Monday, June 15, 2020

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June 2020: Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

June Garden
Welcome to my June Long Island zone 7a garden! Although we are not yet able to visit botanical gardens during this worldwide pandemic, we can still enjoy one another's private gardens and communicate as gardeners do. We all speak the same language...that is...we share the love of all things green. As the month of June arrived, it almost seemed as if "Mother Nature" had thrown a switch transforming cooler temperatures in the 60's to a sudden jump into the 70's and low 80's. With the sudden surge in warmth and frequent thunderstorms, the garden has jumped into high gear. Although I am involved in some facet of horticulture throughout the year, I must admit that my favorite time to be in the garden is from the end of May and into mid-June. Join me and come along on the tour!
Perennial Border
The perennial border comes to life in May and peaks at the end of May and into the second week in June. The main focal point is the combination of Peony 'Bartzella' (hardy in USDA zones 4-8) with Salvia 'May Night' (hardy in USDA zones 4-9). 'Bartzella' is a hybrid variety with very strong stems that do not require staking. Giant yellow blooms are formed which contrast nicely with the deep purple blooms of Salvia. The perennial border gets southwestern exposure sun from early afternoon on. I am thrilled to announce that these very captures very chosen for the Fine Gardening Magazine Photo of the Day just this past Wednesday!
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' June
Here is a closer view of the foliage and blooms of the peony. Even after the blooms are finished, the foliage of this plant acts as a medium-sized shrub through to fall.
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'
Salvia 'May Night'
Here is Salvia 'May Night' as it combines with the foliage of Chamaecyparis 'Gold Mop'. We will also get a view of Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld', which lies just behind the purple Salvia and to the left of the Gold Mop Cypress.
Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'
Along the fence line, Pink Double Knock Out Roses (hardy to USDA zone 5) are in full bloom from June until frost.
Pink Double Knock Out Rose
Roses are so nice to have in the yard and their mild fragrance can be detected when up close. Even though Knock Out Roses do not require deadheading to re-bloom, I still make it a practice of keeping the shrubs compact with regular trimming of extra long off-shoots. I also feed my roses monthly with a systemic food and fungal treatment, which keeps them robust and healthy.
Pink Double Knock Out Rose
Here is one of the individual roses up close for you to see.
Kousa Japanese Dogwood
In the back corner, Japanese Kousa Dogwood is in full bloom with Hosta 'Patriot' and 'Minuteman'. This variety of Kousa is known as 'Greensleeves'. It is a newer hybrid that produces more blooms and is more disease resistant.
Ilex Sky Pencil and Heuchera 'Caramel'
In the pool surround garden is Ilex 'Sky Pencil', which was introduced last year. Behind the Ilex is Heuchera 'Caramel' (Caramel Coral Bells) and in the backdrop the rhododendrons are blooming.
Southern Pool Garden
Let's venture around to the southern side of the property where a narrow lawn path leads to what I refer to as the "secret garden". Around the bend are Nepeta 'Walker's Low', Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Azalea 'Girard's Fuschia' (just finishing bloom), 'Goldmound' Spirea, rhododendron and 'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum.
Allium 'Globemaster'
Along the pool garden, Allium 'Globemaster' are on display with their voluminous lavender-purple blooms that rise above tall stalks.
Allium 'Globemaster' with 'Stella D Oro' Daylily
I plant my Allium bulbs so that they come up among the foliage of Stella D Oro Daylily. 'Limemound' Spirea is in the backdrop with a Weeping 'Red Select' Japanese Maple to the left and Star Magnolia to the right.
Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'
Come see the 'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum (hardy in USDA zones 5-8). These beauties produce delicate white blooms from late spring into summer.
Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'
Here is one of the blooms close up for you to see.
Secret Garden
Venturing from the "secret garden", we are now headed east towards the main part of the backyard. You may notice the Nepeta we passed on the way in, along with 'Goldmound' Spirea, 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells and Variegated Hosta. The whole perspective changes as one enters and leaves the garden.
Red Double Knock Out Rose
Along the northern border (southwestern exposure) are Double Red Knock Out Roses along a Western Arborvitae backdrop.
Red Double Knock Out Rose
Let's step back a little to get the full picture!
Magic Show 'Enchanted Indigo' Verbena

This is Magic Show 'Enchanted Indigo' Verbena, hardy in USDA zones 4-8. It impressed me from the start with its spikes of violet-blue blooms that last throughout summer with just a little bit of deadheading, and the pollinators love it! The compact size of just 16 to 18 inches makes its perfect for along my patio area. The original plant has doubled in size this past year.
Driveway Border
Along the driveway border, 'Magic Carpet' Spirea and Salvia 'Caradonna' are also in bloom for the month of June and will continue blooming throughout summer. I enjoy the height on the 'Caradonna'.
Azaleas Blooming Earlier in Month
As we come towards the end of our tour, here is a flash back from just two weeks ago when the Azalea were all in full bloom. The possibilities of a virtual garden tour are endless!
Mandevilla Vine
Back to today...the Mandevilla is blooming profusely! I had gotten hooked on having one of these planters by my back door ever since my husband brought one home for me years back. With the pandemic going on, it was a little more difficult this year trying to find one, but with persistence...I did! In the planter for this year is a combination of both red and white blooms.
June Garden-Thank you for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June 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 FotosMacro 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 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.

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

Monday, June 1, 2020

This Month in the Garden: Sustainable Gardening-Design of a Lawnless Landscape

This Month in the Garden: Sustainable Gardening-Design of a Lawnless Landscape 
Welcome to This Month in the garden! With today’s busy lifestyles and overwhelming schedules, many homeowners prefer to forego a lawn, yet still desire a functional and welcoming landscape. This could be a challenging task, but with careful planning, the goal can be achieved with optimum results.
Front Garden Before
I received a request for such a garden a couple of years ago from a client that no longer wanted the challenge of having to mow a lawn every week or hire someone else to do it. The client wanted to achieve a garden that could be enjoyed and also desired a place where seasonal vegetables and strawberries could be grown. As a designer, the planning of the garden took several steps and my job was to incorporate both hardscape and plantings into a functional, yet aesthetically pleasing garden. 
Front Garden After
The process started with the clearing of a large tree that was very close to the house and had overgrown its space. Afterward, environmental conditions were noted and careful measurements were taken of the site. Landscape flags were used to lay out curving bed-lines and list of desirable low maintenance evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials was compiled along the the client. 
Front Garden After
Once the area for the garden beds was marked, I imagined a “lawn” composed of pea gravel with irregular bluestone stepping-stones, which would serve the purpose of guiding visitors from the front driveway to the main entrance, to an adjacent pond area and then towards the backyard. In the backyard, raised vegetable planters would be positioned in a central region allowing for easy access with plantings along the perimeter. Additional stepping-stones were used to access the raised beds. The lack of lawn also would create a more sustainable landscape with less watering needed.
Back Garden Before
The front gardens consist of various evergreens, such as holly, euonymus, Skip Laurel, Blue Globe Spruce, Hinoki Cypress and Japanese Garden Juniper with flowering shrubs such as Magic Carpet Spirea and Hydrangea. Various long-blooming perennials such as Salvia ‘May Night', Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ and Daylily ‘Stella D Oro’ were added for summer color into fall. Evergold Sedge and Variegated Liriope were incorporated to a add a low maintenance grass-like element to the garden and pond area.
Conceptual Rendering
The back gardens consist of Emerald Green Arborvitae and Skip Laurel along the perimeter, giving a sense of privacy, along with various flowering shrubs such as Little Lime Hydrangea, Double Knock Out Roses, Crape Myrtle and Tree Hydrangea. Assorted perennials were also added for continuous color throughout the growing season. Above is a computer generated conceptual layout of the backyard design.
Back Garden After
The area comprising the "lawn area" in both the front and back yards was cleared and prepared with a compacted RCA base. Paths were constructed of landscape fabric and edging with a 2-3 inch thick layer of 3/4" pea gravel with Pennsylvania irregular bluestone inserts added for walking. Two Railroad Tie Planter Boxes (approximately 3.5 x 7 x 26”H) were each constructed with open gravel filled bases for drainage. Drip Irrigation lines were run in preparation for plantings.
Pennsylvania Irregular Bluestone Walkway in Pea Gravel Base
Pennsylvania irregular bluestone on a pea gravel base with landscape edging makes for an informal and inviting walkway.
Back Garden After
The completed project turned out to be a huge success and created both an enjoyable and functional atmosphere to be enjoyed by the homeowner for years to come.
Front Garden 1 Year Later
 Here is the front garden one year later. As you can see, the plantings are already starting to mature...
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
 and here is a view of  Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' that the homeowner sent me. 
This Month in the Garden: Sustainable Gardening-Design of a Lawnless Landscape 
I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden for June. 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.

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