Monday, February 15, 2021

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up February: Walking in a Winter Wonderland

February Garden
Welcome to my Long Island garden! Over the last few weeks, the garden has been transformed into a winter wonderland through a series of snowfalls, followed by periods of thawing and more snow. The first significant snowfall of the year came on the 1st, lasted into the 2nd and dwindled off to flurries on the 3rd, bringing  a foot of snow to the island. Another storm came on the 7th (Super Bowl Sunday) bringing another 6-8 inches. There have been two more snowfalls, keeping the garden under a cloak of white, with more on the way. Come along on a tour of my February garden!
Garden Whimsy
The first glances of the garden are just before the first snowfall. When I knew it was coming for sure, I set outside with camera in hand to capture some before views, one of the perks of a virtual tour!
Evergreens in the Winter Garden
Since evergreens are such an important addition to the northeastern garden, I always like to highlight a few that are on the property and since horticultural photography is a second love of mine, I will venture out even on the coldest days to get some captures. This is a close up of a Colorado Montgomery Globe Blue Spruce taken with a telephoto lens.
Garden Leap Frog
Here is a little garden whimsy. This playful pair can be seen from right outside my window.
Evergreen Garden
Here is a view of the border of evergreens along the eastern side of the property with Globe 'Montgomery' Blue Spruce, Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' and Boxwood. There is an iris garden which lies along the fenceline, giving the area a more cottagey look in the spring.
Crape Myrtle Bark in Winter
This is Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'. Its colorful, exfoliating bark is even more noticeable in wintertime. 
Garden Visitor
The feeder station has been very busy! This little guy is consuming some calories before the snow arrives.
Golden Sweet Flag
Golden Sweet Flag and Spreading Repandens Yew add some color and structure to the winter garden, and the birds love the foliage too!
Wintering Birds
                            Wintering birds are looking for some shelter as this visitor scouts out his turf...
Welcoming  Committee
while the welcoming committee below is chilling with some hot cocoa!
Under a Cloak of Snow
Overnight the snow arrived, transforming the garden into a winter wonderland.
Coral Bark Maple  and Skylands Oriental Spruce
The bark of the Coral Bark Maple in the driveway border is glowing against the white snow. Alongside the Coral Bark Maple is snow covered Golden Oriental Skylands Spruce.
Blue Skies Return
The snow is beautiful while it is falling, but I always love the following day as blue skies return and the sunlight lights up the snow covered landscape. Come along and see.
After the Snow
Here is a view of the pool garden with the patio area covered in a blanket of snow.
Snowy Scenes
I have lived here in the northeast all my life and am still mesmerized every time we get a snow covered landscape. There is something about the changing seasons with new scenery to look forward to in every month, along with some special surprises along the way.
Nellie Stevens Holly Winter Berries
There are discoveries around each corner, such as in the back garden where Nellie Stevens Holly is displaying its bright red berries and by the patio where Weeping Pussy Willow is producing its first catkins.
Weeping Pussy Willow Catkins Forming in February
There are signs of spring as buds on Star Magnolia become evident...
Magnolia Buds and Hopes of Spring
and the snow still covers the garden.
Winter Snowy Sunset
While the landscape is covered in a blanket of snow, the indoor 30 year old Jade plant shows off its blooms.
Indoors: A Jade Plant Blooms!
I couldn't resist laying a pair of garden crocs next to the boots just worn while walking the garden. My feelings are mixed. While the snow is beautiful, spring is not far away. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy the view!
Mixed Feelings
February Garden
Thank you for visiting my February 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

34 comments:

  1. you always make your winter garden look so beautiful - another wonderful example of great landscaping and great photography! Pinned and shared

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    1. Thank you Carol! I enjoyed your post. t’s always a nice outing to go to a garden center and visit all the lovely blooms. I usually make it a practice to go out and explore garden places during the wintertime to get my “green fix”, but because of the pandemic, I am leery to go anywhere. Thanks for the views!

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  2. Beautiful photos of your garden, what a lovely tour! I love the "Welcoming Committee"!!!!!!!

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    1. Thank you Rain and I am glad you enjoyed the virtual tour! Your portraits are all wonderful and I loved the theme behind them.

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  3. These are great photos, Lee!
    Thanks so much for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/02/cedar-creek-galleries-not-your-average.html

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  4. Pretty scenes!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. Happy Bloom day Lea! I loved your capture of the lone Daffodil, just waiting for spring!

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  5. I love these photos! Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thank you! I enjoyed your winter views. Everything looks so pretty in a coating of snow and the Cardinal looks so vibrant! We have had one storm after another, and as I am FINAL:LY seeing some lawn, snow is in the forecast for tomorrow!

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  6. Your snow covered garden is beautiful, but I definitely think the crocs will have to wait for a couple of more months so grab the boots. :-)

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    1. I think you may be right Judy!!! Thank you for taking us along on your visit to Alton Bay to see the ice fishing. It is such a fascinating sport!

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  7. The snow looks beautiful, as does your garden, Lee. You've done a magnificent job providing interest regardless of weather conditions. I appreciated the critter pics too!

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    1. Thank you so much Kris. As you had mentioned in your post, it does look like you are in a entirely different hemisphere! Your abundance of blooms are a very welcomed sight on this winter’s day and all so beautiful!

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  8. Lee - I have always enjoyed your garden in all the seasons, but seeing it covered with snow is very special! We are deep in another snowstorm here, but at least the temperatures are rising a little bit. Still a long way from spring! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed the views Angie. Your enjoyment makes it all worthwhile going out into the cold with the camera. Just as the snow is melting here, there is another 5-8 inches on the way. Come on spring!

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  9. Beautiful pictures ! I loved the capture of Figurine covered with cloak of snow . It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/02/garden-affair-edible-flowers.html

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    1. Thank you Arun! I enjoyed your early blooms. It’s starting to look like spring for you.

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  10. Lee, I so love your gardens! That border with the spruce, cypress and boxwoods reminds me of our former landscape, leaving just a twinge of wistfulness. But your virtual tours are enough to satisfy my want of gardening these days. I absolutely love seeing a garden in all four seasons, and how lucky are we that we can enjoy that?! Unfortunately, though, in our town right now, all we're seeing is grey skies, rain and or sleet/ice, and there's really not a lot of beauty that's obvious. I do look for the beauty though, and seeing buds on trees, robins flocking, and hellebores blooming is enough to keep my mindset positive. Thank you for your February tour. March is just around the corner!

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    1. Rita-you just made my day with your kind words and I am so glad my post brought some smiles your way. Your table setting for two was so beautiful, romantic and perfect in every way! Hope your Valentine’s Day was extra special.

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  11. What beautiful photos of your winter wonderland garden!

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the views. Your photo of the crocus brings hopes of spring.

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  12. Your photos truly capture what a beautiful wonderland your winter garden is. The image of the statue under a cloak of snow is very special. And I love all your evergreens!

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    1. Thank you Deb. That means a lot coming from you. Your winter garden is amazing!

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  13. I love those whimsical frogs. The snow? Not so much.

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    1. The snow was beautiful at first, but now it is getting old! I am happy the frogs gave you a smile!

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  14. Lovely, but I'm waiting IMpatiently for spring! We have our first crocuses up, so that's quite a hopeful sign.
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/02/more-from-last-weeks-peek-at-cedar-creek.html

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    1. Enjoy those crocus! Ours may be a little delayed this year because of all the snow, but I do see signs of foliage coming up!

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  15. Your garden is an enchanting and inviting place.

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  16. Thanks lee for joining in Garden Affair.

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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!