Sunday, May 15, 2022

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day May: Welcome Spring- The Garden Awakens with Blooms!

Welcome to my May Garden!
Welcome! It's the most wonderful time of the year! The spring of 2022 has been much cooler than normal with many windy days, but after some rain and a few days in the upper 60's and low 70's, spring has finally sprung and the garden is underway with all its new foliage and blooms. Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens and Bloom Day, I have been writing these posts since the winter of 2011, keeping a diary of my Long Island garden with over 144 posts at this time. Come along with me for a tour!

Weeping Pussy Willow

The first stop is in the back garden bed with Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix caprea Pendula), which is now sprouting new foliage after producing catkins. Perennial Salvia 'May Night' is coming into bloom below and Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld' (to the left) is forming its buds.
Hosta Shadowland
Shadowland Hosta is looking nicer each day with all its new blue-green and yellow foliage. This variety of  Hosta is certainly one of my favorites with is bold colors!
Allium Globemaster Buds!!!

In the pool surround, I await in anticipation every spring for the buds of Allium Globemaster to appear above tall spikes, knowing that they will be in their full glory with four inch in dimeter lavender blooms by sometime next month. 
Kwanzan Flowering Cherry
With blooms hard to resist, Kwanzan Cherry is in the back southwestern garden bed...
 Viburnum carlcephalum
and Fragrant Viburnum  can be sensed across the yard when the wind blows.
American Goldfinch False Indigo
New to the herb/medicinal garden this year is Baptisia American Goldfinch (False Indigo) with its wonderful bright yellow blooms. I am hoping this one performs well. Did you know that the roots of wild indigo have been used to threat laryngitis, tonsillitis and treating the sinuses?
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar & Heuchera
The Heuchera (Coral Bells) are here to bring color around the blue foliage of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in the back perimeter garden. This is a combination of  Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and 'Caramel'.
Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria is a new addition to the shade area that I added last summer. Not only is its foliage interesting, but its pretty bluish-purple blooms last for months!
Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist'
In the front foundation planting is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' showing off its blooms before its heart-shaped foliage arrives.
'May Night' Salvia
Salvia 'May Night' is gearing up its blooms too.
Front Street Island Bed
The perennials are waking up in the front island bed with Sedum 'Pure Joy', Hosta and Heuchera, accompanied by various evergreens including Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Cryptomeria, Dwarf Mugo Pine and Dwarf Norway Spruce. The Spirea on each end should be blooming within the next month.
Front Lawn
Along the front lawn you can see Blue Atlas Cedar in the backdrop with Weeping Japanese Maple in the foreground...
Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'
Here we view a close up of Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'.
Backyard Island Bed
Here in the back island bed is Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' with Mugo Pine, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and dwarf Weigela. Crape Myrtle 'Siox' is in the backdrop and still has no foliage, since it is one of the last trees to leaf out, but the blooms are worth it, as they last for 90 days throughout late summer into fall!
Backyard Pool Perimeter
Along the back pool perimeter, the Azalea are in bloom and accompanied by Spirea, Hosta and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. Snowflake Viburnum is in the far left backdrop on each side of Kwanzan Cherry. It is starting to show signs of flower buds.
Backyard Pool Perimeter (A Closer Look)
Here's a closer look!
Sedum Mix
The groundcover Sedum comes up a little more each day with all its interesting colors and textures...
Peony 'Bartzella' Buds!
and here comes Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'! It won't be long now until those huge yellow blooms appear. Stay tuned!
Girard's Azalea

Along with Weeping White Pine, another Azalea is in bloom around the bend.
Blooms, Blooms, Blooms!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May 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
Thank you for Visiting!

A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

-The month of May has been busy with designing gardens for clients and getting ready for a visit from  Long Island Master Gardeners to tour my property in just three days! Weeding, mulching and tidying are underway and I am trying to get the garden to be its best. 

-My fifth book is coming along nicely as every time I visit a nursery, there is a camera in hand getting  all those fabulous photos to show what grows in the shade. Stay tuned and do check out my author page and books below. The gardening season is in full speed ahead and if you are looking for a little inspiration you've come to the right place!!

-To all my gardening friends, stay well and enjoy the beauty of the season until we meet again.🌳


"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

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

Sunday, May 1, 2022

This Month in the Garden: Feature Spring Blooming Perennial-Pulmonaria

This Month in the Garden

A new introduction into my garden this past year has performed so well that it is worth mentioning. Pulmonaria, also known as Lungwort, is a perennial hardy in USDA zones 3-8, known mostly for its outstanding foliage, but its blooms are spectacular as well. Lungwort grows to a mature size of 12-18 inches tall by 18-24 inches wide and prefers a location with partial to full shade, moderate watering and a well-drained, organically rich soil. Depending on the variety, showy sprays of blue, pink or white flowers appear in spring above medium green foliage, which is highlighted with silvery-white spots throughout. 
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
Various cultivars include, but are not limited to, ‘Trevi Fountain’ with cobalt-blue blooms, 'Majeste’ with pink blooms that mature to blue, ‘Pink Dawn’ with pink blooms that age to violet, ‘Leopard’ with coral-pink blooms that mature to rose pink and ‘Sissinghuret’ with white blooms. This perennial is toxic to both humans and animals but is an attraction to bees and butterflies and is mostly undesired by deer. It must be noted however; like any plant which is considered deer proof, if deer are hungry enough, they will try anything. I have heard of cases of where the semi-evergreen foliage in warmer climates was nibbled upon during the winter months. To maintain plants, cut back flower stems after blooming and remove winter damaged foliage to allow room for spring growth.

Now for a little folklore. The name of this perennial was derived from the Latin term "pulmo", which means lung and "wort" which refers to a plant used for food or medicine. During the Middle Ages and times of magical rituals, the appearance of the spotted oval leaves of lungwort reminded people of diseased lungs, hence the plants were used as an herbal remedy to treat chest ailments and pulmonary infections. 

I am so happy to have this new addition in my shade garden and would recommend it for anywhere you have partial or dappled sunlight. You will be sure to enjoy its foliage and blooms!

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden for May. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! (Linking up with: Floral FridaysMacro Monday 2Ruby Tuesday and Image-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up.)