Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March: Long Island Garden Signs of Spring!

Welcome!

Welcome! There are signs of spring everywhere as the temperatures warm into the mid to upper 50's to 60's after two inches of rain and sixty mile an hour winds just a few days ago. Look around and you will see colorful foliage and blooms emerging everywhere from their winters sleep and the garden changing day by day as we head towards spring. I can see a difference in the timing of blooms as they seem to be a couple of weeks earlier this year. Perhaps the groundhog was right, but as well all know, March is an unpredictable month. Join me for a tour of my Long Island garden!

Welcoming Committee

The Welcoming Committee is here to greet you and the first stop is the along patio border.

Purple Crocus & Hyacinths too

With the rain and warming temperatures, crocus started coming up everywhere and rather quickly. It was just a few days ago that it was just foliage emerging from the ground. Along the patio border is purple crocus with the foliage of Hyacinths behind it. There will be more blooms to follow as spring gets underway.

Hellebore 'Champion' (Lenten Rose)

In the pool border winter blooming Hellebore 'Champion' is now in full bloom as it thrives in the shade cast by a Weeping White Pine. I enjoy the yellowish-green color of  the bracts on this variety.

Hellebore 'Champion' (Lenten Rose)

Here are its amazing blooms closer up. You can get a view of the pinkish undersides which provide an additional touch of color.

More Purple Crocus!

As you may have guessed by now, I have an admiration for purple crocus! I love how the blooms symbolize spring and the shades of purple do vary a bit. This one seems to have a little more white in its veins compared to the others.

Hellebore 'Merlin' (Lenten Rose)

Along the back perimeter is Hellebore 'Merlin' in bloom with its pinkish bracts and central yellow flowers. 'Merlin' tends to start blooming in February and continues through March, providing months of interest.

Leucothoe 'Axillaris' Late Winter

In the back shade border Leucothoe 'Axillaris' is displaying a slightly reddish tint to its foliage this time of year...

'Nellie Stevens' Holly Berries Late Winter

and the berries of Nellie Stevens' Holly are at their best.

Japanese Skimmia

Also in the back shade garden is Japanese Skimmia forming its buds. Creamy white fragrant blooms will follow in mid-spring.

Blue Atlas Cedar and Juniper 'Gold Lace'

For some foliage, here is Blue Atlas Cedar and Juniper 'Gold Lace' on the northern front island bed. This is just another combination that supplies color and interest year round.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' (Lenten Rose)

On the northern side of the property Hellebore 'Shooting Star' has been blooming since January...

Sedum 'Brilliant' Rosettes

and the rosettes of Sedum 'Brilliant' are now emerging in the southern part of the garden.

White Crocus

Some white blooming Crocus add a sense of purity to the garden...

Allium 'Globemaster'

as the foliage of Allium 'Globemaster' emerges. Giant lavender-purple blooms will appear on tall stalks during the month of June!

Spirea 'Candy Corn' Budding Out

I purchased this newer cultivar of dwarf Spirea named 'Candy Corn' last season and decided to put it into a planter by the back door. It stays more compact only growing two feet in height and width and has the most amazing foliage, colored like candy corn! I was surprised to see it getting buds before any of the other Spirea. 

Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae'

For more foliage on the front eastern side island bed is 'Anna's Magic Ball' Arborvitae with its yellow hue which stays year round. Behind it to add some darker contrast is Dwarf Mugo Pine.

Pieris 'Cavatine' Buds

On the same island bed is Pieris 'Cavatine', a dwarf form of Japanese Andromeda. It's foliage is evergreen and soon its buds will open into little bell-shaped flowers.

Front Island Bed

I often get comments about the tree in the left backdrop. It is Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' and it is prized for its beautiful pinkish-red bark, which becomes even more vibrant as the temperatures cool. To the right of  the Coral Bark Maple is Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce and in the direct center of the island bed is a Weeping Norway Spruce. Spirea 'Lemon Princess', Spirea 'Big Bang' and various perennials join the evergreens. Gardening Tip: Late winter/early spring is the time to prune back your Spirea to encourage fullness, new growth and to encourage blooms. 

Seasonal Planter

The seasonal planters always bring me joy whatever the season and this one which I have had for a few years now is thriving. This combo is Dwarf Alberta Spruce, 'Whipcord' Arborvitae, Boxwood and Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, which resides by the back gate entry. 

Seasonal Planter

The planter I created in late Fall has weathered the winter well and I have been getting much enjoyment from it. I did have to cover the plants when the temperatures dropped down into the teens for a few nights to protect the more delicate Cypress, but the combination of the yellow color from the Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest' (Lemon Cypress) along with the berries of the Gaultheria (wintergreen) was a win-win!

And Indoors!

As the spring season approaches, I am enjoying the African Violets blooming indoors and kitty is too, although I think it's all about the sunshine for her. Until we meet again, happy almost spring and I hope you get to have some quality time in the garden. "The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”- Alfred Austin

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my March garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and look forward to seeing what you have growing in your area. 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, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. 

 Plan your Garden-Read My Books! Click on the links for more info and to Purchase!

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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved.