Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day May: Welcome Spring- The Garden Awakens with Blooms!

Welcome to my May Garden!

Welcome! It's the most wonderful time of the year! The spring of 2022 has been much cooler than normal with many windy days, but after some rain and a few days in the upper 60's and low 70's, spring has finally sprung and the garden is underway with all its new foliage and blooms. Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens and Bloom Day, I have been writing these posts since the winter of 2011, keeping a diary of my Long Island garden with over 144 posts at this time. Come along with me for a tour!

Weeping Pussy Willow

The first stop is in the back garden bed with Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix caprea Pendula), which is now sprouting new foliage after producing catkins. Perennial Salvia 'May Night' is coming into bloom below and Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld' (to the left) is forming its buds.

Hosta Shadowland

Shadowland Hosta is looking nicer each day with all its new blue-green and yellow foliage. This variety of  Hosta is certainly one of my favorites with is bold colors!

Allium Globemaster Buds!!!

In the pool surround, I await in anticipation every spring for the buds of Allium Globemaster to appear above tall spikes, knowing that they will be in their full glory with four inch in dimeter lavender blooms by sometime next month. 

Kwanzan Flowering Cherry

With blooms hard to resist, Kwanzan Cherry is in the back southwestern garden bed...

 Viburnum carlcephalum

and Fragrant Viburnum  can be sensed across the yard when the wind blows.

American Goldfinch False Indigo

New to the herb/medicinal garden this year is Baptisia American Goldfinch (False Indigo) with its wonderful bright yellow blooms. I am hoping this one performs well. Did you know that the roots of wild indigo have been used to threat laryngitis, tonsillitis and treating the sinuses?

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar & Heuchera

The Heuchera (Coral Bells) are here to bring color around the blue foliage of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in the back perimeter garden. This is a combination of  Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and 'Caramel'.

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria is a new addition to the shade area that I added last summer. Not only is its foliage interesting, but its pretty bluish-purple blooms last for months!

Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist'

In the front foundation planting is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' showing off its blooms before its heart-shaped foliage arrives.

'May Night' Salvia

Salvia 'May Night' is gearing up its blooms too.

Front Street Island Bed

The perennials are waking up in the front island bed with Sedum 'Pure Joy', Hosta and Heuchera, accompanied by various evergreens including Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Cryptomeria, Dwarf Mugo Pine and Dwarf Norway Spruce. The Spirea on each end should be blooming within the next month.

Front Lawn

Along the front lawn you can see Blue Atlas Cedar in the backdrop with Weeping Japanese Maple in the foreground...

Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'

Here we view a close up of Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'.

Backyard Island Bed

Here in the back island bed is Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' with Mugo Pine, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and dwarf Weigela. Crape Myrtle 'Siox' is in the backdrop and still has no foliage, since it is one of the last trees to leaf out, but the blooms are worth it, as they last for 90 days throughout late summer into fall!

Backyard Pool Perimeter

Along the back pool perimeter, the Azalea are in bloom and accompanied by Spirea, Hosta and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. Snowflake Viburnum is in the far left backdrop on each side of Kwanzan Cherry. It is starting to show signs of flower buds.

Backyard Pool Perimeter (A Closer Look)

Here's a closer look!

Sedum Mix

The groundcover Sedum comes up a little more each day with all its interesting colors and textures...

Peony 'Bartzella' Buds!

and here comes Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'! It won't be long now until those huge yellow blooms appear. Stay tuned!

Girard's Azalea

Along with Weeping White Pine, another Azalea is in bloom around the bend.

Blooms, Blooms, Blooms!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May garden and as always, I look forward to your comments 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. 

Thank you for Visiting!

A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

-The month of May has been busy with designing gardens for clients and getting ready for a visit from  Long Island Master Gardeners to tour my property in just three days! Weeding, mulching and tidying are underway and I am trying to get the garden to be its best. 

-My fifth book is coming along nicely as every time I visit a nursery, there is a camera in hand getting  all those fabulous photos to show what grows in the shade. Stay tuned and do check out my author page and books below. The gardening season is in full speed ahead and if you are looking for a little inspiration you've come to the right place!!

-To all my gardening friends, stay well and enjoy the beauty of the season until we meet again.🌳

 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 May 2021: Bring on Those Blooms!

Welcome to my May Garden!

The long awaited month of May, when the garden comes to life with blooms and color everywhere, has finally arrived. After a cold and snowy winter and cool spring, May brings temperatures in the mid-60's to low 70's, which is perfect for designing and working in the garden. After a long day at work, I unwind by taking a walk in the garden to see what is blooming. Come join me in my Long Island garden for a Bloom Day stroll!

Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist'

The first stop is 'Lavender Twist' Weeping Redbud which I planted last summer in the front garden bed. The beautiful blooms are such a joy to see in early spring, followed by its lovely heart-shaped foliage, which provides interest throughout the rest of the season. 'Lavender Twist' is great for smaller spaces, growing to 5-6 feet tall by 6-8 feet wide, and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9.

Back Island Bed

In the back island bed is a combination of evergreens Hinoki gracilis compacta (dwarf  Hinoki Cypress), and Mugo Pine with perennials Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Palace Purple' and Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. 

Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'

The Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' really announces the month of May with its vibrant purple blooms.

Fragrant Snowball Viburnum  (Viburnum carlcephalum)

Here is a glimpse of Viburnum, which is just finishing its highly fragrant blooms in the back garden.

Evergreen and Perennial Border

In the evergreen and perennial border is Salvia Nemorosa 'May Night' to bring in the month of May (as the name implies!) Along with purple Salvia is Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld' (getting ready to bloom), Osmanthus (False Holly), Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and an assortment of Heuchera 'Caramel' and 'Palace Purple'.

Kwanzan Cherry

One of my most favorite of spring blooms is the blooms of Kwanzan Cherry. This tree, just planted a few years back, gets better every year with its profusion of soft pink blossoms.

Girard's Azalea

Springtime means the Azaleas are blooming. The Girard's Crimson variety shines displays its colorful blooms to brighten the back shade garden.

Back Pool Garden

Along with Azalea are Rhododendron buds forming for the next round of blooms and Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) to add some golden color.

Colorful Combo

Another favorite spring combo is the foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' and Sedum 'Brilliant' with the blooms of Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. The foliage of Heuchera and Sedum will be followed up with blooms later in the season.

Helleborous 'Dark & Handsome'

I cannot believe the Hellebores are still blooming way into May! They just produced another full round of new foliage and more blooms, which seems to be a longer bloom time than ever before.

Helleborous 'Dark and Handsome'

This variety 'Dark and Handsome' from the Wedding Party Collection is the later blooming of  Helleborous with its dramatic purple-black blooms. Helleborous was actually the motivation behind my latest book, as I start the month of January with the amazing blooms of Helleborous 'Shooting Star'. I just cannot get enough of this magnificent perennial, which keeps on giving!

Sedum Mix

A new addition to the pool garden is this Sedum collection that called to me at the nursery. I added it to the pinkish-burgundy Sedum 'Dragons' Blood and golden Sedum 'Aurea' that was already there to give the collection a new punch! I love the uniqueness of all the different varieties of Sedum mixed together.

Garden Gal

The Sedum collection borders Garden Gal with Azalea 'Girards Fuschia' in the backdrop.

Skylands Golden Oriental Spruce

In the pool garden, the golden foliage of Skylands Oriental Spruce is surrounded by Azalea blooms.

Weeping Norway Spruce Foliage and Seed Cone

Weeping Norway Spruce is producing its interesting seed cones this time of year...

Skip Laurel Flowering

and Skip Laurel is displaying its soft white blooms for the month of May.

Allium 'Globemaster' Budding

The 'Globemaster' Allium is getting ready to display their huge lavender-purple blooms in late May to early June and I can't wait! Daylily 'Stella D Oro', Spirea 'Limemound' and Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select' are in the backdrop.

Foliage Combo Back Island Bed

As you know, I love combing foliage. Here is Mugo Pine (left), 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells (right) and Variegated Weigela (middle). Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' is in the background.

Mandevilla

I have found the perfect Mandevilla to place by the entry to the back patio. This year I chose this bright red variety which will bring joy all summer long and hopefully attract the hummingbirds like it has in the past!

Bring on Those Tulips!

Last, but not least, are my neighbor's tulips, which I admire every day as I pass them by. The lady next door, who's gardens were my inspiration while growing up, is now in her later 80's, and continues to add tulips to her driveway border each year. They just have a way of brightening my day, so I hope they brighten yours too!

Thank you for Visiting!

Thank you for visiting my May 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. 

Visit My Author Page and 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...and 

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

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

 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up May: The Spring Garden Brings Blooms & Joy!

Welcome to my May Garden!

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of May as I share my passion of everything green. Many of us have experienced unusual weather patterns over the past few years, but this one takes the prize. For the first time in over a century, May 9th brought in a cold front with a daytime high of 46 degrees accompanied by snow squalls. Thankfully, it was a short visit, returning to normal conditions the following day. As the spring temperatures are now mostly in upper 50's to lower 60's, I find myself more engulfed in my own gardens as well as well as the gardens of my clients, which brings me much joy. I call the garden my "happy place" because it is where I feel at most in my element. Join me for a tour of my May Long Island garden. The first stop is to admire the cherry blossoms!

 Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' (Kwanzan Flowering Cherry)

This Kwanzan Cherry was planted in 2017 to replace an ailing Maple tree that was in the southwest portion of the property and it was one of the best gardening decisions I ever made. I absolutely love this tree and get to enjoy its display of cherry blossoms every spring right in my own backyard!

Cherry Blossoms!

Here are the blooms up close! They remind me of the childhood trips we used to take to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms.

'Shadowland' Hosta

I added these 'Shadowland' Hosta on each side of the bird bath behind the Cherry tree and they are really starting to come into their element with their attractive golden highlighted foliage. 

Rosemary Blooms!

In the herb garden, the Rosemary is still blooming and has been for the past month! I had never seen it flower like this in the past and am enjoying its bluish-purple blooms!

Allium 'Globemaster' Buds!

Follow this way to the pool border. Allium 'Globemaster' is producing its buds and they get larger by the day. They will turn into four inch spherical purple globe-like blooms by the end of this month and into June. 

Western Pool Border

As we venture into what I call one of my "secret gardens", on the way is Girard's Crimson Azalea. Next to the azalea are Weeping White Pine on the right and 'Nigra' Arborvitae on the left. As the garden wraps around, there is a strip of lawn which creates a path leading to the more southern section of the property.

Southern Pool Border and Fenceline

Once we get to the end of the path, we will turn around and head back eastward. Along the way, you may notice the Purple Leaf Flowering Plum (Prunus Krauter Vesuvius) on the right and the Girard's Fuchsia Azalea blooming to the left. Crape Myrtle (not yet foliated) is in the distance moving forward, bordered by Gold Lace Juniper.

Perennial Border

In the perennial border, Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' is showing off its wonderful burgundy-tinged new foliage and buds, which will open later in May and bloom into June. Stay tuned!

Crape Myrtle Garden Bed

Let's swing back to the southern island bed where my Crape Myrtle resides so you can get a closer view of the Gold Lace Juniper that borders the tree, along with perennials such as Ajuga, Heuchera and Sedum. There is a backdrop of boxwood behind the planting, with an iris garden residing along the fenceline. 

Iris Garden

The Japanese Iris are now forming their buds.

Garden Love!

Another grouping Girard's Fuchsia Azalea are starting to open up their flowers. There will soon be an array of color behind my favorite statue! 

Back Island Bed

Here is one of my all-time favorite plant combinations, which was highlighted along with others in my second book, Landscape Design Combinations! The burgundy foliage and purple blooms of the Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' displays itself beautifully against the backdrop of Heuchera 'Caramel' and Sedum 'Brilliant', plus there are also some purple Salvia 'May Night' to the left to add to the mix.

Viburnum carlesii  Blooming

Fragrant blooms of viburnum are a highlight during the month of May. The walk to the back garden is worth the visit!

Japanese Forest Grass ((Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola')

Japanese Forest Grass is that multi-purpose perennial that just keeps on giving. I admire its bright variegated foliage spring through fall.

Welcoming Committee

It just wouldn't be the same if it weren't for the welcoming (and thanks for visiting) committee by the back patio, as they greet visitors to the garden. Now that we've toured the back, come along to the front section of the property and see what's new.

'Cercis canadensis 'Covey' (Lavender Twist Redbud)

In the front east facing foundation garden, there are two new additions...that is two new 'Lavender Twist' Redbud. The two Weeping Birch trees, which had lived a long life, had fallen victim to old age. They thrived many years past their expected lifetime and for that I am grateful. After much contemplation as to what to put in the space, I selected these Redbuds, which are indeed amazing. 

'Cercis canadensis 'Covey' (Lavender Twist Redbud)

Known as Lavender Twist, this Redbud has twisted branches on which these delicate lavender blooms emerge. I will look forward to their blooms each spring and cannot wait until the trees are covered in their foliage!

Weeping Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Viridis'

Speaking of foliage, the newly produced light green foliage of the Weeping Japanese Maple is amazing at this time of year.

Front Island Bed

Here is another perspective of the Japanese Maple on the front lawn along with Weeping Norway Spruce in the foreground and Blue Atlas Cedar in the background. They are all some distance apart, but appear together in one's line of sight.

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Stay safe and well and I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May garden. As always, I thank you for being here and hope you experienced a smile along the way. 🙂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, Dishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled Rose, 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 Homestead Blog Hop  and Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays.

Looking for some gardening inspiration?-Visit my Author Page

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2020. All rights reserved.