Friday, April 15, 2022

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up April: Spring Blooms & Anticipation!

Welcome to my April Garden!
Welcome! The month of April has been cooler than usual, which has been the trend the past couple of years. The start of the month brought us temperatures in the 40's with snow squalls, then moderated to most days ranging somewhere in the 50's. We do get a few surprise days with temperatures soaring into the 60's and those are the days I jump with glee and strive to work outside. A little cool weather may slow things down, but it is spring after all, and the garden is awaking with all is blooms. Come along with me on a tour of my Long Island garden!
Perennial Border
The tour starts at the perennial border where hyacinth, daffodils and crocus are blooming. Seen in the backdrop is the foliage of Allium 'Mount Everest' awakening from its sleep. Soon spikes of white blooms will follow.
Hyacinths Blooming!
The Hyacinths are exceptionally vivid this year.
More Hyacinths Blooming!
The crocus are vibrant too. Maybe the cooler spring isn't so bad after all!
Purple Crocus
We have to get a couple of views of the purple crocus. They are fun to photograph too. 
Front Island Bed Crocus!
I find that out of all the different varieties, the purple really do best. 
Miniature Daffodils
Here are the miniature Daffodils, all yellow and bright. They do add some happiness to the garden.
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' Foliage
One of my favorite additions to the perennial border is hybrid Itoh Peony ‘Bartzella’ with its magnificent golden blooms that appear mid-late May through June. The sight of its foliage rising up creates a world of anticipation!
Helleborus 'Champion'
In the back shade garden, Helleborous ‘Champion’ has been blooming since mid-March and continues to shine with its golden-peachy color, while Helleborous ‘Dark & Handsome’ displays its purplish-black blooms, which are a show stopper every time I pass them by.
Helleborus 'Dark & Handsome'
Helpful hint: The foliage of this hellebore was so winter damaged that I had to totally remove the scorched leaves in early spring. The plant was rejuvenated bringing lush new foliage followed the most abundant blooms I have seen in years.
Helleborus 'Dark & Handsome'
Come take a closer look!
Helleborus 'Merlin'
Here is Helleborous ‘Merlin’ with pinkish blooms that have been blooming since late winter and will continue through April. Another helpful hint: The reason Hellebores continue their show for months is that the colorful parts are not petals at all, but bracts.
Forythsia
In a view from the front yard on the street median is this Forythsia that I planted years ago. It has matured into quite a beauty with the best bloom season since I added it.
Sedum Foliage
In the front garden bed are the perfectly shaped rosettes of Sedum ‘Brilliant’ announcing that spring has arrived…
Allium 'Globemaster' Buds!
and buds of Allium ‘Globemaster’ appearing above foliage.
Magnolia 'Royal Star'
Nothing says springtime like the flowers of Magnolia 'Royal Star', which are some of the first blooms of the season before foliage arrives.
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Blossom
Not only are the blooms robust and beautiful, they produce a fragrance which is that of a delicate perfume.
Grape Hyacinth & Tulip Combo
Here are the blooms of a combination of miniature grape hyacinths and tulips that I planted two seasons ago. I love watching the miniature tulips fill in the gaps as the days go by.
Flowering Plum 'Krauter Vesuvius'
This flowering plum was planted three years ago along the back fence and I am enjoying its early spring blooms. This variety is 'Krauter Vesuvius' with deeper burgundy foliage and better disease resistance.
Pulmonaria
New to the back shade garden is Pulmonaria. I am enjoying its green foliage speckled in white polka-dots and pink buds that open to purplish-blue blooms. 
Pieris 'Cavatine'
Come along to the front island bed. Here is Pieris 'Cavatine', a dwarf form of Andromeda with its bell-shaped blooms. It grows to just two feet tall by three feet wide and prefers a location with partial shade.
Sedum Mix
In the back island bed, the sedum groundcover mixture that I added to is starting to show some color and makes a nice addition around my favorite garden statuary. Next month the azaleas will be blooming in the backdrop...stay tuned!
Spring Bear!
Last but not least, a visit to the local nursery and the purchase of  some violas made spring garden bear complete with his basket of blooms.
Thank you for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my April 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 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

A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

The landscaping season is underway and I am out and about dong what I love...designing gardens! I love transforming an overgrown area or a blank slate into something that can be enjoyed for years to come, and I have even transformed some of my clients into devoted gardeners! 

Are you a gardener or beginner wanting to learn more about gardening and design or could you just use a little inspiration? If the answer to any of these is YES, then check out my four books, all available on Amazon! Tell your friends about them too or request them at your local library.😊

My new book for the northeast and Mid-Atlantic garden is coming along! Organized in a similar fashion as Gardening By Month, this one will be a reference of plants and inspiration specifically for shade. I have been writing a couple of hours each day and am in the process of taking high resolution photos to capture the true essence of each plant, then hopefully will have it ready to publish in 2023! 

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

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

Friday, April 1, 2022

This Month in the Garden: A Shared Love of Gardening-My Life as a Gardener & Books

This Month in the Garden
I have been a gardener all my life. As a matter of fact, I have been gardening since the age of five. Having grown up next door to an avid gardener, each day I would venture across the street, and the lady next door (who is like a second mom to me) would take me on a tour of her beautiful flower garden. One day upon my return home, I asked my mother to buy me some pots and seeds. She saw that I had an appreciation for growing things, and that is where the story begins. I had acquired an immediate interest for all things green, and that interest continued to grow all the way into adulthood. Pots of marigolds grown from seed developed into planting trees with my dad and creating gardens on our own property with my mom. As I got older, I gained a greater appreciation for horticulture and eventually became a landscape designer and consultant, a business which I have been involved in for over 25 years.

With clients and friends always asking me questions about gardening, in 2010 I decided to start this blog, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening so that I could share my gardening experiences and help others with information on frequently searched topics. The love of writing and sharing my passion with others seemed to be the start of something new. After five years of writing about gardening, and with clients and friends suggesting I write a book, I started to put my thoughts on paper and my first publication materialized. Writing is a true passion and each of my books are written from the heart, each sharing my knowledge and passion of horticulture.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BOOKS
A Guide to Northeastern Gardening is a comprehensive guide of valuable information on plants hardy in a range of zones from 3-9, with gardening techniques backed up by my personal experiences as a landscape designer. Learn about landscape design principles, butterfly gardening, deer resistant plants, long blooming perennials, globe and weeping evergreens, flowering trees and shrubs, native plantings, shade gardening and more. Additional topics include The Four Seasons of Gardening, Proper Planting Techniques and Garden Maintenance Tips, along with answers to frequently asked questions. Whether you are a novice or experienced gardener, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening will help you to create and maintain your own dream garden. Come along on a journey into the world of gardening!

Landscape Design Combinations provides the necessary tools to help you easily plan your garden, while offering a multitude of design plans with labeled photographs and detailed descriptions. Topics such as landscape design principles, color in design, the use of foliage, designing with deciduous and evergreen plants, planter combinations and landscape planning are discussed. Additional topics include designing with hardscape, with “quick and easy” landscape designs, and garden styles throughout history, accompanied by colorful illustrations. The information is presented in a way that is applicable to either the novice, experienced or professional gardener. If you are looking to plan your own dream garden with combinations that work, then let Landscape Design Combinations be your guide!


Dream,Garden, Grow, is a collection of musings as I share memories of childhood and how I grew to become a lifetime gardener. Packed with stories about life, gardening, medicinal uses of plants, garden folklore, seasonal interest, sustainable and indoor gardening, you’ll laugh and learn as you explore what makes a gardening addict and the meaning behind mysterious gnomes and garden fairies. While exploring, also learn about moon gardens, witty garden jargon and tried and true gardening tips. Whether you are a gardener or not, have a “green thumb” or “brown”, these stories will not only entertain and amuse but will teach you inspiring gardening pointers along the way.


Have you ever wondered if you could have interest in the garden twelve months a year? The answer is a definitive yes! Through years of experience as a landscape designer, I have accumulated a list of plants which are hardy in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions that will provide ongoing interest for your outdoor space. Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic Garden will take you on a journey through each month of the year, while providing that perfect mix of gardening interest along the way. Colorful photographs with descriptions of each plant according to bloom time, foliage color or other notable characteristics will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space during every season. Additionally, environmental needs, plant care and maintenance tips are provided for each selection with any other important information. Finally, gardening tips and a summary of gardening chores are provided for each month. Are you ready for a twelve-month interest garden? Then come along and plan away!

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden. I am hoping you enjoyed my story and perhaps my books can help to inspire you, a colleague, family member or friend. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures!

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

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