Sunday, April 15, 2018

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up April 2018: A Long Awaited Spring!

April 2018 Long Island Garden
It's springtime at last and its time to take a walk in my Long Island garden. It has been a long awaited spring, resulting from one of the most roller coaster journeys I can remember. A freezing start to winter was followed by one of the mildest months of February on record. It was the calm before the storm as spring arrived with strong winds, freezing cold temperatures in the 30's and four snow storms within three weeks. The storms continued into April, with the last covering of white occurring on April 2nd. At last, mid-April has arrived and those thoughts are becoming a distant memory with each passing day as the garden comes back to life and  blooms appear. Come along for a stroll in my April garden!
Hellebore 'HGC Merlin'
The first stop is to view my brand new Hellebore 'Merlin', which I was finally able to plant just a few days ago. With the later arrival of spring temperatures these late winter blooming perennials really hold down the fort with their flowers. The garden is still about three weeks behind, but spring is evident.
Purple Crocus 'Remembrance'
Crocus 'Remembrance' is displaying its vibrant deep purple blooms. I love how they look before they open.
White Crocus
The white crocus was the first to bloom this year and was determined to come up, even when covered with snow!
Pink Hyacinth
This pink Hyacinths open to a lavender-pink bloom and are so springlike. 
Spring Bulbs
Here is a full view of the perennial border. Along with crocus, hyacinths and daffodils, the foliage of lilies and Allium is starting to appear.
Daffodil
Daffodils add a touch of bright yellow to the perennial border.
Peach Hyacinth
Another variety of Hyacinth displays peach colored buds that open to pink blooms.
Purple Crocus
Around by the pool garden, a crocus shows off its pretty bloom alongside the evergreen foliage of a Weeping Norway Spruce.
Sedum 'Brilliant' Foliage
The perfectly shaped rosettes of Sedum 'Brilliant' have appeared, which will develop stalks of wonderful pink blooms near the end of summer. I think the foliage is just as interesting, as it adds a nice touch to the garden throughout all the warmer seasons.
Weeping Pussy Willow
As you can see, the Weeping Pussy Willow has come a long way since March with its soft white catkins that are bursting open to show the yellow pollen inside.
Weeping Pussy Willow
Weeping Pussy Willow Catkins
Here is a closer view of the catkins.
Nesting Birds
With spring comes the nesting season. The birds have been getting ready by finding the perfect tree to raise their young.
Purple Crocus 'Remembrance' Opening
Here are the crocus in the front island bed in a different light, as the late morning sun casts upon them.
Sedum Aurea Foliage
The foliage of Sedum 'Aurea', which lives in the crevices of the rock waterfall behind the pool, is turning to shades of golden yellow. Soon it will also be displaying yellow blooms.
Newest Skyland's Oriental Spruce
The view from behind the pool garden looking outward shows a more upright, narrow form of Western Arborvitae (in the background to the right) with a lingering winter bronzing, along with evergreen Skip Laurel (to the left) and golden Skylands's Oriental Spruce (front center). The bronzed foliage of the Arborvitae will turn back to green with the rising temperatures, but for now it makes for nice contrast with the other evergreens.
Bunny Visitor
With spring comes garden visitors. This visitor is probably one of the baby bunnies that was born on the property last year all grown up. He has been very well behaved (like his predecessors) only eating grass and clover and respecting the garden.
Morning Dove
The Morning Doves are regular residents on the property and have been for years. They are so gentle and sweet. 
Magnolia 'Royal Star'
The tease of warmer temperatures the past couple of days has allowed Magnolia 'Royal Star' buds to finally open. They have had a delayed start, so it is wonderful to see these fabulous blooms!
Hello Robin!
It just wouldn't officially be spring without the Robins. They arrived about a week and a half ago and are a very welcomed sight!
April 2018 Welcome Spring!
I hope you enjoyed the tour of 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 Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides, Wednesday Around the WorldDishing It & Digging It and Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday. 
Plan your garden with my two books, each loaded with gardening tips and design advice for either the novice or experienced gardener. The plants discussed are hardy in zones 3-9, which covers the Northeast, Middle Atlantic and more! Click on the links below for more information and order your copy to start planning now! 😊


~As Always...Happy Gardening!~


Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

31 comments:

  1. Beautiful! Love the Crocus blooms and the 'Royal Star' Magnolia!
    So nice to see the birds and the bunny, too
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. Thank you Lea! I love all your beautiful blooms and the hummingbird! I had put out a hummingbird feeder for years with not a single visitor, but would see a passer-by getting nectar from my Crape Myrtle at the send of the season. Your dogwood is such a lovely legacy.

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  2. I love that Hellebore - it has gone straight to the top of my wishlist! How come you get the best behaved rabbits? The ones in my garden tunnelled under the buried fencing that cost a fortune to install and they're nibbling their way around the veg patch as I type! Lovely to see them though - I just wish they had a few manners about helping themselves. Here's to a sunny spring - you deserve one after a winter like that.

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    1. Thank you Sarah! I enjoyed seeing that you are starting your vegetable garden. There is something wonderful about home grown veggies and hopefully your bunnies will be become better behaved!

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  3. Spring may be a bit late in arriving but your garden is looking beautiful nonetheless. Sorry about your horrible winter and hope that the rest of spring and summer are kinder. Happy GBBD!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Peter. Your garden is wonderful and I especially love all those beautiful blooms on your Magnolia, Camellia and Euphorbia. It looks like spring has definitely sprung in your neck of the woods!

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  4. You are so lucky that rabbit didn't chow down on your crocus. They ate all of mine. I wouldn't trust it with a new tree either. Your rabbits might be used to all that snow and cold. It has been so mild here the past 10 years or so. We made up for it this winter and spring except as you mentioned the February thaw. Love seeing all your blooms and that Skyland Spruce. Happy GBBD.

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    1. Oh no! I guess I am fortunate to have such a well-behaved bunny who likes clover. Your pretty blooms are a welcomed sight Lisa and those white tulips are wonderful!

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  5. I have never seen a weeping pussy willow! I loved it!
    Thanks for sharing at GBBD!

    Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry.blogspot.com

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the visit Jeannie. Your early spring blooms are wonderful and I love all the little touches in your garden like the adorable turtle and bench with stepping stones and wild violets, each which make the visit so inviting.

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    2. Thank you! The little stone turtle was left by the previous homeowners when we bought the house 14 years ago. It has not been moved more than a few feet since then. Now, isn't that lazy of me! I just weed around it.

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  6. Lovely as always. We are covered with ice and I am wondering if spring will ever come.

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    1. Thank you Denise. I hope spring warmth comes your way soon. It has been a roller coaster ride here, but spring is arriving slowly.

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  7. Oh the spring flowers so fun to see. Also so glad you are past the winter storms. Here in the mid west we are still dealing with the winter winds and snow. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog Joanne. It's always nice to see new viewers.

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  8. Oh how lovely, they are all so beautiful especially the crocus and the weeping willow. All your plants are not growing here in the tropics so i see them only in my very few travels to cold climes.

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    1. I always enjoy seeing your tropical blooms Andrea and that bougainvillea is gorgeous! It's interesting that you are experiencing much hotter temperatures, while it is so much colder here.

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  9. Hello lee!
    What a weeping willow! A beauty!
    Your spring garden is colorful, I love crocuses 'Remembrance' and your new planted hellebore. I wait for spring blooming in my garden as well.
    Happy Garden Bloom day!

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    1. Hi Nadezda! The Weeping Pussy Willow and its catkins are always a joy in early spring. Your blooms are a welcomed sight and tell the story that spring has arrived in your garden as well. Hope your days are filled with sunshine!

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  10. Spring really has arrived at your garden--so many lovely blooms! Thanks for showing the weeping pussy willow again; I fell in love with this tree on your last Bloom Day post, Lee. And how nice you have such polite bunnies; if they would only train their distant relatives to be as considerate, we would all appreciate them so much more:)

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    1. I will tell the bunnies to talk to their relatives! Your spring blooms are lovely and the Puschkinia is especially interesting. I will have to look into getting some in the fall.

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  11. Oh wow...You have a real spring with flowers and wildlife looking happy. This is a very cheery post for me on this cold gray day Lee...Michelle

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    1. I am glad this brought some sunshine your way Michelle. It has been chilly here as well, but the two days in the 70's really helped to get spring on track. Hope it warms up for you soon.

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  12. Beautiful photos! Isn't it lovely to see spring!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/04/titanic-movie-costumes-on-display-at.html

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  13. Our weather doesn't allow to grow crocus ...I was lucky once to grow hyacinth but unpredictable weather doesn't let it survive .

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    1. Thank you for visiting Arun. I enjoyed the photos of your friendly bird visitor!

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  14. Lovely display, and wonderful weeping pussy willow

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    1. Thank you John! Your spring blooms are wonderful and I love your eye for photography. Your Helleborus ‘Amethyst Gem’ is absolutely gorgeous!

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  15. Even though we didn’t have those wicked snowstorms, we also had a chilly, crazy, up and down kind of spring. It’s been so frustrating! But now it is mostly spring, thank goodness.

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    1. Spring is finally here to stay too. Your spring blooms are such a wonderful sight Robin and I love your combination of bulbs with Sedum Aurea!

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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!