Summertime at the Beautiful Old Westbury Gardens-Old Westbury, Long Island, NY

Old Westbury Gardens

After some time, I was able to re-visit one of my favorite garden places, Old Westbury Gardens, located in the town of Old Westbury on the north shore of Long Island. As you may have read in one of my earlier posts, the grounds were the former home of John S. Phipps along with his wife Margarita Grace Phipps and their four children. John Phipps (1874–1958) was an American lawyer and businessman and heir to the Phipps family fortune, along with being a shareholder of his father-in-law's Grace Shipping Lines. He was also director of the Hanover Bank, United States Steel Corporation and W. R. Grace & Company. Phipps had purchased the 160-acre Quaker farm on Long Island where he built a large mansion surrounded by breathtaking gardens. The daughter of John and Margarita Phipps re-opened the vast estate following the death of her parents and it is currently run as a non-profit organization open to the public.

Old Westbury Mansion

Since the beauty of these magnificent gardens goes beyond words, let me guide you through a pictorial tour with brief captions explaining each capture. The photographs to follow were taken of the gardens during the month of July. I hope you enjoy the virtual visit! 

Old Westbury Gardens Fern Planter on the back balcony.

Old Westbury Gardens Roman Style Reflecting Pool Behind Lake

Canadian Goose Resident

Pergola Covered Walkway Through to Rose Garden

This Thatched Cottage along the Way was the playhouse of the only Phipps daughter, Peggie, which was presented to her for her tenth birthday.

Continue along the walkway to Rose Garden.

Rose Garden Surrounded by Boxwood Hedge

Tea Roses in the Garden

The Walled Garden at Old Westbury Gardens during the month of July with a multitude of flowering plants, including Russian Sage and Various Lillies.

Central Fountain located in the Walled Garden Old Westbury Gardens

Walled Garden in July at Old Westbury Gardens. The area is surrounded by high brick walls entered into through decorative iron gates. Gardens are separated into rooms with an English style flair.

Along the garden wall is Hemerocallis Elegant Candy at the Old Westbury Gardens.

Hemerocallis Elegant Candy at Old Westbury Gardens

Echinacea Ruby Star at Old Westbury Gardens

Dahlia at Old Westbury Gardens

Gazebo at the Walled Garden at Old Westbury Gardens

Gazebo and Lake at Walled Garden Old Westbury Gardens

Water Lilies at Old Westbury Gardens

Water Lilies at Old Westbury Gardens

Statue at Old Westbury Gardens in the Allee

Old Westbury Gardens View of Back of Mansion from Allee

Swimming Pool Behind Westbury Mansion

Bridge to Temple of Love

View from Bridge

Local Wildlife-A Turtle Visitor

The Temple of Love at the Old Westbury Gardens. The masonry and wrought iron structure overlooks the lake behind the mansion.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”― Audrey Hepburn. I think the Phipps had this in mind when they created this beautiful place. I hope you enjoyed the charming Old Westbury Gardens in July. For more information visit their website at Old Westbury Gardens.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up July 2018: An Abundance of Summer Blooms!

July Garden

Welcome to my Long Island garden for the month of July. After a week long heat wave of extensive humidity with temperatures in the upper 80's and lower 90's, a welcomed cold front brought in clear skies and comfortable temperatures. The garden is in full bloom with an abundance of color, so I would love for you to join me for a stroll. Come along...let's start the tour!

Welcome to My Garden!

There are so many varieties of Astilbe that I enjoy in my garden. Each has a different bloom time, so I can enjoy the sequence of color. In the back shade garden, while Astilbe 'Peach Blossom' (far left) is just about done blooming, Astilbe 'Visions in Red' is taking center stage with its striking pinkish-purple blooms. Heuchera 'Caramel', Hosta and Weeping Norway Spruce join in with added texture and color.

Astilbe Visions in Red

Here is a closer view of the foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' (left) along with Hosta 'Gold Standard" (right) and Astilbe Visions (center).

Back Shade Garden

This statue may look familiar. It has taken on a new home in the shade garden and seems to fit right in!

Back Patio Garden

Follow me up to the back patio garden. Here Hosta 'Golden Tiara' thrives under the shade of a grafted Montgomery Globe Spruce. Following down the walkway are grasses, Balloon Flower (which will bloom in August),Weeping Norway Spruce and Blue Globe Montgomery Spruce. To the far left is golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' with its twisted foliage and Hydrangea are blooming in the background.

Hydrangea Nikko Blue

After a few severe winters, this old fashioned mophead hydrangea, Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' is doing well and producing a nice display of color. I also have several Endless Summer Hydrangea, but there is something about the vibrancy of the blue on the blooms of this one.

Stella D Oro Daylily

'Stella D Oro' Daylily is in full bloom on the west side where there is plenty of sun. When I am sitting on the patio the blooms are up close and in clear view!

Lythrum Morden's Gleam

In bloom for the month of July is this seedless, non-invasive hybrid of Lythrum, which brings vibrant shocking pink blooms on a four foot tall plant. Gold Lace Juniper is massed out in front of the blooms.

Daylilly Time!

Here are more 'Stella D Oro' Daylily. I have them in various areas of the property and enjoy their continuous blooms.

Front Driveway Garden Bed

In the front driveway border garden Nepeta 'Walker's Low' and Coreopsis 'Zagreb' make the perfect combination of bluish-purple and yellow blooms that last all summer long. Golden Oriental Spruce Skyland's is in the backdrop.

Perennial Combination

Here are the blooms close up. It is one of my favorite perennial combinations with a mixture of warm and cool colors.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' Multiple Colors on One Plant!

July is the time for Echinacea. In the front south garden is Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'. Cheyenne Spirit produces pink, orange and yellow blooms all on the same plant!

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' in Bloom!

Here are some pink blooms up close. They are a real eye catcher with stunning shocking pink petals complemented by golden-orange swirling centers.

More Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

Here is an orange bloom. Even the different colored blooms vary. Some are solid in color while others are variegated. I just love this plant! We'll visit the yellow blooms up close in a bit!

Front Entrance Walkway

Come along the front walkway and get a bit of a long view of the front. Variegated Liriope, Japanese Garden Juniper, Dwarf Mugo Pine and Heuchera 'Caramel' exist along the left (east side) while boxwood, Blue Star Juniper, sedge, sweet flag and Weeping Birch can be viewed on the right (west side). Walking down the walkway we are headed southward towards the driveway border garden.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Now we are at the southern side of the property. Here is the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar by the driveway, which spans approximately ten to twelve feet in length.

Front Walkway Garden

We are now standing to the south of the Blue Atlas Cedar facing north towards the other side of the front yard. You can view the upright cedar in the backdrop.

Welcome to the Pool Garden!

Through the back side gate, we come around to the pool area. Our new guest, a giant peacock pool float has now taken residence! On the right of the steps to the patio is dwarf white pine and to the left is globe blue spruce.

Just Another View

A weeping Japanese Red Maple has matured over the years in the cut-out bed by the pool. Japanese Garden Juniper, Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' and Creeping Jenny 'Aurea' ground covers grow underneath its canopy.

Northern Shade Garden Foliage

Towards the northern end of the property, a small path leads to the shade garden where Japanese Forest Grass (left) and Leucothoe (right) thrive. When it comes to shade, foliage takes on a major role.

Succulent Planter

For full sun on the patio, this strawberry planter is filled with all my favorite succulents, which are starting to bloom for the later part of the summer...

Mandevilla!

and here is this year's Mandevilla plant, a bright red variety with yellow throat that grows on a trellis right near the back door. 

Rudbeckia Little Gold Star

Rudbeckia Little Gold Star is showing off its blooms. This dwarf variety of Black Eyed Susan stays more compact in the garden!

Ligularia dentata 'Othello'

This Ligularia is a new addition to the garden this summer. I have added two varieties, this one, 'Othello' and also Ligularia 'Little Rocket'. The 'Othello' resembles a cross between daisies and sunflowers...

Ligularia 'Little Rocket'

while the 'Little Rocket' displays elongated spikes of yellow blooms. Ligularia prefers a shady to partially shaded area and a moist rich soil. Each plant will grow to 3-4 feet in height!

Monarch Butterfly

To end our tour is Butterfly Bush with a much welcomed first Monarch Butterfly sighting this summer...

Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit

and Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' with its cheery bloom to brighten the day! I hope you enjoyed your stroll in my July garden. Thank you for visiting and I look forward to seeing what you have blooming.

Thanks for Visiting!

Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Dishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled Rose and Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue.

The Sayville Garden Club Tulip Award!

In the news...the garden tour in June was a huge success. The ladies who run the club visited the other day and presented me with this Tulip Award...such fun! Other news...gardening season is still underway. If you have not already checked out my books, just click on the links below and give them a look. They might just inspire you! 😊 (Each is Available for purchase on Amazon.)

 A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9
Landscape Design Combinations

~As Always...Happy Gardening!~

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