Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up July: Summer Blooms in the Garden

Welcome to My Garden!

Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! With a record breaking heat of 97 degrees on the 3rd, (which felt like 102) followed by torrential rains on the 6th, believe it or not, we are still in a drought. On the hotter days as I sit under my the covered porch and as the lyrics to the song "Summer Breeze" go over and over again in my mind, I gaze out into the garden and daydream. On the cooler days, it is time to work in the garden deadheading perennials and performing some needed pruning. Whatever the temperature outside, the garden is always my happy place. Join me for a tour! 

Welcoming Committee

As we start the tour, here is a view of the patio garden. Trombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple stands as a focal point, surrounded by Spirea ‘Candy Corn’, Echinacea, Lamb’s Ear, lilies and juniper. The welcoming committee is here to greet you along with a beverage of choice!

Patio Border

This is the view I see from the patio, where I sit and contemplate what is going to be the next chore to do in the garden, go over in my mind the course of the day, or to take a break after doing some maintenance. In view are the blooms of Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry', along with a closer view of Spirea 'Candy Corn', Juniper and mixed perennials.

Pool Border

Along the pool border is my favorite statue of a young girl with her kitty, along with Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ and Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress. Astilbe ‘Sprite’ can be seen displaying its unusual feathery, star-like blooms in the backdrop. 

Weeping White Pine, Astilbe 'Sprite' & Sedum Groundcover

Here is a closer view of Astilbe 'Sprite'. This dwarf variety displays light pink wispy blooms beneath the cascading foliage of Weeping White Pine along the pool border. Groundcover sedum is going into bloom along the sunnier portion of the bed.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' and Blue Globe Spruce

Here is the Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ with its multitude of different color blooms on the same plant, along with Dwarf Blue Globe Spruce. 

Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' (Speedwell)

Veronica 'Royal Candles' displays its long lasting spikes of colorful blooms along the walkway, while Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' shows its attractive blue blooms each summer.

Shade Garden-Endless Summer Hydrangea 

'Nikko Blue' is a reliable old fashioned hydrangea that blooms on old wood. Pruning Tip: To ensure blooms each summer, only prune off only the dead flower heads just above the next node in late winter or early spring. We have had some cold Spring temperatures where the buds can be affected, but luckily the plant is sheltered where it is.

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'

Here are the blooms up close. I so look forward to enjoying them each year.

Daylily 'Sammy Russell'

Now that the month of July has set in, and the Stella D Oro Daylilies have been blooming for some time, the next round of blooms are here from Daylily ‘Sammy Russell’. The orangey-red blooms with yellow centers last for quite some time and brighten up the garden.

Miniature Blue Hosta 'Mouse Ears'

The blooms of Hosta also take notice starting in July, and the tubular flowers are an attraction for hummingbirds. Here are some of the first blooms from a miniature variety called Hosta ‘Mouse Ears’, which resides along the pool border. 

Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas' (Catmint)

There are many new varieties of Nepeta (Catmint). This one is Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas', which stays smaller and more compact and displays deeper bluish-purple blooms. It also blooms throughout most of the summer and attracts pollinators too!

Hydrangea Patio Planters

Along the patio, I am enjoying my new matching planters with different varieties of dwarf hydrangea, which are in full bloom right now. Here is Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' on the left and Tuff Stuff 'Top Fun' on the right!

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution'

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' is hardy to USDA zones 5-9, and is admired for its long lasting blooms on both new and old wood, and it is a compact plant, growing to just one to two feet tall by wide. It is known to bloom up to five months and produces tones of pink or blue blooms (depending on soil pH) which deepen in color to purple, maroon and green as they age. I just got this beauty, so I am looking forward to enjoying the show!

 Hydrangea Tuff Stuff 'Top Fun'

Hydrangea Tuff Stuff  'Top Fun' is a re-blooming mountain hydrangea with lace-cap blooms that form on both old and new wood. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, and grows to a height and width of two to three feet. I have been enjoying this beauty for three years now. Colors can range form pink to blue depending on soil acidity.

Shade Garden

Here in the back shade garden is a mature Weeping Norway Spruce with Upright Boxwood, Astilbe, Coral Bells 'Caramel', Jacob's Ladder and another mountain hydrangea.

Northern Border

Strolling around to the northern border, here is Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves', Endless Summer Hydrangea to the left, Black Eyed Susan, Hosta 'Patriot' and Gold Lace Juniper to the right.

Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' Getting Ready!

Along the eastern side of the property, Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' (hardy in USDA zones 3-8) is getting ready to bloom! This compact two to three foot panicle hydrangea blooms on new wood and will show off its creamy-white blooms that eventually fade to pink when approaching fall.

Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' Foliage

We could not end the tour without visiting the Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' along the front walkway. Even though it blooms in spring, I admire the foliage even more. It's large heart-shaped leaves seem to get bigger every year!

Driveway Border

Last, but not least is a visit to the driveway planting for some different forms of foliage and blooms too. In the backdrop is Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' with the deep purple foliage of 'Spilled Wine' Weigela, deep green foliage of Mugo Pine, light green foliage of Dwarf Norway Spruce and blooms of Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. That is it for now, and it looks like we are in yet another heat wave! I guess I will be playing "Summer Breeze" in my mind once again!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my July 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, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden.

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2026. All rights reserved.