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| Welcome: January Garden! |
The start of the 2024 gardening season brought our first snow on the 7th, as I ran outside like a little kid with cell phone to capture the moment. It only lasted a while with no accumulation, but had been something I had not experienced in a while. It has been a milder than usual January with temperatures in the 40's and larger amounts of rain than we have seen in the past, but now a cold blast has arrived! As the garden sleeps for winter, there is still much of nature's beauty to be explored. There is a well-known quote by Josephine Nuese that I live by, “Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.” Welcome to a new year in my Long Island garden!
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| Foliage, foliage, foliage! |
The first stop is along the patio garden with Dwarf Cryptomeria (backdrop), Weeping Norway Spruce (right) and Nandina 'Obsession' (left). One of my main missions is to have combinations of color along with various textures of foliage for something to see all year long. All three additions are evergreen and the Nandina is a dwarf form with red tips that show up nicely, especially during winter.
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| Shade Garden |
In the back shade garden is Nellie Stevens Holly along with 'Fernspray' Golden Hinoki Cypress. The foliage of the Hinoki Cypress is wispy with a nice golden color, while the bright red berries of the holly are quite abundant this year!
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| Nellie Steven's Holly |
Here is a view of the berries up close. The birds are loving them! Do note: They are not edible by humans!
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| Nestled in for Winter |
Nestled in for winter is this statuary of a sleeping cat that my mom had bought me many years ago. It resides right along the patio garden where I can see it every time I go outside, it reminds me of her, and it creates a smile.
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| Crape Myrtle Bark Winter |
Here is the Crape Myrtle tree that sits on a raised island bed in the backyard. While the blooms in late summer are magnificent, the bark of Crape Myrtle is interesting during every season. It exfoliates near the end of the summer into fall, revealing even a deeper color pattern for wintertime.
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| Winter Interest |
Gold Lace Juniper grows beneath the mature Crape Myrtle tree, which is now over 30 years old.
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| Ajuga 'Black Scallop' |
Noted for its deep marron color, Ajuga 'Black Scallop' has larger leaves than other ajuga and lasts throughout most of the winter, bringing color to the garden. Purple blooms will emerge in early spring.
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| Dwarf Golden Hinoki Cypress |
In the pool border is Dwarf Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Nana Lutea', which grows to just 2-3 feet tall by wide at maturity.
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| Hellebore 'Shooting Star' |
Let's venture to the north side of the property where Hellebore 'Shooting Star' resides. I love this perennial for its winter blooms starting in January. The buds are here, but it is a little behind schedule this year. I expect to see full blooms very soon!
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| Weeping White Pine and Hellebore |
In the back pool surround is Weeping Norway Spruce with another cultivar of Hellebore, 'Helleborus 'Champion'. Its buds are a little ahead of schedule, as I usually see buds in February followed by blooms in March for this particular variety.
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| Hellebore 'Champion' |
Here is Hellebore 'Champion' up close. The pinkish buds open up to expose greenish-yellow blooms.
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| Weeping White Pine Seed Cone |
For other winter interest in the January garden are the seed cones of Weeping White Pine...
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| Stachys (Lamb's Ear) |
and the soft white foliage of Lamb's Ear, which persists throughout the season.
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| Back Shade Garden |
Here along the north side of the pool area is the newly planted Sky Pencil Holly, which seems to be adjusting nicely. Joining the holly is evergreen Golden Sweet Flag and the red tipped foliage of Leucothoe 'Axillaris', which adds a little punch of color.
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| A Little Whimsy |
Around the bend is one of my newest and favorite pieces of garden statuary. I thought you may enjoy seeing it too!
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| A Little Nature |
Up in the trees is a winter's treat indeed, as this beautiful cardinal remains long enough for a photo capture.
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| Seasonal Planter |
A new addition to the back entry, that gives me joy every time I see it, is this planter I created last month with Dwarf Alberta Spruce, golden and blue Cypress, Osmanthus (False Holly) and Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen). The planter containing all evergreens will be enjoyed throughout all the seasons!
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| Sedum Rosettes Wintertime |
In the garden are the rosettes of Sedum anxiously waiting for spring...
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| Hydrangea 'Tardiva' Wintertime |
while the dried blooms of Hydrangea tell us winter is here to stay for now.
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| Indoor Garden |
While the temperatures are cold outside, I especially enjoy tending to my indoor garden. My collection contains numerous houseplants, each unique for its varying characteristics. On a bench in the southern facing window, Thanksgiving Cactus is very happy and continues to bloom.
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| Thanksgiving Cactus |
In other news, I was honored to learn that my newest book, Shade Gardening for the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: Planning the Ultimate Shade Garden made it to the Top 10 Garden Books of 2023 for Washington Gardener Magazine! In addition, check out Washington Gardener Magazine's Podcast for the Top 10 Most Popular Podcasts for 2023. During one of the discussions I got to talk shade gardening! Also, to bring in 2024, I just became a proud member of the NGB (National Gardening Bureau), joining those who's purpose is to educate, inspire and motivate people in the world of gardening.
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| Thanks for Visiting! |
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my January garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and look forward to 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. Wishing all a wonderful 2024 with gardens that thrive!
"As Always...Happy Gardening!"
Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Happy Bloom Day Lea! Love you Hellebores! Mine are covered with the snow from last night, which will insulate the buds for now.
DeleteWow, the weeping white pine is GORGEOUS! I don't think I've seen one before. You have a beautiful garden, love the holly berries and a cardinal. Crepe myrtle has such fantastic bark.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Your gardens and Aloe plants are amazing!
DeleteYou have lots of color in the garden, even in winter. I have never seen a cardinal. There is a report of one being seen in Oregon once, I don't know what it was doing here! Caught in a moving van maybe.
ReplyDeleteThe Cardinals have been overwintering here for years and I love how their bright red color stands out, especially in wintertime. Happy Bloom Day!
DeleteI love your photo of the crape myrtles with the golden junipers at the base. How may crepe myrtles trees are planted there? I have one 'Natchez' crepe myrtle that I've been training to a multi-trunk specimen, but mine is still young (about 6' high), and I'd like to try for an effect like that. It's gorgeous! What variety of Cryptomeria is planted by the Nandinas? I want one of those too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Elemaza! Your snow covered garden looks so peaceful and I enjoyed your indoor blooms too! You asked me about my Crape Myrtle and Cryptomeria. The Cryptomeria is a dwarf version and the Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' is one plant that developed into what you see today. That one is about 25-30 years old!
DeleteLovely to see some color in your garden as I am soooo missing my garden..Michelle
ReplyDeleteAww...glad I could share some views. Your post about the ducklings was both adorable and educational!
DeleteLove your January interests highlighted, Lee. The quote is a really good one, all the photos beautifully showcasing the winter interest. We are about 8" deep in snow, as I'm sure you are at least that deep or more. Next week is indicating the warm up and much rain. I am definitely in the dream state of spring planning and planting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rita! We got about two inches of snow, but it was the deep freeze in the teens that had me concerned about the garden. I had to cover my recently created outdoor planters for protection from the cold. Same as you, we are now in a warming trend.
DeleteI love your colorful garden, Lee. Everything is white here, there is a lot of snow. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Nadezda. Your video really captures the winter season...so beautiful and tranquil and so much snow!
DeleteQuando le conifere sono usate bene il giardino diventa sempre uno spettacolo e tu le sai usare molto bene! Il weeping white pine è da invidia! Mi piace moltissimo!
ReplyDeleteUn'ottimo inizio di primavera :D
Thank you Gabriel. I loved your garden views too and especially have an appreciation for the Agave, which catch my interest every time!
DeleteCongrats on your book! You’ve given me two ideas with this post. I never thought of planting anything under my White Pine, perhaps I shall. I also love your idea of planting a winter interest container. Clever!
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin! The Hellebores do very well under the partial shade of the Weeping White Pine and I am enjoying my new planters everyday. I am glad to have inspired you!
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