Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up October 2018: Hello Autumn!

October Garden

Welcome to my garden and I hope you enjoy your visit! It's time for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and walk in the autumn landscape to see what is blooming. Up until a four days ago, temperatures were still hovering in the low to mid-70's. Overnight on the 11th, the rumbling of thunder could be heard with what was probably the last thunderstorm of the season. The cold front accompanied by torrential rains brought in the true feeling that the fall season had arrived. Now the days are cool and crisp with temperatures in the upper 50's and lower 60's, and the foliage is starting to turn color. The garden preps for its time to rest. Come along on a tour through my Long Island garden.

Welcome!

October is a transitional month in the garden. While springtime represents renewal, autumn brings a sense of calmness. While my garden is predominately evergreens, the flowering shrubs and perennials are showing signs of autumnal change. With the constant moisture this autumn, there should be quite a show of foliage in the upcoming weeks.

Perennial Border Fountain Grass

One of my favorite signs of autumn are the fluffy plumes on ornamental grasses and the changing color of Sedum foliage as it transitions to a lime green. 

Sedum 'Brilliant' in Autumn

After some rejuvenating back in August, Daylily 'Stella D' Oro' is still going strong and blooming well into fall. 

'Stella D' Oro' Daylily Still Blooming!

Here is a post I had written a while back on the process.

Dwarf Butterfly Bush

The Dwarf Butterfly Bush on the patio is doing very well, has doubled in size, and is still blooming in its planter. I will be bringing it into the garage at the end of the month/start of November to overwinter. Only time will tell to see if my experiment works. My hopes are to return the planter to the patio next spring with a viable plant.

Monarch!

I adore the Monarchs that frequently visit!

(Stachys) Lamb's Ear Autumn

Come take a look at the perennial border. This is one part of the garden that changes constantly. Right now, the Stachys (Lamb's Ear) is prominent with its soft white foliage. Dried Astilbe seed heads are in the backdrop.

Skyland's Oriental Spruce

Here is Skyland's Oriental Spruce in front of Coral Bark Maple. The foliage of the maple is just starting to change.

Spirea 'Magic Carpet' Autumn

'Magic Carpet' Spirea doesn't want to quit blooming in the driveway border. The days have been warm enough to push out new growth.

Young Girl and Kitty Friends

This has been the year of new statues in the garden. I fell in love with this one of a young girl and her best friend. It is located in a prominent place where I can view it from several windows when looking out at the garden. Some of the other statuary that you will come across can be found tucked away among the garden and lurking around corners.

Variegated Liriope October Blooms

In the eastern garden, Liriope 'Variegata' (lillyturf) is in full bloom for October.

Front Walkway

It can be viewed here bordering the front walkway, along with Japanese Garden Juniper, Heuchera 'Caramel' and Golden Sweetflag.

Signs of Autumn

Here are some signs of autumn, as the remaining foliage of Oriental Lillium 'Stargazer' turns to hues of yellow and orange. It will be asleep for winter soon.

Perennial Border

Back around to the perennial border, you can see the last of the blue blooms of Platycodon (Balloon Flower) next to Juniperus 'Blue Star' and Ornamental Fountain Grass 'Hameln'. A grafted Blue Globe Spruce towers above the rest of the garden.

Tree Hydrangea 'Tardivia' October

In the north garden, the white panicle-shaped blooms of hydrangea 'Tardivia' take on a greenish hue for fall.

Hydrangea 'Tardivia' Bloom Up Close

Some of the flowers have pink highlights too!

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Along the southwestern side of the property is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar accompanied by more variegated liriope, which is displaying spikes of purple blooms this time of year.

Weeping Japanese Maple

Soon the Weeping Japanese Maple will be loosing its leaves, only to expose its interesting trunk structure. Every season has something to offer in the garden.

Shade Garden-Leucothoe

In the back shade garden, Leucothoe 'Auxillaris', Hakonechloa macra (Japanese Forest Grass) and Hosta 'Minuteman' make an excellent combination for low light...

Shade Garden-Caramel Coral Bells and Friends!

and to your right is another shade planting of Heuchera 'Caramel' with friends!

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Last, but not least are the Double Knock Out Roses that continue to bloom right outside my window and my next door neighbor's Montauk Daisies. 

Montauk Daisies

Every year I take a picture of them, since they remind me of my mom. 

October Garden-Thanks for visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my October garden. Please feel free to stay a while and catch up on some of my other posts. 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, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party on the 17th with Everyday Living.

In the news: I am honored to have been selected for the 2018 Golden Trowel Award, joined by sixty-nine other blogs. Congratulations to all!

More News:  I am at it again writing and 106 pages in for a possible third book. Are there any gardening topics that particularly fascinate you or that you would like to learn more about. I'd love to hear!

  ~As Always...Happy Gardening ~

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