Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May: Color, Color Everywhere!

Welcome!

Welcome to my May garden! I am happy to see you here! Here on Long Island, as everywhere else, the weather patterns have been erratic. From summer like temperatures pushing into the high 70's in the beginning of the month to days in the 50's and now a series of repeating rain events, the spring of 2024 has certainly been interesting. The garden does adjust though and there is new growth and lots of blooms to see. Join me for a tour of my Long Island zone 7b garden.

Patio Border

Our first stop is at the patio border where Weeping Norway Spruce is accompanied by Nandina 'Obsession' and Ajuga 'Black Scallop'. Nandina 'Obsesssion' is an evergreen, non-invasive species and stays at a compact size of just two to three feet over time. Ajuga 'Black Scallop' displays deep greenish-black foliage with purple blooms in springtime. 

Backyard Island Bed Western Side

In the back island bed, Variegated Weigela is forming buds which will soon become pink flowers and is joined by Coral Bells 'Palace Purple', Hydrangea Limelight and evergreens Mugo Pine and Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta'. 

Shade Garden

In the back shade garden is Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel' joined by Pulmonaria (Lungwort) with its polka dot foliage and deep purple blooms.

Azalea Season!

As the Azalea are blooming, Rhododendron buds are getting ready to open within a couple of weeks. A Skyland's Oriental Spruce joins the mix in the backdrop.

Perennial Border Renovation

I have been revamping the perennial border as it was time for a change and planted this Trombly's 'Red Sentinel' columnar Japanese Maple as the focal point last fall. Just a week ago I added three Spirea 'Candy Corn' behind it while keeping the existing Lamb's Ear and Astilbe. The goal is to achieve a lower maintenance garden. 

May is Ajuga Time!

Here are the blooms of Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' in the raised island bed...

Welcoming Committee!

and here is the welcoming committee to greet you! It just would not be the same without them!

Patio Border

Along the opposite section of the newly renovated patio garden is Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple and Salvia 'Blue by You'. This cultivar of perennial Salvia is supposed to be longer blooming. We shall see!

Patio Border

Along the patio border, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is doing well after the winter and is displaying its continuous array of golden color with white trumpet-shaped blooms to follow in summer.

Azalea 'Girard's Crimson'

Here is Azalea 'Girard's Fuschia' all in bloom. If you are looking for an Azalea that catches the eye, give this one a try. The color of its blooms are amazing!

Backyard Island Bed Northern Side

This combination of Hinoki Cypress, Mugo Pine, dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue', Caramel Coral Bells, Gold Lace Juniper and Dwarf Japanese Andromeda 'Cavatine' resides in the back raised island bed. A mature Crape Myrtle is in the backdrop. Stay tuned for blooms in July! 

Pool Border

Following along to the pool border, reblooming Encore Azalea is joined by Sedum 'Angelina'. The Azalea will repeat bloom later towards fall while the sedum will produce spikes of yellow blooms in summer.

Kwanzan Cherry

Springtime means it's Cherry blossom season and here is the amazing Kwanzan Cherry. It seems that the blooms started a little earlier this year, so I am enjoying them while they last.

Allium Globemaster

While awaiting the blooms of Allium 'Globemaster', Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' is showing off its delicate lavender blooms in the front garden. 

Weeping Eastern Redbud

Large heart-shaped foliage will start to emerge soon. 

Driveway Border

Along the driveway border garden, Dwarf Norway Spruce is accompanied by golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce, Hinoki Cypress, Coral Bark Maple, Spilled Wine Weigela and Nepeta 'Walker's Low'..

Driveway Border

  while Spirea 'Magic Carpet'  prepares for its dramatic blooms!

Front Island Bed & Lawn

As the tour comes to an end, let's venture around to the front corner island bed with a combination of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials and lawn where two mature Weeping Japanese Maple reside.

Front Lawn

I admire them every season of the year both structurally and for their foliage. Nature sure does work its magic!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May 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. 

 Are you an avid gardener or wanting to learn?  My books can help you! 

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

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

Wild Turkey Revival on Long Island: A New Garden Visitor and Conservation Success Story

This Month in the Garden: A New Visitor!

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! I have a new fascination with wild turkeys and since one visited my garden, it is garden related, right?! Over the past few decades, Long Island has witnessed a remarkable revival in its wild turkey population. Once on the brink of local extinction, these iconic birds now roam the wooded areas and open spaces of the island in numbers. Since I just followed one around my property, it sparked me to do some research on the revival of this remarkable creature. I had seen them here and there as an unusual sighting around the island and had heard stories, but now one was strutting around my garden like she owned the place! A friend told me that she was digging in my garden because she was eating grubs...not a bad thing.

Historically, wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a native species of North America, abundant throughout the U.S. including Long Island, with its origins tracing back to at least 11 million years. However, by the early 1900s, excessive hunting and habitat loss had greatly diminished their population. By the mid-1900's, sightings of wild turkeys on the island had become rare, and the species was considered locally extinct. The turnaround began in the late 1900's when organizations such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and other local conservation groups collaborated to restore suitable habitats and implement protective measures. 

Wild Turkey are members of the Galliformes order, which also includes pheasants, grouse, and quails. Adult males, known as toms or gobblers, have iridescent plumage with a mix of bronze, copper, and greenish-gold hues. Females, called hens, are slightly smaller and have more muted plumage compared to males. They play a vital role in raising offspring, constructing nests on the ground, and protecting their young from predators. Wild turkeys are adaptable birds found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, and swamps. They are highly social creatures, living in flocks known as a "rafter" or "gang" which provides safety in numbers and allows them to forage more efficiently. During the breeding season in spring, male turkeys put on elaborate displays to attract mates. This includes puffing up their feathers, fanning their tails into a dramatic display called a "strut," and emitting the iconic gobbling call to announce their dominance. Turkeys are omnivorous, feeding on a diet of seeds, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. Their return has had positive ecological impacts on Long Island, as they play a crucial role in forest ecosystems by controlling insect populations, dispersing seeds, and creating habitat diversity. 

One key aspect of the massive conservation effort has been habitat restoration. Through land acquisition, reforestation projects, and habitat management, conservationists have recreated vital habitats here on Long Island. Another critical step was the implementation of hunting regulations and protections. Wild turkeys have been designated as a protected species, with strict hunting seasons and limits enforced to prevent overharvesting. This has allowed turkey populations to recover without human interference. Today, Long Island holds a healthy and sustainable population of wild turkeys, symbolizing a successful conservation comeback. In conclusion, the revival of wild turkeys on Long Island is a testament to the collective efforts of government agencies, conservation organizations, and the community. By restoring habitats, implementing protective measures, and fostering public awareness, Long Island has welcomed back a symbol of wilderness and conservation success.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! Have you seen these visitors in your neighborhood and what have been your experiences with them? We'd love to hear!

Plan your Dream Garden with my 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

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.