Welcome to Landscape Design By Lee: A Guide To Northeastern Gardening
Showing posts with label Knock Out Roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knock Out Roses. Show all posts

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: My Changing Long Island Garden!

Welcome Visitors!
Welcome to my garden! The official start of summer is just a few days away and the garden is alive and bursting with color. As we all know, a garden is always evolving and there have been some exciting renovations going on in my own garden this spring. After some unusually warm temperatures for the month of May, June brings temperatures mostly in the mid-70's, which are comfortable weather wise for planting. Join me for a tour of my Long Island garden to revisit some familiar sights and explore some new beginnings. 
Back Perimeter Garden
We begin at the back perimeter garden which faces south. These Double Red Knock Out Roses are a sincere delight year after year and bloom on and off throughout the summer and into fall. In the foreground is the new Weeping Norway Spruce, which was planted last spring.
Double Pink Knock Out Roses
Along that same garden bed are Double Pink Knock Out Roses, which also bring so much joy!
Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'
Here is Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves', which is now in full bloom. This variety displays greenish-white blooms that last for several weeks, followed by large red edible fruit that appears near fall.
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

On the same south facing side, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar joins the mix, surrounded by Heuchera 'Palace Purple'  (Purple Coral Bells).
Back Pool Garden Western View
On the western side of the property is the foliage of Sedum 'Brilliant', the bluish-purple blooms of Nepeta 'Walkers Low', Variegated Boxwood, Spirea Goldmound, Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans' and the pure white blooms of Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', accompanied by Kwanzan Cherry in the corner of the garden.
Viburnum Summer Snowflake Blooming!
A hidden birdbath lies in the distance behind the Kwanzan Cherry and Viburnum.
Hemerocallis Stella D' Oro (Daylily)
It is also Daylily season, and the Stella D' Oro Daylilies are blooming!
Patio Surround
Following along to the patio surround, Salvia 'May Night' is in full bloom along with Peony.  The Peony blooms are just about done now, but the Salvia will keep on going through July, until it needs to be deadheaded. Another round of blooms will follow into fall.
Back Pool Garden Southern Side
Spirea 'Goldmound' is blooming in the back pool garden, giving a show with its beautiful pink blooms and golden foliage.
New Pool Makeover with Weeping Norway Spruce
There has been a lot going on in the back pool waterfall area. I finally took the plunge and removed an old yew which had been losing its needles since the drought of last summer and the three days of 10 degree temperatures this past winter. I also had the crew rebuild the waterfall with extra moss rock to extend it from side to side and replanted the whole area. 
Pool Makeover Northern View
We had to move the large Weeping Norway Spruce to the top of the waterfall with a skid steer with just two feet of space between the patio and pool. I held my breath until the tree was in place, then took a deep sigh of relief.  The mission had been accomplished.
Pool Makeover Southern View
I added some Variegated Upright Boxwood on each side of the main focal point and Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' to the left. Some New Wave Petunias were added for color. Later this season or next season, I may add some perennials as well, but for now I am just enjoying the new look. I am also looking forward to when the Green Giant Arborvitae in the back drop push out some new foliage and the new plantings grow to fill in some of the gaps left by the gigantic Yew that had been there for so many years.
Pool Surround
In front of Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans' and Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Caramel'), Sky Pencil Holly adds some dimension to the garden. I enjoy their upright stature.
Perennial Border
In the perennial border, Lamb's Ear is already starting to get its blooms, which is earlier than usual. Astilbe 'Fanal' joins in with its pink blooms, which will last into July.
Sedum Groundcover
The groundcover mix of Sedum also seems to be about two weeks ahead of schedule this year with blooms already forming. The main species in this mix is Sedum 'Angelina'.
Perennial Border
Back to the perennial border, the tall foliage of Balloon Flower (front left), will lead to large blue balloon-shaped blooms later in the summer around the end of July or beginning of August. The blooms of Echinacea will follow around the same time.
Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang'
Moving along to the front yard is Spirea Big Bang 'Double Play'. The Double Play series displays  vibrant pink blooms which are larger than those of other species of Spirea, and the foliage is nice too!
Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang' Bloom Up Close

Here are the blooms up close! I followed a bumble bee around trying to capture a photo shoot, but he was camera shy! The Spirea is a great pollinator magnet.
Driveway Border
The new addition along the driveway border are these Dwarf Norway Spruce, with replaced the coreopsis. It was time for a neater look and less maintenance.
Entrance Walkway 
Along the front walkway, the heart-shaped foliage of Weeping Eastern Redbud is a delight...
Front Island Bed
and the Hosta's are in full swing on the front island bed. Accompanying them are Sedum 'Pure Joy', which will bloom later in the summer.
Thanks for Visiting!
The month of June has certainly been a busy one, with so many changes going on in my Long Island garden. As I put it...A garden is a work of art, a thing of beauty that constantly changes, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
June Garden
I hope you enjoyed the stroll. I appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have blooming where you live! 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, 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. Wishing all a wonderful spring with gardens that thrive!

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Location: Long Island, NY 11782, USA

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September Late Summer Garden Interest

Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

Tree of Life
As the summer winds down and the seasons are changing, there are slight hints of autumn with more comfortable temperatures in the 70's to lower 80's and finally some rainfall after seven weeks of drought like conditions. It was one of the hottest and driest summers I can remember here growing up on Long Island.  As the garden is officially in late summer mode, there are blooms to look forward to keep the garden going through fall, with more surprises in store for the winter months. Come along with me for a tour of  my zone 7a garden!
Weeping Norway Spruce and Sedum 'Pure Joy' (Stonecrop)
The first stop along the way is this Weeping Norway Spruce with a surprise below, that of Sedum 'Pure Joy', a more compact 10-12 inch form of Stonecrop with light pink blooms that appear in August and September. I love this compact form, as it stays low to the ground and blooms profusely, displaying a mound of  beautiful late summer color. 
Knock Out Roses
This vibrant red Double Knock Out Rose continues to bloom throughout summer into fall, and will continue to until the first frost. No deadheading is necessary, bit I like to keep the shrubs compact by pinching off higher growth. This encourages more re-blooming too.
Sedum 'Thundercloud'
Another form of groundcover Sedum is that of Sedum 'Thundercloud', displaying flat white blooms that resemble clouds, hence the name. It is low growing to just 10-12 inches high by wide and is an attraction to butterflies!
Liriope 'Big Blue' (Lilyturf)
While I often show Variegated Lilyturf in my garden, here is a look at Liriope 'Big Blue', which is really striking this time of year with its purple blooms. It certainly adds some color to the shade border.
St. John's Wort Late Summer
The St. John's Wort in the back shade garden is pushing out a few more of its yellow flowers along with its pretty red fruits, and next is Pulmonaria showing off its wonderful blue-green speckled foliage. 
Pulmonaria & Heuchera 'Caramel'
The Pulmonaria (Lungwort) resides next to the caramel foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' (Caramel Coral Bells). Blooms will appear on the Pulmonaria in springtime and the Coral Bells are now finishing up their spikes of delicate pinkish-white flowers.
Shade Garden
Also in the back shade garden is a combination of Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass) with Leucothoe 'Axillaris'. Have I mentioned I love combining foliage?!
Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' and Sedum 'Brilliant'
On the sunnier side of the property along the pool is Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' with its late summer plumes, along with Sedum 'Brilliant', which is a compact, medium sized form of Stonecrop.
Spider Hosta Blooms!
Spider Hosta is always interesting to look at, especially when it is pushing out its deep purple blooms in late summer...
Pollinator!
and it's nice to see some pollinators enjoying the garden.
Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Late Summer
'Stella D Oro' Daylily is generating some new blooms after I rejuvenated it back in July. I love seeing the yellow blooms continue this time of year!
Sedum Groundcover Mix
The Sedum groundcover mix poolside has finished blooming, but the foliage is always interesting to look at. I will leave the dried seed heads for now, just for show and for the birds to enjoy too!
Back Island Bed
During this time of year, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is still beautiful with its white blooms that fade to pink at the summer progresses. The Hydrangea is accompanied by Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Mugo Pine, Coral Bells 'Palace Purple' and Crape Myrtle.
Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'
Here are the voluminous blooms up close!
Evergreen Garden
Behind the Boxwoods along the fence resides my mother's iris garden, which is done now for the season, but  evergreens such as Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' and Blue Globe 'Montgomery' Spruce keep the garden going through the fall and winter months.
Mandevilla Vine Late Summer
The Mandevilla Vine by the back entry is still going strong, and Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band' is doing beautifully in the 20 inch planter I have it in from last year.
Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'
I am enjoying having this colorful and compact hydrangea right on the patio where all can see!
Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my September garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and visiting your garden too! 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.  
A Guide to Northeastern Gardening In the News:

-It has been another busy season in the horticultural world and I am looking forward to retuning to virtual conferences in the fall and meeting up with like minded individuals. 

-My newest book on Shade Gardening is coming along and now undergoing the editing process...more news to come for 2023!

-In the reading world, a friend introduced me to a wonderful read for youngsters, called Garden Gruesome by Nelson R. Elliott. It touches on a different aspect of gardening through the eyes of a child as the author takes the reader through a day in the life of Gruesome Gus, as he explores his first time in the garden. There is a lesson to be learned, there are critters that lurk beneath the blooms! I enjoyed this adorable and educational book as an adult, so I think any child would enjoy it too! (Available on Amazon)

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Monday, August 15, 2022

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

Welcome to my August Garden!
The temperatures have finally moderated after several weeks of the "dog days" of August with rounds of temperatures in the 90's and one of the hottest summers I can remember here in the northeast. Thankfully, the heat has now broken and temperatures are back into the upper 70's and low 80's, and all we need now is some much needed rain. There are many blooms to be seen for the month of August, so do join me for a tour of my Long Island garden!
Mandevilla Vine
The first stop is by the back doorway entrance where Mandevilla is producing an abundance of its pink blooms. I make it a point of getting one of these each year and love how the blooms just keep on coming!
Perennial Border
Along the back walkway the Daylilies and Echinacea are finishing up their display. This view is from the start of the month, since the blooms came a couple of weeks earlier this August with the heat.
Patio Garden
As Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' is now blooming in the back island bed, and Platycodon (Balloon Flower) is in full bloom along the patio border. This variety 'Komachi' is unusual in that the balloon-like blue flowers do not burst open like in other varieties. Rather, they remain closed and can be popped like bubble wrap once they dry out!
Platycodon 'Komachi' (Balloon Flower)
Here is Platycodon 'Komachi' close up with the silvery-white foliage of Lamb's Ear in the backdrop.
Lilium 'Stargazer'
The Lilium 'Stargazer' in the pool surround bloomed much earlier this year and is now pretty much done, but I had to share a view from just two weeks ago. The blooms were magnificent this year! 
Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'
In the back island bed, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is blooming with its stunning greenish-white blooms that turn to pure white and then to a pinkish hue as they age. This variety stays smaller than 'Limelight', growing to a maximum of 4-6 feet high by wide and is hardy in USDA zone 3-8.
Back Island Berm<
As you know, I am a fan of foliage combinations! Here is Sedum 'Brilliant', Heuchera 'Caramel' and Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. The purplish foliage of the ajuga contrasts nicely with the caramel colored Heuchera and green foliage of Sedum in the backdrop, which will soon display pink blooms.
Patio Garden
Along the patio garden is another foliage combination with the chartreuse foliage of  Dwarf Cryptomeria and the blue needles of 'Blue Star' Juniper. I have strived over the years to incorporate as many colorful evergreens as possible throughout the garden to provide all season interest.
Back Island Berm-Crape Myrtle & Hydrangea
Evergreens Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' and Mugo Pine reside along the island bed with Crape Myrtle  Hydrangea and Coral Bells 'Palace Purple'.
Crape Myrtle Exfoliating Bark
One of the features of Crape Myrtle is its interesting exfoliating bark, which sheds this time of year...
Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' Blooms!
and of course, the blooms are spectacular!
Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'
Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' is all in bloom. This variety stays well-behaved in its space and tends to be more compact compared to the traditional form.
Groundcover Sedum Mix
This Sedum groundcover mix, featuring Sedum 'Angelina' and 'Dragon's Blood' adds interest all summer long to the pool surround...
Future & Past Blooms-Sedum and Astilbe
while this combination of Sedum 'Brilliant' and Astilbe 'Visions' adds foliage and blooms, with Astilbe blooming in July and Sedum due to bloom in August.
Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' & Sedum 'Brilliant'
Behind the Sedum is a backdrop of a single Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima', which will soon be forming its plumes.
Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Stella D Oro'
Along the pool perimeter and patio garden, Daylily 'Stella D Oro' is producing some new blooms after I rejuvenated it back in July...
Echibeckia
while Echibeckia (a hybrid formed from combining Echinacea and Rudbeckia) is blooming in the perennial border. I find this cultivar does best in full sun (6 hours or more) with moderate watering.
Knock Out Rose Pink
Double Knock Out Rose just keeps on giving with its bold red and pink blooms that continue throughout summer and into fall until the first frost.
Knock Out Rose Red
Besides the continuous blooms, their fragrance is nice too!
Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'
In a container planter on the back patio is Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'. This is its second season in a planter and it is doing very well, providing blooms throughout the entire summer. I have this one in a partially shaded location with late day sun and I keep it well watered. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, this compact hydrangea grows to just 2-3 feet tall by wide.
Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' (Stonecrop)
For some late summer color, here is Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' with its bright yellow blooms, while staying low as a groundcover.
Front Island Bed-Sedum 'Pure Joy'
In the front island bed, Sedum 'Pure Joy' is starting to bloom with its light pink flowers on a small, one foot tall plant. Hosta, Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf Cryptomeria are in the backdrop.
Lampost Garden-Coreopsis 'Zagreb'
Last, but not least is Coreopsis 'Zagreb' blooming along the driveway border...
Driveway Border-Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'
with Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', which is not at all happy with the extreme heat. Maybe it will get another round of blooms now that the temperatures have gotten cooler.
Hydrangea 'Tardivia'
To end the tour, here is Hydrangea 'Tardivia' tree hydrangea on the northern facing side of the property with its magnificent fragrant white panicle flowers, and one of my favorite late summer bloomers!
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! 
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Location: Long Island, NY 11782, USA
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