Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up January: Winter Views and Blooms!

Welcome!

Happy New Year and welcome to my Long Island garden for the first time in 2023! The month of January has been relatively uneventful weather wise, with temperatures in the upper 40's, and a chill in the air, but not too unbearable to venture out into the garden. On the milder days, I am able to get some exercise by getting rid of some of those enduring weeds, while observing what is around me. Come along and see the changing garden and we might just run into some winter blooms along the way!

A Little Bit of Whimsy!

As we start the tour, here is the newest addition to the garden. It makes me smile each time I pass it by.

Patio Garden

For some winter color, Nandina 'Obsession' is going through its first January in the garden with its brilliant pinkish-red foliage. Here it is in front of Weeping Norway Spruce, with Ajuga 'Black Scallop' behind the spruce to the right.

Patio Garden- Dwarf Red Pine and Juniper 'Goldstrike'

In the patio garden, the foliage of Juniper 'Goldstrike' turns from its golden hues in summertime to a more bronzed look in wintertime. Dwarf Red Pine, Ajuga 'Black Scallop' and Japanese Golden Sedge add some more evergreen foliage for interest.

Winter Foliage-Osmanthus (False Holly)

One thing I love about Osmanthus 'Goshiki' is its changing foliage. Here, in wintertime, the newer growth takes on a pinkish-golden hue above the more mature green foliage tipped with yellow highlights, making it ideal for winter viewing.

Mugo Pine

I strive to look for different attributes among plants throughout the seasons. In wintertime the seed cones of  this Mugo Pine become even more prominent.

Japanese Andromeda 'Cavatine'

The seed heads of Japanese Andromeda 'Cavatine' also stand out this time of year. In the backdrop is the foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells), which endures pretty well throughout the winter.

Osmanthus 'Goshiki' (False Holly) Winter foliage

As we pass by, here is another Osmanthus 'Goshiki' with its foliage up close.

Garden Love!

One always needs a little garden whimsy with some humor mixed in. Here is another one of my favorite statues!

Back Perimeter Garden

Following along to the back perimeter garden, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar adds some color to the winter garden, accompanied by Coral Bells 'Palace Purple' and Japanese Golden Sedge along its base.

Patio Planter Horizontal

I got into making up container planters for the patio a few years back and am enjoying them throughout all the seasons. The first is a horizontal planter with Variegated Boxwood, Dwarf Alberta Spruce 'Jean's Dilly' and Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Nana 'Lutea'..

Patio Planter Vertical

and the second (vertical) planter has a centerpiece of Dwarf Alberta Spruce 'Jean's Dilly', with Whipcord Western Red Cedar (Thuga plica 'Whipcord') along the sides, and Dwarf Hinoki Cyress 'Nana' (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana') front center. Helpful Tip: Dwarf Alberta Spruce 'Jean's Dilly' is a newer cultivar that grows even slower than the standard, making it excellent for planters.

Front Driveway Border

Now that we have ventured the backyard, let's stroll up to the front gardens. Here the reddish tinged branches of Coral Bark Maple can be seen in the distance with Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in the foreground.

Skyland's Oriental Spruce and Coral Bark Maple

Here is a closer view. The colder its gets, the brighter the color of the branches on the maple become. 

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

Now, I did mention that we may come across some January blooms! Helleborous 'Shooting Star' never disappoints. Its foliage remains evergreen year round and buds appear in December, which open in January and last for months. The flowers are really not flowers at all, but bracts, which is why they last for so long.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

In the upcoming months, there will be other varieties of Hellebore in bloom, keeping the magic of the winter garden going!

Welcoming Bear!

As we come to the end of our stroll, welcoming bear greets us with his holiday display, as we venture to the indoor garden.

Flowering Jade Plant

While it's cold outside, indoor gardening keeps me busy. November and December brought a display of flowering Thanksgiving cactus, and as we get a few cold nights along the southern and western windowsills, Jade Plant produces blooms! Currently, I have two Jade Plants, which are each over 30 years old, along with several offspring from cuttings. I have passed on many plantings as gifts to keep its legacy going.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my January garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what you have growing 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 had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Friday Bliss at Floral Passions, 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. Here is to a wonderful 2023 planting season and gardens that thrive!

IN THE NEWS!!! 

I am excited to announce that my fifth book, Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: A Guide to Planning the Ultimate Shade Garden is now a reality! Published on January 3rd, an official launching post will be out on the 1st! In the meantime, go check it out! I am hoping I can share over 150 shade plants along with gardening tips with you!

I was recently asked to contribute to an article on Indoor Gardening-Experts Advice. Come check it out as I answer a question about growing Bonsai and be sure to check out the other articles Porch.com has to offer!

Looking for some gardening help and inspiration? Check out my Author Page & Books!

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener 

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

and my newest addition Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

"As Always...Happy Gardening!"