Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up July: Let the Blooms Continue!

Welcome!

Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden. It’s mid-summer and Hydrangea and Coneflower are the stars for this month! With a rather mild past winter, a cool spring and temperatures rising into the mid to upper 80’s for July with plenty of rain so far, the blooms are more robust than ever. Now with a sudden burst of higher temperatures and humidity, some of the blooms are even earlier than usual. Join me for a tour! 

Hello Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’!

The two previous winters before the 2024 season brought temperatures in the teens to single digits to the northeast for several nights in a row, virtually destroying any buds that the hydrangea had formed. Fellow gardeners were experiencing the same hardship, a lack of blooms and the old fashioned hydrangea, especially 'Nikko Blue', were hit the hardest since they bloom on the previous years growth. This is the year of the hydrangea we have been waiting for, as the conditions were perfect and the blooms are magnificent! 

Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’

Here along with ‘Nikko Blue’ Hydrangea is Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’ with its delicate lace cap blooms in shades of pink, while and blue. The foliage of evergreen Juniper ‘Gold Lace’ adds some contrast  against the blooms of hydrangea and within the next few days to a couple of weeks, the Crape Myrtle and Dwarf Butterfly Bush in the same planting bed will display their blooms. Stay tuned!

Echinacea ’Cheyenne Spirit’ (Coneflower)

The other pride and joy in the garden this year is Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ in the pool border. This hybrid with its blooms of multiple colors on the same plant is more robust than ever! 

Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’’

Another variety of Coneflower is Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’ growing in the patio border and accompanied by columnar Japanese Maple 'Twombly's Red Sentinel’, Juniper ‘Blue Star’, Spirea ‘Candy Corn’, Lamb’s Ear and Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Parden Me'.

Pool Border

In another view along the pool border is  Astilbe 'Sprite' with its delicate light pink blooms that appear later in summer, along with groundcover Stonecrop (Sedum 'Angelina') and another view of Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'.

Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

I just cannot get enough of these Echinacea blooms, so here's another close up view!

Calluna 'Firefly' (Heather)

This Calluna 'Firefly' is a new addition of Heather that I added to the back walkway area this summer. It is one of the most colorful Heathers I have encountered with pretty magenta blooms, which are just starting to appear now in mid-summer. This plant is evergreen with changing colorful foliage that deepens to bronze in winter and grows to just 18-20 inches tall by wide. 

 Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Loveable'

Here is Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Loveable' (hardy in USDA zones 5-9) from Proven Winners and yes...it is loveable! I have been growing this re-blooming beauty in a planter for two years now on my patio and it has thrived throughout the winter months and produces beautiful deep pink blooms that persist throughout summer.

Daylily 'Pardon Me'

While Hydrangea and Coneflower are having a banner year, daylilies are holding their own too. Here is Daylily 'Pardon Me' with its colorful blooms.

Southern Pool Border

In the southern pool border, Allium 'Millenium' is starting its blooms along with evergreens Golden Japanese Yew and Rhododendron, spring/early summer blooming Spirea 'Goldmound' and Astilbe 'Visions' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'.

Another View!

In this view is Variegated Boxwood and a closer look at the Nepeta 'Walkers Low', which has been blooming all summer.

Back Island Bed: Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

Another hydrangea is starting its bloom. It is Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime', which produces greenish white blooms that mature to white then fade to pink. It is accompanied by evergreens Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' (left), Dwarf Mugo Pine (right) and 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells.

Salvia 'Blue by You'

Here is Salvia 'Blue by You'! It is a new cultivar of sage which has just hit the nurseries within the last couple of years. I find it starts its blooms earlier in the season, blooms longer and is more robust.

Ornamental Onion 'Millennium'

Circling back around to the pool border, here is Allium 'Millenium' close up with its rosy-purple blooms. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and prefers sun to part sun...

Lilium 'Stargazer'

and check this out! My 'Stargazer' Lilies are blooming two weeks earlier than usual!

Dipladenia

This Dipladenia was a gift and I get to enjoy it everyday on my patio. I have always loved these plants! Helpful Tip:  Mandevilla and Dipadenia look very similar and are hard to distinguish apart when small. Mandevilla is more of a climbing plant and will need a trellis to grown on while Dipladenia has a more compact, clumping habit.

Fig Tree!

Here is a fun story. My husband bought this fig tree online and when it arrived it was a tiny little cutting about four inches tall. After three months and two pot upgrades, look at it now! 

Herb and Tomato Planter

This herb/vegetable planter is also new this year and has proven to be a good purchase. The basil, parsley and tomatoes are growing like crazy and producing great crops! Spearmint and Chives join the mix in their separate containers.

Heuchera (Coral Bells) for the Patio

Last, but not least, I am trying something new. I have a client who grows Heuchera (Coral Bells) in wooden planters and they have overwintered for years. I just did the same with these Heuchera 'Palace Purple' to add some color and interest to the patio area. I am hoping to have the same success.

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 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, 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. See you next month and do check out my books in the meantime! As always...Happy Gardening!

My Author Page

Purchase 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

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Long Island Summer Garden!

Welcome to my July Garden!

Welcome! The summer has flown by and the July garden brings temperatures in the mid to upper 80's, with and lots of blooms! Things are busy in the horticultural world but the rest of my time is spent in the garden doing some deadheading and enjoying those summer blooms. Every moment is precious, as the summer flies by way too fast. Come along with me for a tour of my July Long Island garden!

Patio Garden

In the patio garden is a mixture of evergreens and perennials, including Blue Globe Spruce, Weeping Norway Spruce, Blue Star Juniper, Echinacea Pow Wow, Astilbe, Platycodon (Balloon Flower) and Hosta 'Golden Tiara', which are  now in bloom. The  pollinators just love going from flower to flower.

Mandevilla Vine

In a planter by the back door is Mandevilla in full bloom and it will continue to bloom throughout the summer and into fall. It just keeps on giving!

Tea Time!

The welcoming committee is sitting among the Hosta and greeting  those who enter the garden...

Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'

and this Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band' is thriving in a planter on the patio with just the right amount of light. This newer cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, is reblooming and only reaches a height and width of approximately 2 1/2 feet. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade for its best performance.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Endless Summer Hydrangea is blooming too along the back fence line.

Patio Garden: Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

Here is a close up view  of the Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' with its vibrant deep pink blooms throughout July and into August. I enjoy the blooms...

Happy Pollinators!

and the pollinators do too!

Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell'

'Sammy Russell' Daylily is blooming in the perennial border along with Echinacea, Astilbe, Lamb's Ear, Echibeckia and Salvia.

Echibeckia

The Echibeckia is doing well in its third season. It is a hybrid cross created between Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) and Echinacea. The key is it likes full sun, moderate watering and good drainage. The upright pinkish-white blooms of Lamb's Ear are along the front of the border and contrast nicely with the orangey-yellow blooms of the Echibeckia behind it.

Sedum

Along the northern border with southern exposure is Golden Creeping Sedum, which stays low at just four to six inches in height by twelve-fifteen inches wide and produces these wonderful bright yellow blooms that will last for several weeks.

Poolside Garden

Along the pool garden, miniature Hosta are blooming in the foreground with Sky Pencil Holly and Caramel Coral Bells in the backdrop.

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' Bloom

Here are the blooms of Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' up close!

Pool Garden

While most Astilbe bloom earlier in the summer, this cultivar, Astilbe 'Sprite' produces delicate light pink blooms that appear  later in the summer from July through August. In the foreground are Daylily 'Stella D Oro'.

Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro'

Gardening Tip: Once the Daylily are done blooming, I rejuvenate them by removing dead stalks and pulling out all the expired foliage. They will re-sprout new foliage and produce more blooms for yet  another round!

Back Island Berm Conifer Garden

Come around to the south side of the garden. The back island berm consists mostly of  a variety of evergreens, including Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Mugo Pine, Juniperus Gold Lace and Dwarf Japanese Andromeda along with flowering shrubs Crape Myrtle, Dwarf Variegated Weigela and Dwarf Hydrangea with perennials Ajuga, Coral Bells and Sedum mixed in. 

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Coral Bells)

This is Heuchera 'Palace Purple', which is blooming this time of year, but I enjoy it mostly for its burgundy foliage, which lasts well into winter.

Dwarf Rudeckia 'Little Goldstar'

If you are seeking a Black Eyed Susan which stays more compact and stays in its place, here is Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'. It stays at a height and width of  14-16 inches, is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, and thrives in partial shade. This one is going on its fifth year in the garden.

Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select'

Along the pool patio is Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select', a more compact form of Acer which is ideal for smaller spaces...

St. John's Wort

and in the back shade garden is St. John's Wort with its delicate yellow blooms and red berries.

Heuchera 'Caramel' and Skip Laurel

The Skip Laurel are bouncing back after a terrible winter two years back and finally pushing out enough new growth to fill back in. Hopefully Mother Nature won't be too harsh for the winter of 2023!

Front Walkway

To finish out the tour, let's venture around to the front entrance and driveway border gardens. Along the front walkway is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist', which is all about the foliage in summertime and fall. The bright lavender blooms are gorgeous in springtime and put on quite the show, but it is the luxurious heart-shaped foliage that I adore! Weeping White Pine, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Coral Bark Maple can be seen in the background to the left.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Coneflower)

Last, but not least, is a wonderful Coneflower called 'Cheyenne Spirit' that produces multiple color blooms on the same plant ranging from pink to orange, yellow and cream... 

Driveway Border

and a combination of Coreopsis 'Zagreb' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. These two perennials are personal favorites for all summer blooms. In the backdrop of this planting is Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce and the burgundy foliage of Weigela 'Spilled Wine'. In the distance is Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what's happening 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 has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still 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.  Are you looking for some gardening inspiration? If so, visit my author page and books! 

My Author Page: Come Visit! 

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. 

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

 Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2022. All rights reserved.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up July: Mid-Summer Blooms!

Welcome to my July Garden

Welcome to my July Long Island Garden for Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up! Thank you for being here. IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have missed my last post, Blogger has made an announcement that Feedburner will no longer be sending e-mail notifications of new posts, so I am using a new blog subscribe service called follow.it. It has an excellent reputation and is real simple to sign up if you haven't already done so. If you have already been following, you should be receiving a notification from follow.it with a link to accept if you wish to continue receiving posts. Here's more info.  Now, onto the tour!!!

Echibeckia Summerina 'Blazing Fire'

July is welcomed in with this new addition to the garden. It is Echibeckia, which I found at a local farm stand last summer. I tested it out and it is a winner! Echibeckia is a new cultivar derived from a cross between Echinacea (Coneflower) and Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan). It is hardy in zones 7-9, grows 16-24 inches tall, is more disease resistant and the flowers are a wonderful three inches in diameter!

Summer Perennial Border 

Here is a view of the rest of the perennial border with Salvia, Daylilies, Astilbe, Lamb's Ear and Echinacea. It provides me with blooms spring through fall.

Salvia 'May Night'

The bumblebees love the Salvia in the perennial border and it is so nice to view them working away doing their job. Tip:  Deadheading the spent blooms of Salvia will keep more coming for several months!

Back Island Bed Summer Blooms & Foliage

Here in the back island bed is the foliage of Sedum 'Brilliant' (blooms to come!), 'Caramel' and 'Palace Purple' Heuchera (Coral Bells) and more Saliva!

Back Island Bed Evergreens & Flowering Shrubs

Other members of the back island bed include Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' (center), Mugo Pine (two sides) and dwarf Variegated Weigela 'My Monet' in the foreground with 'Palace Purple' Heuchera to the right. Weigela showed its dainty deep pink blooms back in spring and the Coral Bells are producing their spikes of Baby's-breath-like flowers now.

Western Pool Garden

In the western pool garden, this little statue of children playing leap frog can be spotted tucked away among Sky Pencil Holly and Coral Bells.

More Foliage Combinations

As you probably know, I love foliage combinations and this is just another one to add to the list. Here is the deep green foliage of Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' (backdrop) with Sedum 'Brilliant' (to the right-light green foliage, pink blooms late summer), 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells (to the left-burgundy foliage, blooms now in mid-summer) and 'Gold Standard' Hosta (in the foreground-blooming now). 

Dwarf Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan)

These Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Gold Star' is starting to bloom in the back northern garden bed. Kousa Dogwood is behind them and forming its fruit, which will become a bright red hue later in the summer. 

Pool Garden-Daylily 'Sammy Russell Red'

Daylily 'Sammy Russell' is blooming along the waterfall in the pool garden with its bright crimson red blooms with yellow centers. This daylily starts its blooms a little later, following immediately after 'Stella D Oro', which started last month.

Back 'Secret' Garden

Peeking through the Viburnum and behind a Kwanzan Cherry tree is this bird bath, which I turned into a planter this summer with Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus) and 'Platts Black’ Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida). Hosta 'Shadowland' is on each side of the planter.

'Secret Garden' Planter

Here is the planter up close!

Back Perimeter Garden Double Pink Knock Out Rose Blooming!

The Double Pink Knock Out Roses are blooming in the back perimeter garden. Knock Out Roses are easy to care for and I get prolonged blooms throughout summer into fall with a little maintenance deadheading.

Back Perimeter Garden

While the roses are blooming on each far end of the perimeter garden, in the center is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, bordered by Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Palace Purple' and 'Caramel'.

A Little Garden Whimsy!

Around the bend on the opposite side of the garden towards the southern side of the property is this little gardening boy watching over things...

St. John's Wort

as St. John's Wort starts blooming in the northwestern 'Secret Garden'. It will continue to provide interest through fall.

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'

July is Hydrangea time as this old fashioned 'Nikko Blue' produces its vibrant deep blue blossoms in a more acidic soil. To the left of 'Nikko Blue' is Hydrangea 'Tokyo Delight' with its pinkish-purple lace-cap blooms.

Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'

On the opposite side of the property is 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea. Located in a more basic soil, its blooms are pink. It's nice to enjoy the variety of both colors, and sometimes there is even a little hue of purple to be seen!

Driveway Border

Follow me along to the front of the property as we take a look at the driveway border. Here is 'Skylands' Golden Oriental Spruce, accompanied by yellow Coreopsis 'Zagreb', bluish-purple Nepeta 'Walkers Low' and the burgundy foliage of Weigela 'Spilled Wine'.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

Also in the driveway border is Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', producing its array of multi-colored blooms, all on one plant!

Front Entrance Garden

Here is a view of the front walkway with evergreens Weeping White Pine and Blue Atlas Cedar, along with Japanese Garden Juniper, Variegated Liriope (purple blooms later in summer) and Golden Sedge. Coral Bark Maple and 'Skylands' Spruce are in the backdrop.

Front Island Bed

Osmanthus Goshiki (Fasle Holly) is doing well in its second season on the front island bed. It is accompanied by Hosta and Weeping Norway Spruce, with Weeping Japanese Maple and Blue Atlas Cedar, each seen in the distance.

Herb & Vegetable Planters

Last, but not least is the herb and vegetable planters on the back patio. An assortment of  Parsley, Basil, Spearmint, and two types of Cherry Tomatoes are grown for our enjoyment and for cooking too!

Thank you for Visiting!

Thank you for visiting my July garden. As always, I enjoy hearing from you and seeing what's growing in your neck of the woods! 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 has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, 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. 

A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

If you are a gardener or wanting to learn more about garden design and maintenance, you may enjoy my books. To learn more, visit My Author Page. I have written four books to pass along my knowledge and experiences as a landscape designer and gardener, which I have been all my life! They are A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9, Landscape Design Combinations, Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener and my latest Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden. If you have read and enjoyed any of my books, please share with a friend, plus reviews are greatly appreciated!

Be well and As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2021. All rights reserved.