you have a few years on yourself you will no doubt remember the song by that title. I can’t remember who sang it but it was a huge hit. The garden seems to go through stages of colour from spring through to fall. Early in the season my garden is full of softer tones of pinks and blues and somehow it turns face and changes to bursting with yellow flowers. This has not been by some grand design of the gardener, it just seems to happen by itself. Could it simply be that many late blooming flowers lend themselves to fall tones such as yellow. Perhaps it’s mother nature’s way of decorating since these yellow toned blooms will match beautifully with the ripening foliage that follows after the summer season." Read more here.

Next up is Terri Steffes from Our Good Life with her informative post, Daffodils-Color Our World Yellow , as she writes about the folklore behind these beautiful blooms! "Planting daffodils occurs in the fall, but the glory comes in the spring, when daffodils spring up out of the ground, usually at the first sign of warmth.  This year my daffodils came at the end of February. They were lovely and I enjoyed them so much.  For our month Color Our World segment, we are looking at the color yellow.  Yellow is between orange and green on the color spectrum and is considered a primary color.  In Europe, Canada and the United States, a survey stated that people most often associate this color with amusement, gentleness, and spontaneity, but also with duplicity, envy, jealousy, avarice, and, in the U.S., with cowardice, according to Wikipedia. I think I like the way China sees it, where it is seen as the color of happiness, glory, wisdom, harmony, and culture.  Yellow was one of the first colors used by cavemen, through clay colored with ochre.  Yellow is considered the most visible color and is preferred by birds and insects. Yellow is the most common color of flowers. Yellow is the least often color stated as someone's favorite color." Read more here.


Susan Brandt from Blooming Secrets shares her post Container Combos: Yellow and Variegated with helpful tips on how to combine color with foliage. "I love gardening in containers! Anyone who sees my garden knows this to be true as I have them everywhere! I spend the winter months looking at gardening catalogs and magazines searching for new color combinations to try. The ability to change things from year to year makes it fun and we thought that each month we would share some suggestions of cool color combinations that you can try in your containers this year. The color wheel was first designed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666 and is a basic tool for combining colors. Analogous colors are found adjacent to each other on the wheel and complementary colors are opposite of one another on the color wheel. Analogous colors are considered to be in harmony with one another while complementary colors are designed to stand out and garner attention"...read more here.

For more about the use of yellow in the garden, here is my post This Month in the Garden-Three Seasons of Yellow. "A cheerful indicator that spring has arrived, yellow blooms in the garden create a positive effect and bring warmth to the landscape, especially at the end of a cold and dreary winter. Continuing after spring, yellow continues in the landscape in the form of summer and fall blooming perennials, and can even be continued into the winter months in the form of golden hued evergreen shrubs. Groupings of yellow blooms tend to brighten and enlarge the garden, especially when the area is small or shaded, and the warmth of yellow is easily complemented by cooler hues of purples and blues. One of the first signs that spring has arrived is the sighting of yellow crocus peeking out through the winter's snow. Hardy in zones 3-8, there are over 80 known species of crocus in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to purple, white and variegated forms. While providing late winter-early spring interest...read more here.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed #PB Color Our World Round-Up for the month of April. If you are enjoying these monthly Round-Ups, please leave a comment, and do share your thoughts about the color YELLOW! Also, be sure to visit these wonderful bloggers regularly for their inspiring articles on gardening, home remedies, DIY projects, decorating, culinary delights and more! I am also linking to Floral Friday Fotos. Be sure to check out their weekly meme!

NEXT UP is This Month's Color in the Garden on the 7th, where it's all about the color blue, Then, join me for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up each month on the 15th, and Round Up posts at the end of the month! 

Are you into gardening? Do you enjoy reading about gardening? If so, be sure to check out my two published books on Amazon. My first book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, is loaded with ideas for different types of gardens, along with gardening tips and advice on how to maintain your garden once implemented. The second book, Landscape Design Combinationsis  geared towards the hands on "DIY" gardener who is looking for a little guidance, along with a dash of inspiration! This latest publication builds on the first and is full of successful landscape designs that can be used as is or as a guide. The book also teaches design principles using evergreens, flowering trees, shrubs and perennials. To preview each book, simply click on the links below!

VISIT MY BOOKS ON AMAZON:

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up April 2017: Welcome Spring!

April 2017 Garden
April showers bring May flowers and at last the garden is alive with colorful blooms! After one of the coldest arrivals of spring, early April has brought in some rainy days, followed by sunny blue skies and 70 degree temperatures, just in time to bring the garden out of its dormancy. It is time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up, so come along with me on a tour of my Long Island garden!
Perennial Border April
The perennial border by the back patio comes a little more to life with every passing day with the arrival of new foliage and blooms. While Crocus, Hyacinth and Daffodils are in bloom, Allium, Astilbe, Lilies, Coneflowers, Hosta and Peony start to show their new spring foliage.
Purple Crocus
Crocus is one of my favorite introductions to spring with their beautiful purple, white or yellow blooms that close by night and open by day.
Purple Crocus
The morning sunshine warms and opens the blooms, bringing cheer to start the day.
White Crocus
These white crocus are so pure and beautiful and are a welcomed sight in the spring garden. The pollen lined anthers emerge from the centers of each bloom.
Pink Hyacinth
Hyacinth blooms in shades of pink and purple become fuller with each passing day and last for weeks. As you can see, these two are right next to each other in the perennial border.
Purple Hyacinth
The hyacinths had a slow start this spring with colder than usual March temperatures, but the sudden warmer temperatures we have been experiencing have put them right back on schedule.
Miniature Daffodils
The miniature daffodils are now fully opened as they display their bright yellow, cheery blooms! The pollinators love them too!
Itoh Peony Foliage
Itoh Peony 'Bartella' is right on schedule with its sturdy new foliage which glows a pinkish-red. Voluminous yellow blooms will appear in May as foliage turns to green.
Hellebore 'Shooting Star' April
These Hellebores have been blooming non-stop in the northern garden since February. The blooms of 'Shooting Star' turn from shades of greenish white to pink.
Hellebore 'Shooting Star' April
I just planted a new member of the Hellebore family...Helleborus 'Dark and Handsome' in my garden for more winter interest. I am looking forward to it maturing and producing the unusual purplish-black blooms it is known for. Hellebores are a new favorite in the garden, for they provide interest in the wintertime as well as in early spring.
Salix caprea Pendula (Weeping Pussy Willow) April
Springtime is a delight with Salix caprea 'Pendula' (Weeping Pussy Willow). I look forward to its lovely silvery catkins that burst open, exposing yellow pollen covered anthers.
Weeping Pussy Willow April
Here is a long view of the tree and gardens behind it. The upright Western Arborvitae in the backdrop have really matured and are now approximately twenty five feet tall.
Magnolia Tree
As we move along to the northwestern section of the backyard, we approach the pool area and the Star Magnolia tree, which was planted in 1996. It has matured into quite a beauty and is filled with blooms in April.
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bloom
The creamy white delicate blooms are magnificent against the blue sky and the sweet fragrance is evident while close up.
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Bloom
Magnolia 'Royal Star' is a hardy, cold tolerant form of Magnolia which thrives in zones 4-8 and requires full sun to partial shade. The tree stays compact when compared to others, reaching a height and width of about 10-15 feet tall by 10-12 feet wide.
Front Driveway Garden (Skylands' Golden Oriental Spruce, Coral Bark Maple, Golden Hinoki Cypress and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)
As we approach the front driveway garden, Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' and Coral Bark Maple take front stage. The bark on the Maple can still be seen glowing red, and light green foliage will be appearing soon as the temperatures warm.
Spirea 'Magic Carpet'  Spring Foliage
Spirea 'Magic Carpet' has its foliage starting to appear! Magic Carpet Spirea is hardy in zones 4-9 and displays colorful foliage that starts off as a burnished red in spring and fades to a bright golden hue  in summer. In fall, the foliage turns to russet red and finally bronze. Bright pink blooms adorn the shrub throughout the summer months.
Forthysia
As we move along the front yard, across on the median is the Forthysia I planted years ago. It has now matured and I enjoy looking out the front window at its vibrant yellow blooms each spring.
Violas for April
Violas are a sign that spring has arrived and of course every year I visit the local nursery on opening day to purchase these lovely little blooms. They will even re-seed themselves in my garden occasionally when the conditions are right.

Welcome to Our Garden!
Every garden needs a little whimsy. This little welcome sign resides in the herb garden...and this garden helper tends to the back pool area, bringing joy to all who encounter him.

Garden Whimsy
Spring Planter
Spring is bountiful with all its colorful blooms. Author Barbara Winkler quotes, "Every gardener knows under the cloak of winter lies a miracle...a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dreams." Part of the beauty of winter is the anticipation of spring and the excitement of awaiting its first blooms!
First Spring Robin!
April 2017 Garden

I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my April 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, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides.

Gardening season is here! Have you had a chance to check out my books? If not, you can see my author page with links to previews of both books here. The first, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening focuses on specific types of gardens with plant recommendations and maintenance tips to keep your garden looking its best. The second book, Landscape Design Combinations goes into greater detail, teaching the concepts of design, while offering a multitude of garden plans with numbering and detailed descriptions of each plant suggested. If you have read either A Guide to Northeastern Gardening or Landscape Design Combinations and found them to be useful, please consider leaving a brief review. Reviews help a book get noticed and I would really appreciate your help! Best wishes for a wonderful and successful gardening season, and I hope to inspire you!
Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved

Friday, April 7, 2017

This Month In the Garden: Three Seasons of Yellow

Yellow Blooms in the Garden
A cheerful indicator that spring has arrived, yellow blooms in the garden create a positive effect and bring warmth to the landscape, especially at the end of a cold and dreary winter. Continuing after spring, yellow continues in the landscape in the form of summer and fall blooming perennials, and can even be continued into the winter months in the form of golden hued evergreen shrubs. Groupings of yellow blooms tend to brighten and enlarge the garden, especially when the area is small or shaded, and the warmth of yellow is easily complemented by cooler hues of purples and blues. 
Crocus
One of the first signs that spring has arrived is the sighting of yellow crocus peeking out through the winter's snow. Hardy in zones 3-8, there are over 80 known species of crocus in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to purple, white and variegated forms. While providing late winter-early spring interest, Crocus bulbs tend to naturalize for an even larger and more beautiful display year after year.
Crocus
Plant crocus in mid-fall (generally November when soil temperatures are below 60 degrees) in a sunny location with moderate watering and a well-drained soil. They thrive in a variety of soils, but do best in a soil with a pH of 6-7 (slightly acidic). If squirrels are a problem, cover your planting bed with a thin layer of wire mesh to ensure their survival. When the flowers are spent, allow the foliage to die back naturally so that the bulbs can produce food for the following year.
Miniature Daffodils
The next blooms to emerge in early spring are the Daffodils. Daffodils require full sun to partial shade and are hardy in USDA zones 3-8. They are an easy perennial to grow in most areas of North America, with the exception of Southern Florida. Their attractive flowers usually bear showy yellow or white flowers with six petals and a trumpet-shape central corona. Daffodils are perfect for planting between shrubs or in a perennial border and look wonderful naturalized in a woodland garden. The same planting guide applies for Daffodils as for crocus. Daffodils are both deer resistant and rodent proof, as these animals do not like the taste of bulbs in the Narcissus family.
Miniature Daffodils
Tulips are available in a multitude of colors and start to appear once spring is underway. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, height and bloom time depends on variety. Yellow Tulip 'Big Smile' is a later blooming species with very attractive, large sunshine yellow blooms on 20-26 inch stems in May. Tulips should be planted in fall and prefer a location with full to partial sun and a well-drained soil with moderate watering. Bulbs can be protected from rodents with a thin layer of wire mesh as with crocus.
Tulip 'Big Smile'
Blooming in late May into early June is Hybrid Paeonia, Itoh 'Bartella'. 'Bartella' exhibits the large double blooms of tree peony, but has a similar growing habit to that of herbaceous forms. Once established, Itoh Peonies have an extended blooming period, with as many as 50 blooms in a single season due to their ability to produce primary and secondary buds.
Itoh Peony 'Bartella'
Itoh Peony 'Bartella' is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and is a herbaceous 24-36" tall by wide perennial. Peony prefers full sun to partial shade and requires a moderately moist soil with good drainage. Plant Peony slightly above grade and mulch around the plant to protect the root area. After flowering, lacy green shrub-like foliage remains attractive through fall. Slightly fragrant blooms are deer resistant, bee friendly and excellent in cut flower arrangements.  Itoh Peony 'Bartella' is a true beauty in the landscape.
Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro'
June blooming 'Stella D' Oro' Daylily brings in summer with continuous bright yellow blooms from late spring until frost. This is by far the most popular Daylily selection of all time, performing well in zones 4-11, and flowering for months on end. 'Stella D Oro' forms a dense clump of grassy green foliage, with upright stems of fragrant, golden yellow trumpet flowers on 24-30 inch stems. 
Hemerocallis 'Stella D' Oro'
Plant Daylily in an area receiving full sun to partial shade in a well-drained soil with moderate watering. Deadheading spent blooms will increase bloom time well into autumn.
Threadleaf Coreopsis 'Zagreb'
Threadleaf Coreopsis 'Zagreb' forms a 12-18 inch tall by wide spreading clump of delicate, ferny foliage, with an abundance of bright, golden yellow daisies from early summer into the fall. Tolerant of hot, dry sites once established, Coreopsis 'Zagreb' is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and requires full sun and a well-drained soil. Coreopsis is deer resistant and drought tolerant once established. Clipping off faded flowers will encourage buds to form all season. 
Oriental Lilly
Asiatic Lilies, hardy in USDA zones 4-9, are easy, dependable perennials that put on a colorful show in early summer. Asiatic lilies grow on 2-3 foot tall straight stems and show exhibit multiple brightly colored blooms ranging from yellow, white and pink pastels to fiery reds and oranges. Asiatic Lilies prefer to be grown in a sunny location with a well-drained soil.

 Agastache 'Kudos Yellow' 
Agastache 'Kudos Yellow', or Dwarf Hummingbird Mint, exhibits multiple yellow flowers on a compact 24-26 inch tall by wide plant. 'Kudos Yellow' is hardy to Zone 5 and is naturally resistant to downy mildew. Agastache requires full sun and a well-drained fertile soil with excellent drainage to overwinter. Agastache is drought tolerant once established, produces abundant blooms from June through August, and attracts hummingbirds.
Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' (Black Eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) displays golden yellow daisy-like blooms with brown centers, on 2-3 foot high plants. Blooms start in late summer and continue well into October in many regions. A terrific choice for mass planting, removing faded flowers regularly will greatly increase the blooming time. Seed heads left on plants provide winter interest and are a food source for over-wintering birds. Rudbeckia is hardy in USDA zones 3-9, requires full sun to partial shade and has low water needs once established.
Solidago 'Golden Fleece' (Goldenrod)
Solidago 'Golden Fleece' (Goldenrod) displays sprays of golden-yellow flowers late summer into fall. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Solidago prefers full sun to partial shade and moderate watering. Plants exhibit a clump forming habit and grow to a height and width of 18-24 inches. Solidago naturalizes beautifully as an edging in a perennial border and brings color to the autumn landscape. 
Yellow Blooms for the Garden
Yellow blooms can be a prominent feature in the landscape over three of the four seasons in colder climates and all year long in warmer areas. In colder climates, golden evergreen shrubs can take over to add structure and some golden hues to the landscape, while February-March blooming shrubs such as Witch Hazel can also add yellow to a winter setting. Whatever the season, the color yellow will add warmth and brightness to just about any garden.

Gardening season is here! Have you had a chance to check out my two books? If not, you can see my author page with links to previews of both books here. The first, A Guide to Northeastern Gardeningfocuses on specific types of gardens with plant recommendations and maintenance tips to keep your garden looking its best. The second book, Landscape Design Combinationsgoes into greater detail teaching the concepts of design, while offering a multitude of garden plans with numbering and detailed descriptions of each plant suggested. Be sure to check them out, and I hope to inspire you as you venture out into your garden!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved