Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up May: The Spring Garden Brings Blooms & Joy!

Welcome to my May Garden!

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of May as I share my passion of everything green. Many of us have experienced unusual weather patterns over the past few years, but this one takes the prize. For the first time in over a century, May 9th brought in a cold front with a daytime high of 46 degrees accompanied by snow squalls. Thankfully, it was a short visit, returning to normal conditions the following day. As the spring temperatures are now mostly in upper 50's to lower 60's, I find myself more engulfed in my own gardens as well as well as the gardens of my clients, which brings me much joy. I call the garden my "happy place" because it is where I feel at most in my element. Join me for a tour of my May Long Island garden. The first stop is to admire the cherry blossoms!

 Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' (Kwanzan Flowering Cherry)

This Kwanzan Cherry was planted in 2017 to replace an ailing Maple tree that was in the southwest portion of the property and it was one of the best gardening decisions I ever made. I absolutely love this tree and get to enjoy its display of cherry blossoms every spring right in my own backyard!

Cherry Blossoms!

Here are the blooms up close! They remind me of the childhood trips we used to take to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms.

'Shadowland' Hosta

I added these 'Shadowland' Hosta on each side of the bird bath behind the Cherry tree and they are really starting to come into their element with their attractive golden highlighted foliage. 

Rosemary Blooms!

In the herb garden, the Rosemary is still blooming and has been for the past month! I had never seen it flower like this in the past and am enjoying its bluish-purple blooms!

Allium 'Globemaster' Buds!

Follow this way to the pool border. Allium 'Globemaster' is producing its buds and they get larger by the day. They will turn into four inch spherical purple globe-like blooms by the end of this month and into June. 

Western Pool Border

As we venture into what I call one of my "secret gardens", on the way is Girard's Crimson Azalea. Next to the azalea are Weeping White Pine on the right and 'Nigra' Arborvitae on the left. As the garden wraps around, there is a strip of lawn which creates a path leading to the more southern section of the property.

Southern Pool Border and Fenceline

Once we get to the end of the path, we will turn around and head back eastward. Along the way, you may notice the Purple Leaf Flowering Plum (Prunus Krauter Vesuvius) on the right and the Girard's Fuchsia Azalea blooming to the left. Crape Myrtle (not yet foliated) is in the distance moving forward, bordered by Gold Lace Juniper.

Perennial Border

In the perennial border, Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' is showing off its wonderful burgundy-tinged new foliage and buds, which will open later in May and bloom into June. Stay tuned!

Crape Myrtle Garden Bed

Let's swing back to the southern island bed where my Crape Myrtle resides so you can get a closer view of the Gold Lace Juniper that borders the tree, along with perennials such as Ajuga, Heuchera and Sedum. There is a backdrop of boxwood behind the planting, with an iris garden residing along the fenceline. 

Iris Garden

The Japanese Iris are now forming their buds.

Garden Love!

Another grouping Girard's Fuchsia Azalea are starting to open up their flowers. There will soon be an array of color behind my favorite statue! 

Back Island Bed

Here is one of my all-time favorite plant combinations, which was highlighted along with others in my second book, Landscape Design Combinations! The burgundy foliage and purple blooms of the Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' displays itself beautifully against the backdrop of Heuchera 'Caramel' and Sedum 'Brilliant', plus there are also some purple Salvia 'May Night' to the left to add to the mix.

Viburnum carlesii  Blooming

Fragrant blooms of viburnum are a highlight during the month of May. The walk to the back garden is worth the visit!

Japanese Forest Grass ((Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola')

Japanese Forest Grass is that multi-purpose perennial that just keeps on giving. I admire its bright variegated foliage spring through fall.

Welcoming Committee

It just wouldn't be the same if it weren't for the welcoming (and thanks for visiting) committee by the back patio, as they greet visitors to the garden. Now that we've toured the back, come along to the front section of the property and see what's new.

'Cercis canadensis 'Covey' (Lavender Twist Redbud)

In the front east facing foundation garden, there are two new additions...that is two new 'Lavender Twist' Redbud. The two Weeping Birch trees, which had lived a long life, had fallen victim to old age. They thrived many years past their expected lifetime and for that I am grateful. After much contemplation as to what to put in the space, I selected these Redbuds, which are indeed amazing. 

'Cercis canadensis 'Covey' (Lavender Twist Redbud)

Known as Lavender Twist, this Redbud has twisted branches on which these delicate lavender blooms emerge. I will look forward to their blooms each spring and cannot wait until the trees are covered in their foliage!

Weeping Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Viridis'

Speaking of foliage, the newly produced light green foliage of the Weeping Japanese Maple is amazing at this time of year.

Front Island Bed

Here is another perspective of the Japanese Maple on the front lawn along with Weeping Norway Spruce in the foreground and Blue Atlas Cedar in the background. They are all some distance apart, but appear together in one's line of sight.

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Stay safe and well and I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May garden. As always, I thank you for being here and hope you experienced a smile along the way. 🙂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 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 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.

Looking for some gardening inspiration?-Visit my Author Page

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

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2020. All rights reserved.