Monday, August 15, 2022

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up August: Late Summer Long Island Garden

Welcome to my August Garden!
The temperatures have finally moderated after several weeks of the "dog days" of August with rounds of temperatures in the 90's and one of the hottest summers I can remember here in the northeast. Thankfully, the heat has now broken and temperatures are back into the upper 70's and low 80's, and all we need now is some much needed rain. There are many blooms to be seen for the month of August, so do join me for a tour of my Long Island garden!
Mandevilla Vine
The first stop is by the back doorway entrance where Mandevilla is producing an abundance of its pink blooms. I make it a point of getting one of these each year and love how the blooms just keep on coming!
Perennial Border
Along the back walkway the Daylilies and Echinacea are finishing up their display. This view is from the start of the month, since the blooms came a couple of weeks earlier this August with the heat.
Patio Garden
As Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' is now blooming in the back island bed, and Platycodon (Balloon Flower) is in full bloom along the patio border. This variety 'Komachi' is unusual in that the balloon-like blue flowers do not burst open like in other varieties. Rather, they remain closed and can be popped like bubble wrap once they dry out!
Platycodon 'Komachi' (Balloon Flower)
Here is Platycodon 'Komachi' close up with the silvery-white foliage of Lamb's Ear in the backdrop.
Lilium 'Stargazer'
The Lilium 'Stargazer' in the pool surround bloomed much earlier this year and is now pretty much done, but I had to share a view from just two weeks ago. The blooms were magnificent this year! 
Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'
In the back island bed, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is blooming with its stunning greenish-white blooms that turn to pure white and then to a pinkish hue as they age. This variety stays smaller than 'Limelight', growing to a maximum of 4-6 feet high by wide and is hardy in USDA zone 3-8.
Back Island Berm<
As you know, I am a fan of foliage combinations! Here is Sedum 'Brilliant', Heuchera 'Caramel' and Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. The purplish foliage of the ajuga contrasts nicely with the caramel colored Heuchera and green foliage of Sedum in the backdrop, which will soon display pink blooms.
Patio Garden
Along the patio garden is another foliage combination with the chartreuse foliage of  Dwarf Cryptomeria and the blue needles of 'Blue Star' Juniper. I have strived over the years to incorporate as many colorful evergreens as possible throughout the garden to provide all season interest.
Back Island Berm-Crape Myrtle & Hydrangea
Evergreens Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' and Mugo Pine reside along the island bed with Crape Myrtle  Hydrangea and Coral Bells 'Palace Purple'.
Crape Myrtle Exfoliating Bark
One of the features of Crape Myrtle is its interesting exfoliating bark, which sheds this time of year...
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' Blooms!
and of course, the blooms are spectacular!
Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'
Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' is all in bloom. This variety stays well-behaved in its space and tends to be more compact compared to the traditional form.
Groundcover Sedum Mix
This Sedum groundcover mix, featuring Sedum 'Angelina' and 'Dragon's Blood' adds interest all summer long to the pool surround...
Future & Past Blooms-Sedum and Astilbe
while this combination of Sedum 'Brilliant' and Astilbe 'Visions' adds foliage and blooms, with Astilbe blooming in July and Sedum due to bloom in August.
Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' & Sedum 'Brilliant'
Behind the Sedum is a backdrop of a single Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima', which will soon be forming its plumes.
Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Stella D Oro'
Along the pool perimeter and patio garden, Daylily 'Stella D Oro' is producing some new blooms after I rejuvenated it back in July...
Echibeckia
while Echibeckia (a hybrid formed from combining Echinacea and Rudbeckia) is blooming in the perennial border. I find this cultivar does best in full sun (6 hours or more) with moderate watering.
Knock Out Rose Pink
Double Knock Out Rose just keeps on giving with its bold red and pink blooms that continue throughout summer and into fall until the first frost.
Knock Out Rose Red
Besides the continuous blooms, their fragrance is nice too!
Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'
In a container planter on the back patio is Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'. This is its second season in a planter and it is doing very well, providing blooms throughout the entire summer. I have this one in a partially shaded location with late day sun and I keep it well watered. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, this compact hydrangea grows to just 2-3 feet tall by wide.
Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' (Stonecrop)
For some late summer color, here is Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' with its bright yellow blooms, while staying low as a groundcover.
Front Island Bed-Sedum 'Pure Joy'
In the front island bed, Sedum 'Pure Joy' is starting to bloom with its light pink flowers on a small, one foot tall plant. Hosta, Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf Cryptomeria are in the backdrop.
Lampost Garden-Coreopsis 'Zagreb'
Last, but not least is Coreopsis 'Zagreb' blooming along the driveway border...
Driveway Border-Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
with Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', which is not at all happy with the extreme heat. Maybe it will get another round of blooms now that the temperatures have gotten cooler.
Hydrangea 'Tardivia'
To end the tour, here is Hydrangea 'Tardivia' tree hydrangea on the northern facing side of the property with its magnificent fragrant white panicle flowers, and one of my favorite late summer bloomers!
Thank you for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what's happening in your garden! 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 FotosFriday Bliss at Floral Passions, Macro 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.  Are you looking for some gardening inspiration? If so, visit my author page and books! 

20 comments:

  1. Dear Lee, I'm sorry that temperatures were such high during summer. Hope you have rain this time in August. Crape Myrtle is wonderful with its bark, all your plants seem to be happy and healthy.

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    1. Thank you Nadezda. I really enjoyed reading your post about the meaning of Astilbe and interesting facts about them, and your photographs of them are beautiful! I too have many varieties throughout my garden and love every one!

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  2. Your August blooms are beautiful. Your hydrangea trees have such gorgeous blooms. The bark on the crepes is very interesting. I need to plant balloon flowers next year, love its shape.

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    1. Thank you Judy! Your butterflies and blooms are all so gorgeous! Your post really did make me smile today with so many beautiful blooms to share. Happy Bloom Day to you!

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  3. Beautiful blooms and interesting foliage plants, too!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. Happy Bloom Day Lea! Your blooms are so lovely for the month of August. I especially like your Azalea and Phlox for their deep pinkish-purple blooms!

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  4. Your garden is very beautiful and well maintained. We have also had record breaking heat waves this summer in Colorado. Many people here did not have air conditioning in the past so this temperature change is concerning.
    I never knew that Crepe Myrtle trees can thrive on Long Island and in other temperate parts of NY until I saw one on a friend's Facebook page . She lives in Massapequa, LI. I've always admired them in the south.

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    1. Thank you so much Pat-you made my day! Massapequa is right around from where I am (about a half hour to 40 minute ride). Thank you for taking us along on your adventure of Boulder, Colorado. It looks like such a fun place and the bird photos are amazing, especially the Bald Eagle!

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  5. Wow, look at those Lilies and Mandevilla (and everything else)! You have so much to celebrate, too. Happy Bloom Day!

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    1. Thank you Beth. I loved all you August blooms too! Happy Bloom Day!

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  6. So many gorgeous blooms! I love the balloon flowers. The deer have really enjoyed eating mine. Also, I really love your kitty art in the patio garden!

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    1. Sorry the deer have eaten your Balloon flowers. You have beautiful blooms in your garden for the month of August, but the Dahlias steal the show...beautiful!

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  7. Your August garden is amazing. Now I'm wondering why I don't grow lilies.

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    1. Thank you Pam and you should! Thank you for sharing photos from your amazing trip. Each garden is more beautiful than the next and Monet's water garden is magnificent!

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  8. You have a beautiful & well maintained garden! I loved the photo with brick red hemerocallis, probably Sammy Russel and pink Echinacea. Your silver conifers look so pretty with perennials. Sadly Burgundy Glow has disappeared from my garden, as so many other plants… Happy gardening!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Riitta. Your gardens are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!

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  9. Beautiful garden and blooms. So much going on in it. I really love that patio stone.

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    1. Thank you Yvonne! Your photographs of all the different blooms in your garden are so beautiful and I especially love seeing the pollinators doing their thing! Love the surprise of finding the lost squirrel too!

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  10. Awwww... Awesome! Such beauty... Blessings.

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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!