Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up February: A Wintery Long Island Garden

Welcome!

Welcome! There is something about a winter garden that is magical. After a January with record low temperatures, the month of February has brought a combination of cold windy days, moderately comfortable days and our first significant snowfall overnight on the 8th, followed by more snow on the evening of the 11th, creating a blanket of white upon the landscape. Join me as we embark on a tour of my Long Island garden! You better dress warm!

Winter Landscape: Driveway Border

As we start the tour, Golden Oriental Spruce and Hinoki Cypress are covered with a fresh snowfall, while the bare branches of  Coral Bark Maple alongside them glows a vivid coral-red. The snow always has a way of making the attractive new growth of the Maple glow even brighter.

Nandina 'Obsession'

The winter cold and snow have the same effect on Dwarf  Nandina 'Obsession' as its newer foliage becomes a more vivid pinkish-red. Note: This hybrid form of Nandina is sterile, does not produce seeds or become invasive and it stays at a compact size of just three to four feet at maturity.

Weeping Norway Spruce & Nandina 'Obsession'

Along with Nandina 'Obsession' is Weeping Norway Spruce and joining them is dwarf Cryptomeria...

Nestled in Snow

and all nestled in snow is one of my favorite garden statues, which I get to look out at everyday.

Mature Weeping Norway Spruce

In the back western garden a very mature Weeping Norway Spruce adds some winter interest along with Golden Fernspray Hinoki Cypress. Several yeas ago, one of the main branches of this tree was severely damaged by the weight of heavy snow, but thankfully it has recovered nicely.

Pool Border

Along the pool border is Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select', which is one of the more compact varieties of Weeping Japanese Maple. It sits in front of the pool, which now looks like a frozen pond covered with a layer of ice.

Northwestern Border

Along the other side of the pool Spreading Yew, Leucothoe and Sky Pencil Holly are covered in snow... 

Nellie Steven's Holly

while the berries of Nellie Steven's Holly glow bright red in the backdrop and are a feast for the birds.

Patio Border

Along the patio border Garden Gal awaits the days of spring when her planter will come to life...

Pool Border

and as we countdown the days to spring, here is one more view of the waterfall all covered in snow.

Driveway Border

As we move along the driveway border, here is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar...

Driveway Border

and a closer look at the newer growth of Coral Bark Maple as it glows next to Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce. The remains of a hornet nest from summer is still hanging on up above.

Evergreen Love!

Have I ever mentioned that I love evergreens? Here are two of my favorites and when combined together they create interest all year long. Variegated Boxwood is in the backdrop while Blue Globe Spruce is in the front. Each is slow growing and can be kept compact to a desired size with some occasional pruning.

Holly Berries Ilex crenata 'Schwoebel' (Upright Japanese Holly)

Here is 'Schwobel' Upright Holly. The berries become a deep purplish-black during the winter months, but note that they are not edible.

All Season Planter

The All-Season planter is on its second winter and doing nicely. On the really cold nights I cover it up with a protective cloth and water it beforehand. We have had a few nights going down into the teens, which the Lemon Cypress does not care for, but I do love its color!

Welcoming Committee

As always, the welcoming committee is here with a warm cup of cocoa, tea or beverage of your choice!...

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' (Lenten Rose)

and the Hellebores (Lenten Rose) are blooming away despite the cold and snow! I do enjoy how Hellebore 'Shooting Star' blooms throughout January and into March with its colorful bracts, with blooms of other varieties of Hellebore to follow.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' 

As the winter months move along, the indoor garden is doing well with the constant blooms of African Violet and Thanksgiving Cactus. All I do is remove the spent blooms, which pushes energy back into the plant... 

Indoor Garden

and the Thanksgiving Cactus has no idea what season it is, as it just keeps on blooming!  

Indoor Garden

I must admit that my collection of plants has grown immensely throughout the writing of my new book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants, which just reached one month old! As everyone knows, I refuse to write about a plant unless I have grown it myself or know someone who did! I am also now into rare plants and have had fun growing them, and hubby is supportive, which is a good thing!

Indoor Garden

As I sit near the windowsill, the snow covered garden can be seen from the warm indoors, and life is good.

Indoor Garden

As our stroll through the garden both outdoors and in reaches its end, I hope that you take in a little bit of the garden each day. I know I do and it brings well-being and joy. 

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my February garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy 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, 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. 

MORE NEWS:  A Guide to Northeastern Gardening has been selected as one of the top 100 gardening blogs of 2025...Thank you for including me! 

Other Places to Find Me:

You can visit my Author Page to learn more about and Purchase my Books and be sure to check out my newly published book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants, which just turned one month old! 

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.