Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May 2019: Blooms Everywhere!

Welcome to my Garden!
Welcome to my garden! Out of all the gardening months, I must say that May is one of my favorites. In the past couple of weeks with temperatures in the upper 50's to mid-upper 60's and frequent rain, the garden has come to life once again with bright new foliage emerging and blooms everywhere. Come along and stroll with me in my Long Island May garden.
Hellebore
One of the most exciting and unexpected blooms in the garden right now are the blooms of this Hellebore I planted two years ago. It was small when I got it and it never really did anything but struggle to stay alive. While all the other Hellebores bloomed during the winter months, I was surprised to see this one just producing its first blooms!
Garden Gal with Kitty
Strolling around the corner to the side pool garden are the Girard's Fuchsia Azalea with their brilliant blooms right on schedule. They provide a colorful backdrop behind Garden Gal and her kitty.
Kwanzan Cherry 
Here is the the maturing Kwanzan Cheery tree which is going on its third year in the garden. I cannot get over just how beautiful and magnificent the blooms are on this tree, and could gaze at them forever. I just wish the flowers would last longer, but I'll enjoy the show for now!

Kwanzan Cherry Blossom
Here are the delicate pink blooms up close.
South Garden
In the south garden with the Kwanzan, you can see the Rhododendron are forming their buds and that there are more Gerard's Fuschia Azaleas blooming. The Nepeta is expanding by the day with all the rainfall and should be blooming soon. 
Allium Globemaster in Pool Garden
I enjoy seeing the Allium Globemaster getting taller by the day and forming their buds, which will open in late May to early June. 'Limemound' Spirea, Weeping Japanese Maple and 'Stella D Oro' Daylily can be seen in the backdrop with all their new foliage!
West Garden
As we stroll around the backside of the pool garden you can view the Golden Skyland's Spruce going on its third year with Rhododendron and Azalea.
Azalea Girard's 'Fuschia;
Here are the Azalea up close!
Ajuga, Heuchera and Sedum Foliage and Bloom Combo
If you have visited my gardens before, you are familiar with this combo of Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow', Heuchera 'Caramel' and Sedum 'Brilliant', which is prominent every spring. Salvia 'May Night' is also in the planting, which provides the purple touch later on once the Ajuga is done.
Perennial Border
It wouldn't be Bloom Day without visiting the Perennial Border. Here it is in spring mode with Peony, Salvia, Lamb's Ear, Astilbe, Daylily, Hosta and Echinacea, Next month the blooms will be at their peak!
Heuchera and Sedum
Here is another look at the foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' and Sedum 'Brilliant' together.
Driveway Border
Heading towards the driveway border on the southeastern side of the property is the mature Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce, now eleven years on the property since it was planted back in 2008 in memory of my mom.
Pier Garden
Next to the spruce is Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' with Nepeta, Coreopsis, Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress and Boxwood. I love the brand new foliage on the Maple!
Weeping Norway Spruce, Spirea, Garden Juniper and Heuchera
On the other side of the driveway planting is Weeping Norway Spruce with Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Japanese Garden Juniper, 'Purple Palace' Coral Bells and Variegated Iris. Follow along to the eastern area of the front yard. Here are the two weeping Japanese Maples that are each over twenty years old.
Front Lawn: Weeping Japanese Maples
The green variety is 'Viridis' and spans fifteen feet in diameter and reaches about eight feet in height. The red variety is smaller at about ten feet in diameter and six feet tall. I realize their true size when they tower above me while standing next to them!
Back North Garden
As we come full circle to the back gardens, you can get a glimpse of another Weeping Norway Spruce along with a Dwarf White Pine and Blue Globe Spruce. I am known to be a huge fan of dwarf and ornamental evergreens as stables in the design of the garden.
Back Garden Island
Here is a Dwarf Compact Hinoki Cypress (Hinoki Compacta 'Nana') in the back raised island bed. You can now get a full view the entire area we visited before with the combination of Ajuga, Heuchera and Sedum.
Strawberries in Herb Garden
Last, but not least is a new variety of strawberry from Proven Winners, known as 'Berried Treasure'. It displays these lovely reddish-pink blooms before the strawberries. I get just as much enjoyment from the flowers as I do from the delicious fruit!
Thanks for stopping by!
May Garden

I hope you enjoyed your stroll through my May garden. 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, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling WoodsDishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled RoseImage-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Homestead Blog Hop on Wednesdays.

For gardening and design inspiration along with personal musings...

~As Always...Happy Gardening!~


Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

This Month in the Garden: Broad-Leaved Evergreens for All-Season Beauty and Interest

Broad-leaved evergreens
Broad-leaved evergreens are a beautiful addition to the landscape for all season interest and are an excellent addition to just about any space. There are numerous varieties to choose from, ranging in color, size and shape, with several dwarf varieties available. Mainly known for their attractive foliage, many also produce springtime blooms for additional interest. Here are ten of my all-time favorite broad-leaved evergreens with descriptions, planting requirements and hardiness.

Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'
'Gold Dust' Japanese Aucuba displays striking gold variegated foliage and is perfect for shadier areas in the garden. Hardy in USDA zones 6-10, Aucuba grows to a height and width of 4-6 feet and prefers to be grown in partial to full shade. The beautiful bright green foliage is so heavily speckled with gold that it displays an overall yellow-green appearance. Female plants may produce berries if a male pollinator such as Aucuba 'Mr. Goldstrike' is planted nearby.
Ilex crenata Hoogendorn (Holly)
There are many varieties of holly available in a range of shapes and sizes to choose from.  An excellent choice for use in foundation plantings, shrub borders, as a low hedge or in mass plantings, Ilex ‘Hoogendorn’ is a dense low growing and compact evergreen with excellent dark green shiny flat leaves. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, this species of holly has impressive cold resistance and is very reminiscent of boxwood. Ilex ‘Hoogendorn’ is a moderate grower, displaying a mounding habit, while reaching a mature size of just 2 feet high by 3 feet wide.
Leucothoe 'Axillaris' (Coast Leucothoe)
Leucothoe is an attractive low-growing, evergreen shrub displaying a spreading, vase-like shape with arching branches. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8, this shrub features thick, shiny, dark green leaves with clusters of slightly fragrant, heather-like, white flowers which appear in mid-spring. In winter, leaves turn a purplish-bronze hue, adding even more interest to the landscape. Leucothoe matures to a height of 2-4 feet tall and width of 3-5 feet wide, and prefers to be grown in partial to full shade.
Buxus 'Green Gem' (Boxwood)
Boxwood is an easy to grow evergreen, available in many shapes and sizes, and suitable for a range of conditions from full sun to partial shade. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, this variety, 'Green Gem’, is a more compact slow-grower, reaching a height of just 2 feet tall by wide. This mounding evergreen displays an almost perfectly round-naturally oval form and dense foliage makes it perfect for low hedges or for use in a foundation planting. Oval glossy dark green leaves hold their color well in winter.
Euonymus 'Silver King'
There are many varieties of Euonymus and ‘Silver King’ is one of the most versatile. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, ‘Silver King’ displays silvery white margins on glossy green leaves in an upright narrow habit that adds unique color and texture to the landscape. Euonymus prefers to be grown in full sun to partial shade with moderate watering. Shrub size averages 5-9 feet tall by 2-3-foot wide and can be maintained at a desired height. This shrub serves nicely being grouped to form a low screen and tolerates poor soils and heat.
Skimmia japonica (Female plant bears berries)
Skimmia japonica is an excellent small evergreen shrub for shady areas, especially where deer damage can be an issue. Foliage is dark green with bright red berries that form on female plants in fall and often last throughout winter. Foliage turns to a bronze hue in autumn, adding color to the landscape. Skimmia is hardy within USDA zones 6-9, prefers partial to full shade, a moist acidic soil rich in organic matter and moderate watering. The plant stays compact at 3-4 feet high by wide and has a low, mounding habit. A male pollinator is required nearby for the female plants to bear fruit.
Azalea 'Gumpo'
Azalea 'Gumpo' is a dwarf compact evergreen hardy in USDA zones 7-9 that displays showy salmon-pink blooms in late spring. This low growing hybrid reaches a compact height and width of just 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide, making it an excellent candidate for use in foundation plantings, woodland settings and in planters. 'Gumpo' prefers to be grown in filtered sun, such as an area with morning sun and afternoon shade, and requires moderate watering. This versatile plant can have a range of uses in the landscape.
Rhododendron catawbiense 'English Roseum'
Rhododendron is a popular dense-growing evergreen shrub which is highly valued by many. Rhododendron 'English Roseum' displays oblong leathery dark green foliage which is accompanied by large trusses of trumpet-shaped lilac-pink showy flowers in mid-late spring. This variety of rhododendron is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, prefers full sun to partial shade and moderate watering. ‘English Roseum’ is a moderate grower, reaching a height and width of 6-8 feet in the landscape. 
Skip Laurel
Skip Laurel is a popular evergreen shrub with a narrow habit, making it an excellent choice for backdrops and screenings where space is limited. Skip Laurel is hardy in USDA zones 6-8, can be grown in a variety of conditions ranging from full sun to full shade and prefers moderate watering. White spire-like flowers accompany the dark foliage in mid-spring, adding excellent interest, especially in shady locations. Skip Laurel grows to a height of 8-10 feet tall by 4-8 feet wide and should be provided with adequate drainage.
Pieris Cavatine (Dwarf Andromeda)
Japanese Andromeda ‘Cavatine’ is a cold hardy, dwarf version of Andromeda. This small, low mounding evergreen is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and provides year-round interest in the landscape. In early spring, the shrub is almost completely covered with bell-shaped, creamy white blooms that resemble Lilly of the Valley, followed by attractive dark green foliage throughout the rest of the season. ‘Cavatine’ is slow growing, reaching a height of just 18-24 inches tall by 24-30 inches wide and prefers partial to full shade.


For information on winter care of broad-leaved evergreens, visit 


Be sure to stop by on the 1st. of each month for This Month in the Garden, as I share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! Linking with:  Floral FridaysMacro Monday 2Friday Photo JournalImage-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up and Dishing It & Digging It, 

~As Always...Happy Gardening ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,©Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.