Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Long Island Wintertime Garden

January Garden

Happy New Year and welcome to my south shore, zone 7 Long Island garden! After a relatively quiet December with the first dusting of snow on Christmas Eve day, Long Island was hit with its first significant snowfall on the 7th with 6-8 inches of snow across the island with deeper amounts on the north shore. The garden became a winter wonderland until it was washed away by rain a few days later, followed by a record high of 19 degrees on the 11th. The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures today, so come along with me on a tour of my January garden. You better bundle up because its cold outside!

First Winter's Snow!

The beauty of a virtual tour is that I am able to share some snowy views from one week ago. This was the morning of the 7th after the snow, with the sun just trying to peek through the dissipating clouds.

Snow Covered Garden

The backyard pool surround was covered in a layer of glistening white snow, making for a winter wonderland. I do love the seasons and first snow gracing the landscape. There is always something so magical about it; however, that statement may have a different tone by the end of the winter!

Blue Jay Visitor

It's wonderful getting to see visitors each morning, especially in winter. The birds hid for a bit after the snow, but a few days later this Blue Jay came out of hiding for a snack.

Skyland's Oriental Spruce Seed Cone

Along the driveway border, the seed cones on the Skyland's Oriental Spruce are in abundance this winter. We are able to get a view of this lower one up close.

Front Entrance Garden

Here are Weeping White Pine (front right), Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (middle) and Coral Bark Maple (back left) with Japanese Garden Juniper, Blue Star Juniper and Golden Sedge along the walkway. You can see the branches of the Coral Bark Maple are starting to glow red with the colder temperatures.

Winter Structure

Here is a closer view of 'Blue Star' Juniper and Golden Sedge, with Hoogendorn Holly, which reside along the foundation. I do depend on evergreens for winter color and structure and am always looking for new cultivars. Another benefit is that these selections are slow growing and low maintenance.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

Yes...there can be blooms in winter! Hellebore 'Shooting Star' is getting ready to open its buds to expose pale pink blooms with cream and green highlights! It should be any day now.

Hellebore 'Champion'

Here are the buds of Hellebore 'Champion', which displays greenish-yellow blooms. I have two other varieties as well, so look out for more buds and blooms as the winter progresses!

Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle is known for its beautiful blooms that appear July through September, but it has nice exfoliating bark too, which is of interest in the wintertime. It has a bit of an artistic touch.

Weeping Norway Spruce Seed Cone

Here is another seed cone, that of Weeping Norway Spruce. I do enjoy looking for them and they have a reddish-pink hue before turning brown.

Hot Cocoa on a Cold Day!

Remember the welcoming committee? Here they are to say greetings!

What Every Gardener Needs!

My dear friend knows me well and surprised me with this door mat as a gift. It's perfect!!! 

Winter Bear

Before we venture onto the indoor garden, here is some more seasonal interest. I do enjoy my garden bears and this one is all decorated for the winter months. Now, since it's freezing out here, follow me inside to warm up and see some more plants!

Kalanchoe, Peace Lily and Fern

Welcome to the indoor garden. When the temperatures are cold outside, there's always the indoor garden to depend on for some enjoyment. Here are some selections that are blooming right now.

Hawaiian Anthurium

This collection keeps me smiling year round, but even more so in the wintertime. The blooms on this Anthurium last for months at a time. The orchid is also forming its flower stalks, so blooms should be coming in a couple of months.

Indoor Garden-30 year old Jade Plant

One of my favorite plants in the indoor collection is this Jade plant, which I have had for over 30 years. There is another twin of the same age on the opposite windowsill in what I refer to as the plant room. There are also some succulents and Thanksgiving Cactus that are still producing buds and blooms. I have seen the Jade produce little white blooms over the years, usually around March. Other plants in the indoor collection currently include Spathiphyllum, ZZ Plant, Parlor Palm, Dracaena, Philodendron and Ficus.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my winter garden and as always, I look forward to your comments 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 Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, 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 Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. 

A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

It's been pretty quiet around here these days, but the good news is that I have started working on a new book for the northeast and Mid-Atlantic garden! I am doing the brainstorming and writing each day while it's cold outside and springtime will bring lots of photo taking, so stay tuned!

I have been enjoying connecting with gardening friends during our regular zoom meetings on GardenComm. It's a wonderful way to get through the winter months and share gardening adventures! 

If you would like to receive post updates for the 1st and 15th of each month, there is a new follow.it subscription widget for A Guide to Northeastern Gardening at the top right side of this page.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to visit My Author Page. I have poured a lifetime of gardening love into each of my books. along with experiences, tips, journeys, design inspiration, maintenance advice, guidance and more! Check out A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9, Landscape Design Combinations, Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener and Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden. 

"As Always...Be Well and Happy Gardening”! 😊

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2022. All rights reserved.