Thursday, August 15, 2019

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up August 2019: Welcome Late Summer Blooms!

Welcome to My August 2019 Garden
Welcome to my August Long Island garden! I am glad you could join me, and do come by often. As the month of August has set in with temperatures in the 80's and 90's with humidity and occasional thunderstorms, the garden is going through its fourth round of blooms. For Bloom Day the temperatures have cooled into the lower 80's and it is very pleasant in the garden. Come along with me to see what is blooming for the later part of summer. The dragonflies are out and abundant. You may even get to see some!
Echinacea Pow Wow Wild Berry
As we start the tour, one of the most prominent of blooms during the month of August are those of Echinacea. Here is Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' in the front garden along the street.
Rozanne Geranium (‎Cranesbill)
New to the front island bed this summer is perennial geranium, Geranium 'Rozanne' with its ongoing blooms from late spring into mid-fall. I always wanted some of this long-blooming perennial for my garden, and having to do some re-vamping of the front berm allotted me the needed space to put them. They seem to love the location with the perfect combination of morning shade and afternoon sun.
Backyard Island Bed
Now, moving along to the back garden, here is Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Mugo Pine, Palace Purple Coral Bells and a combination of annuals Amethyst Verbena and Raspberry Rush Petunia on the edge of the island berm. It's funny that I was never much of a fan of annuals, but Proven Winners has me hooked with this welcomed dash of color in late summer!
Back Pool Garden with Weeping White Pine and Astilbe
The Weeping White Pine in the back pool garden gets more majestic with each passing year and Astilbe 'Sprite' blooms beneath it during late summertime.
Backyard Pool Garden with Stargazer Lilly and Weeping Norway Spruce
During early August, the Asiatic Lilies are in bloom! This one is the well-known 'Stargazer' Lily with its combination of vibrant colors and deep fragrance. You can get a detection of its perfumed aroma with the slightest breeze. Their blooms arrived a little earlier this summer and are finished now, but since the tour is virtual, they certainly needed to be seen!
Perennial Border August
Watching the perennial border change throughout the seasons is a favorite pastime. There is quite a bit blooming during August, including the blooms of Stachys (Lamb's Ear), Echinacea (Coneflower) and Hemerocallis (Daylily).

Patio Surround Perennial Border
Follow me around to the patio side where you can get a long-view of the garden. 
Playtcodon (Balloon Flower) along patio garden
Here is the infamous Platycodon grandiflorus 'komachi' Balloon Flower. This variety does not open up like the others, but remains as a true balloon. As you may have read in previous years, guests love to pop the blooms once they dry out. It's makes a similar sound as popping bubble wrap, which you may have done as a child, or adult!
Driveway Border with Coreopsis, Nepeta and Echinacea Blooming
Now that we've passed by the Balloon Flowers, lets take a quick detour to the front to the driveway border. Here are Weigela 'Spilled Wine', Coreopsis 'Zagreb', Nepeta 'Walkers Low' and more Echinacea, this time being 'Cheyenne Spirit'. The low lying evergreen is Japanese Garden Juniper.
Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit
The Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' changes a little bit each year. This summer the brighter oranges and pinks seem to be more prominent.
Skylands Oriental Spruce in Back Border
Back around to the western portion of the property is the newest Skylands Oriental Spruce, which has grown several feet since last year. It seems to like its new home.
Endless Summer Hydrangea Twist & Shout
The Hydrangeas are having a good year as well. Here is a lacecap form of Endless Summer Hydrangea known as 'Twist & Shout', with a combination of blue and pink blooms.
Rudbeckia (Dwarf Variety)
Here is Rudbeckia, 'Little Goldstar', a dwarf variety of Black Eyed Susan, which is more compact and clump forming. It resides in the back border beneath the Kousa Dogwood, which you saw blooming back in the spring.
Sedum Sunsparkler Lime Twister
New to the poolside border is Sedum Sunsparkler Lime Twister. I love the foliage on it and it also gets pink flowers late summer into early fall. I am looking forward to seeing the blooms!
Stargazer Asiatic Lillium
I wait all summer for these Stargazer Lilies to bloom, so we need to take in another view, this time up close! I cannot get enough of them! Let's venture to the back of the pool area. Oh my...a visitor!
Dragonfly Visitor
I have always had a fascination with dragonflies and even dedicated an entire chapter to them in my latest book, Dream, Garden, Grow! They are so prehistoric looking and yet so beautiful. They are known throughout garden folklore and hold various meanings to different cultures.
Dragonfly Visitor
This one loves to hang out by the Rhododendron and will stay for several minutes.
Dried Allium Flower
A garden possesses much beauty and sometimes it can be as simple as a dried Allium flower once it has expired. I leave them as interest until they can no longer stand up in the wind. I like to think they add a certain artistic touch.
Variegated Boxwood in Shade Garden
As we come to the end of the tour, here is a perfectly rounded Variegated Boxwood that my husband brought attention to just the other day. I never do anything to maintain it and just take its presence for granted. I now have a new appreciation for the big Boxwood ball, seeing it through my husband's eyes!
Variegated Boxwood Another View
Here it is from another view! You can get an idea of its size.
(Lagerstroemia) Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'
It wouldn't be August without the blooms of Crape Myrtle 'Sioux', so here they are. The blooms started at the end of July and go through September, one of the many joys of late summer in the garden.
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'
Here's a close up of its voluminous deep pink blooms!
Hydrangea 'Tardivia'
Another late summer joy are the blooms of 'Tardivia' Hydrangea. Fragrant elongated while panicle flowers cover this large shrub in early to late August.

2019 August Long Island Garden
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed the tour of my August 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  and Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays.

For more gardening tips and design inspiration along with horticultural musings, you may be interested in my books. You can click on the author page or visit each book individually to find out more about each one.😊

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

Thursday, August 1, 2019

This Month in the Garden: A Visit to the Keahua Arboretum, Kauai-Rainbow Eucalyptus Forest

Keahua Arboretum, Kauai
As an avid gardener, I will seize every opportunity to travel beyond the northeast to explore gardens and plants I have never seen before. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Keahua Arboretum on the island of Kauai to see the most amazing Rainbow Eucalyptus trees I have ever experienced. Resembling multi-colored pieces of living artwork, these trees have a rich history.
Keahua Arboretum, Kauai
The Keahua Arboretum is located at the end of the scenic Kuamoo Road (Highway 580) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It was planted with native and introduced plants by the University of Hawaii to be used as an outdoor classroom for students and visitors. It is here that the Kuilau Ridge Trail starts and the 1.5 mile portion of the Na Ala Hele Trail System turns into the Moalepe Trail, leading though groves of eucalyptus forest, native shrubs and vines to give visitors a spectacular view. 
Rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta
Rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is a large tree native to IndonesiaPapua New Guinea, and the Philippines, and is the only Eucalyptus species with a natural range that extends into the northern hemisphere. Hardy in USDA zones 10 and above, it is characterized by multi-colored peeling bark displaying hues of orange, maroon, blue, purple and gray. Patches of outer bark are shed annually at different times, showing a bright green inner bark. The inner bark then darkens and matures to produce the blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones. The process continues as the previous season’s bark peels off in strips to reveal a brightly colored new bark below. Rainbow eucalyptus thrives in rich, medium to wet soil in full sun, is intolerant of frost and grows to 250 feet in height in its native habitat. Every tree is unique with its own configuration of color.
Rainbow eucalyptus
The first to discover medicinal uses of eucalyptus were the Australian aboriginal populations. Eucalyptus had been discovered to have antibacterial properties early on and towards the end of the 19th century, it was used in English hospitals as a disinfectant. Eucalyptus has also been found to promote oral health. In studies, participants who regularly chewed gum with eucalyptus extract had lowered levels of plaque accumulation and overall healthier gums. Eucalyptus can also help to provide relief from coughs and colds and is found as a common ingredient in many cough syrups, rubs and vapor baths. Findings also suggest that eucalyptus can be used as an ointment for sore muscles. Other uses of eucalyptus included use of the wood by Australian aboriginals to make tools and weapons, while today the wood is mainly used for the manufacture of paper and furniture. Eucalyptus leaves are also used to create essential oils for aromatherapy and the aroma of its oils can help act as a natural insect repellent.

Island Gecko (Phelsuma) on eucalyptus tree.

Map of Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve (Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources)

Rainbow eucalyptus

Once through the eucalyptus forest, the Keahua Arboretum leads access to the Līhu‘e-Kōloa Forest Reserve, an area consisting of over 12,500 acres of public land in two separate areas, Wailua and Kalāheo. The area was established by the Governor’s Proclamation in 1909 for the purpose of protecting the vital watershed area. The reserve has an elevation of 1699 feet (518 meters) and has is the home of numerous hiking trails. 

For more information visit Keahua Arboretum.
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, Our World Tuesday and Wednesdays at My Corner of the World.

~As Always...Happy Gardening! ~

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