Friday, January 15, 2021

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up January: Let the Gardening Season Begin!

Welcome to my January Garden!
Welcome to 2021 and the beginning of a new gardening year! As we left off from the previous Bloom Day, snow had graced the landscape on the 16th of December, creating a winter wonderland that lasted well into the final week of the month, until it melted away on the evening of the 24th. The winter temperatures have now settled into the upper 30's to low 40's, but I continue to venture out for some brisk walks in the garden. Put on something warm and come along on a tour of my January, Long Island garden to see what it has to offer!
Hellebore 'Shooting Star'
January starts of the gardening season with Hellebore 'Shooting Star', one of the earlier blooming varieties of Helleborous x hybridus. Large pink buds open into pinkish white blooms with green highlights as the  flowers mature. 
Hellebore 'Shooting Star'
Here is a closer look at one of the buds opening. The blooms will last for months.
Crape Myrtle Winter Bark
Crape Myrtle has its own interest in January. Here is a look at its multi-colored exfoliating bark.
Nellie Stevens Holly Winter Berries!
These bright red berries can be seen from across the property on Nellie Steven's Holly. I am a true believer in finding something of interest for every month of the year. (Shameless plug: That is what my newest book, Gardening by Month is all about!)
Winter Structure-Weeping Japanese Maple
Here is Weeping Japanese Maple, which I love just as much in winter as I do in summer due to its beautiful structure!
Weeping Norway Spruce
In the driveway border, Weeping Norway Spruce gracefully displays is evergreen foliage...
Dwarf Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Nana' and Blue 'Montgomery' Globe Spruce
while dwarf Golden Hinoki Cypress and Blue Globe Montgomery Spruce add color to the landscape with their vibrant hues of gold and blue.
Skip Laurel and Evergreen Golden Sedge
Tucked away under Skip Laurel are these dwarf Golden Sedge, which were added last summer. I am getting more and more focused on winter interest as the years go by.
Dwarf Conifer Container Garden
Container gardening with dwarf evergreens is fun in every season, and I still get to enjoy these outdoor in wintertime. Left to right are Hinoki Cypress 'Nana, Juniperus 'Compressa' and Variegated Boxwood.
Secret Shade Garden
Let's venture out to the back shade garden. It is rather peaceful this time of year.
Rosemary in January!
In the herb garden, this Rosemary is a nice element to have, as my husband frequency uses sprigs for cooking.
Welcoming Party!
While various plantings bring interest to the winter garden, wildlife visitors are always welcomed. This little guy visits everyday and enjoys the seed that the birds throw down from the feeder. Today he came right up to the patio to visit!
Garden Visitor!
As we await spring, the indoor garden continues to bring joy on those super cold days. 
Indoor Blooms-Orchid
I can admire blooms of orchid and Thanksgiving Cactus, which just keep on giving!
Thanksgiving Cactus Still Blooming!
Here is one of the mature Jade Plants on the plant room window sill, accompanied by more Thanksgiving Cactus, newly propagated Jade and Aloe.
Indoor Garden Room
Friends tell me that I have no more room for plants....but I reply, "There's always room for something new!"
January Garden-Thank you for Visiting!
Thank you for visiting my January garden. As always, I enjoy hearing from you and seeing what's growing in your neck of the woods! 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 WoodsImage-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 Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden
There's a New Book in Town: Book Launching-Published January 3rd! 😊
Have you ever wondered if you could have interest in the garden twelve months a year? The answer is a definitive yes! I am proud to share the launching of my fourth book, Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic Garden . It takes you on a journey through each month of the year, while providing that perfect mix of gardening interest along the way, whether it be berries, bark, blooms or foliage. Colorful photographs are accompanied by care tips for each selection with suggested monthly maintenance tips. Gardening by Month is now up and live on Amazon! More details to follow!📚 

38 comments:

  1. It's nice your garden has so much going on besides just flowers. My Thanksgiving cactus recently started blooming.

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    1. It's nice to see Crocus coming up in your garden in January. We're a zone lower than you, so there won't be any for another month or so. I enjoyed your indoor blooms too!

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  2. That hellebore is GORGEOUS! A hellebore was the last thing I planted in my landscape before we moved two years prior.....I really love their winter beauty. All of the plants you note are so nice to be able to appreciated their winter interest.Thank you for sharing your garden love. This was a pleasant entry in my email today!

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    1. Thank you Rita! I am so glad you enjoyed the post. That's what writing is all about. I loved your winter greens added to your table setting. You certainly know how to add that welcoming touch!

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  3. Your garden flaunts its lovely structure during the winter months, Lee. I'm always surprised at how much earlier hellebores bloom in colder climates than mine. Your buds and blooms are already well-developed while I don't expect mine to make an appearance until March.

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    1. Thank you Kris. That means a lot coming from you! You always make me want to move to southern California with all your blooms! I love the Leucadendrons. It looks similar to a Hellebourus.

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  4. How do you get Rosemary to survive in your NE garden?

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    1. I've had this Rosemary now for three to four years and it has become a small shrub. I do have it in a sheltered area near the house in my zone 7a garden and it does quite well.

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  5. Hi Lee, I can't believe you have some blooms outdoors on January Bloom Day, beautiful! I am also surprised that I see no snow in your pictures. We were having snow flurries today, no accumulation.
    KitKat, I want to know how she grows Rosemary too. ??

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    1. My goal is to have something to look at 12 months a year in the garden-so thank you! We did have 8 inches of snow on December 16th, but that was it. We have a long ways to go yet in winter. As I had mentioned to KitKat, the Rosemary is in a sheltered area. Maybe that's the key.

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  6. Beautiful post ! Your garden always freshen up my mind with lovely figurines. It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you Arun! Gardening in small spaces has become increasingly popular and you have some nice ideas in your post. I especially like the setup of the windowsill garden.

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  7. You are a gifted landscaper and photographer. I love your winter garden.

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    1. Aww...thank you Carol! You just brightened my day! I enjoyed your post on houseplants, which was very informative. I have many of the selections you discussed and always have room for more!

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  8. Oh I love that Crape Myrtle and the Japanese Maple! My gardening season won't start for at least a few more months when I start my seedlings indoors. We have snow on the ground. It's nice to see your beautiful garden!

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the garden Rain. Your lovely artwork just brought me a smile on this cold winter's day!

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  9. I love that bear! And of course your garden images are always an inspiration.
    Thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-peek-at-our-indoor-herb-garden.html

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    1. Thank you Sue and thanks for hosting! Your indoor herb garden is wonderful and I loved the tags with informative plant descriptions.

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  10. I love visiting your garden! It reflects the care and tenderness of the gardener.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. It is a lifetime passion and I am so glad I can share it with others!

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    1. Thank you! I've always had an admiration towards trees in the Birch family for their interesting bark. Your photos capture that perfectly!

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  12. You're certainly right: There's always room for another plant! You're garden and indoor plants are lovely and oh so very happy. :-)

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    1. Yes...indeed and thank you! I enjoyed your birthday custom and now you have a memory with your delightful painting. Happy December Birthday and Happy New Year, and thanks for the smile!

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  13. Thanks for the stroll through your lovely garden. Year round interest makes garden enjoyment never ending.

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed the stroll Janice, and thank you for the smile with your post.

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  14. Lee - I admire your garden so much. Yes, having winter "interest" is the sign of a really well-designed landscape. Love that you already have blooms ... my garden is just a mass of snow right now! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Angie. I enjoyed your tour of the fun and amazing museum! Thanks for bringing us along and for hosting too!

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  15. I agree with you that we must find something to enjoy in the garden. I have been a bit down lately with all the rain and mud, but hope that things will clear up a bit...stay safe Lee.....Michelle

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    1. Hope your days get brighter Michelle. Your photographs are lovely as always and the blue is calming to the senses. Stay safe too.

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  16. Even simply green makes lovely color in the garden!

    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

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    1. Yes...indeed! Your photographs are lovely as always Betty. Thank you for brightening the day with your post and for hosting!

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  17. Thank you for linking up at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

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  18. Oh that Weeping Japanese Maple is spectacular! And I am definitely checking out the book because I need to get more creative about planting some interesting plants in my northern garden to bring more interest!

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    1. I enjoyed your post and will check out the documentary. Learning about the history behind all the old gardens is something I enjoy, and there is always something new to discover. Thank you for your interest in my book. I hope you find it to be inspirational!

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  19. You really do such an excellent job at creating winter interest in your garden. I’m now intrigued at the idea of creating a miniature conifer garden container. Hmmm, must think about this idea.

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!