Showing posts with label Spirea Double Play 'Candy Corn'. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spirea Double Play 'Candy Corn'. Show all posts

Monday, June 15, 2026

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Welcome to My June Garden!
Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden. Located on the south shore of the island, the weather for June has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride with days ranging from the comfortable mid-70s', followed by days in the mid-upper 90's with high humidity, making time spent outside limited. The late afternoons and evenings do bring cooler temperatures, a time for me to venture out into the garden and collect my thoughts, since the garden is my happy place. 
Welcoming Committee
To begin the tour, the infamous welcoming committee is here to greet you. Today's beverage of choice is iced tea, or perhaps some lemonade, since the temperatures are a bit warm! We are going to start the tour with some views from a couple of weeks ago, because we just could not pass them up!
Rhododendron in Southern "Secret" Garden
This was the best year I have ever seen for the Rhododendron in the back secret garden. It is something I see when I wander around the back corner and caught it just in time for some photos, as it was bursting with an abundance of blooms. Since the blooms are not long-lived, I got a quick capture to share with you.
Allium 'Globemaster' Pool Perimeter
The Allium was blooming at the same time, so we had to catch them at their best as well. The blooms are now starting to fade, but they are still amazing, and the Daylilies are starting to chime in, which we will visit later.
Patio Border
It has also been an amazing year for Peony 'Bartzella'. It's blooms have been more enormous than ever! It is accompanied by Salvia 'May Night', Mugo Pine 'Slowmound', Spirea 'Candy Corn', Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple and Lamb's Ear.
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'
Here is a single bloom up close! 'Bartzella is a hybrid cross between a shrub and tree form of Peony.
Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'
Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' is also abundant with greenish-white blooms this year. Juniperus 'Gold Lace' resides next to it.
Driveway Border
Following along to the driveway border and joining Weeping Norway Spruce, Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is blooming along with Salvia 'Caradonna' and Japanese Iris. The Japanese Iris are from the original Iris patch that my mom planted when I was just a child.
Front Lawn
Along the front lawn are island beds with a mixture of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials, including Weeping Japanese Maple, Blue Atlas Cedar, Mugo Pine, Japanese Andromeda, Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae and Hosta.
Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'
Back around to the patio and pool area, Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' is blooming away...
Hen's & Chicks Succulent Grouping
and the Hen's & Chicks with Sedum 'Angelina' (Stonecrop) are doing well.
Allium 'Globemaster' and Daylily 'Stella D Oro'
It is June, so Daylily 'Stella D Oro' is now blooming at the base of Allium 'Globemaster' in the pool border. Even though the blooms of the Allium are fading a bit, I still enjoy the structure they provide throughout the entire summer.
Daylily 'Stella D Oro'
Here are the Daylily blooms up close, and also the bright deep pink blooms of Spirea 'Candy Corn'!
Spirea Blooms!
I love this newer cultivar of Spirea, as it is more compact, has wonderful foliage and blooms, and the new spring growth pushes out fiery red twisted stems.
Patio Planters
Along the patio the hydrangea in planters are getting ready to bloom, with the garden in the distance...
A Friendly Visitor!
and this little Song Sparrow visitor is not shy at all. He baths playfully in the water on the patio after I water the Hydrangeas each day.
Patio Planters
As we approach the end of the tour, here are more patio planters with a mix of evergreens, flowering shrubs and succulents, which are cold hardy enough to stay out and be enjoyed all year.
Herb/Vegetable Garden
Last, but not least is my husband's herb and vegetable garden which he uses for cooking. I taught him how to set it up and he planted it himself this year with great pride! I have made a gardener out of him after all these years!
Thanks for Visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June 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.

Connect With Me
🌼
It's time to plan your garden! Visit my Author Page 👈to learn about and purchase my books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey! If you have read any of my books and have found them to be useful, reviews are very much appreciated!

Also, check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe or you can pledge a donation to show support for my work, or upgrade to receive extra perks monthly right into your inbox!


Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

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

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

Welcome!
Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden and I hope you enjoy your visit! The month of June has been the rainiest I can remember and the temperatures have been mostly in the upper 60's and low 70's, with the exception of a couple of days in the high 70's and just this week one day at 88 degrees, which felt like a heat wave! The foggy morning and evening skies and on and off showers have certainly delivered an abundance of moisture to the garden, hence all the plants have been thriving with lots of blooms. I find myself spending a lot of time in my own garden between working with clients, as being surrounded by plants brings on a feeling of peace and happiness. 
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' in early June
As we start our stroll, let's take a moment to reflect back on just a week ago, with Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' along the patio border in full bloom. Their large yellow blooms are a sight to behold and last for only a short time, so I made sure to capture the moment. They are accompanied by Salvia 'May Night', which is still in full bloom.
Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'
Here is Peony 'Bartzella' up close. 'Bartzella' is a cross between a tree and herbaceous Peony, so its stems are sturdy and do not flop over with the weight of the flowers. I wish it would bloom longer than it does, but at least the foliage is attractive too!
Allium 'Globemaster'
Allium 'Globemaster' is in bloom poolside accompanied by Weeping Japanese Maple in the backdrop, and Spirea and Daylilies aside it.  This view is also from just a week ago before the blooms started to fade. 
Rhododendron 'Elegans'
The Rhododendrons had a wonderful season which I just had to share. This is a view from the end of May into the first week in June.
Patio Garden
Presently along the patio border is dwarf Spirea 'Candy Corn' now blooming, displaying its delicate rosy-pink clusters of flowers along with the spiked blooms of Lamb's Ear (Stachys). Balloon Flower (Platycodon 'Komachi') is starting to form buds and Echinacea 'Pow Wow' is starting to form its first flowers.
Patio Garden: Spirea Double Play 'Candy Corn' and Lamb's Ear (Stachys)
I am enjoying the 'Candy Corn' Spirea as it is a smaller, more compact variety of Spirea, only reaching a height of about two feet, and its branches and foliage are a fiery reddish-pink in early spring.
Perimeter Garden-Kousa Dogwood
Along the northern perimeter, Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' is putting on quite a show for the month of June and will bloom for some time. I love the greenish-white flowers on this particular variety.
Perimeter Garden- Double Knock Out Roses!
It seems to be a good season for Double Knock Out Rose as well, despite all the rain. Also in view is Weeping Norway Spruce, and the foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' and Sedum 'Pure Joy'.
Patio Border
Salvia 'Blue By You', a taller and longer blooming variety of  Sage is accompanied by the variegated foliage of Osmanthus along the patio border. To the right is Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells). With a little deadheading, the blooms of 'Blue By You' will last into late summer.
Pool Border
Here is a present view of the pool border with Allium 'Globemaster', accompanied by Daylily 'Stella D Oro' and Spirea 'Limemound', which are now in bloom. Up on the waterfall, the Spruce, Variegated Boxwood and Juniper added three years ago are finally getting established and sending out a lot of new growth.
Spirea & Nepeta
With all the newer dwarf varieties of Nepeta (Catmint) on the market, I am enjoying Nepeta 'Little Trudy' in a planter by the back stoop along with Spirea 'Candy Corn' in a planter behind it. 'Little Trudy' stays at a more compact size of  just eight to ten inches high by twelve to sixteen inches wide.
Driveway Border West-Weeping Norway Spruce
As we move towards the driveway border, here is Spirea 'Magic Carpet' with Salvia 'Caradonna', Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Norway Spruce and Japanese Garden Juniper.  Have I mentioned that I am a fan of Weeping Norway Spruce and dwarf conifers? You may have guessed that by now!
Driveway Border-Spirea 'Magic Carpet' and Salvia 'Caradonna'
Here is a closer view of the Spirea and Salvia 'Caradonna', along with Japanese Iris.
Japanese Iris Blooming!
This Japanese Iris is a clump that made its way outside the fence, branching off from the original iris patch that my mother planted back in the 1960's. It is a nice memory to still have a piece of it remaining after all these years.
Front Lawn
As we approach the front lawn, Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells) on the main island bed have certainly been enjoying all the rain, and Osmanthus 'Goshiki' is also pushing out some new growth, which has a pinkish hue to it. Weeping Norway Spruce, two Weeping Japanese Maples and Blue Atlas Cedar are in the backdrop.
Driveway Border East
I had replaced the coreopsis along the driveway border with these three Dwarf Norway Spruce, which have taken well to their home. They are accompanied by Golden 'Skylands' Oriental Spruce, Coral Bark Maple, Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni',  Weigela 'Spilled Wine' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'.
Thank you for visiting!
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June 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 WoodsImage-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

IN THE NEWS! Our home was selected to be on the local garden tour, "A Little Garden Music and Art," for the third time! It was a rainy day, but visitors came from near and far to see our garden and it was an honor to be part of this amazing venue!

Also, sending out a big thank you to FeedSpot for including A Guide to Northeastern Gardening in their top 20 Best New York Gardening Blogs. It is an honor plus be sure to check out the other blogs that made the list!

My sixth book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants is celebrating five months since publication! If you are into houseplants, this may be the book for you! I cover over 120 plant selections with full color photographs of each one and detailed descriptions on care and maintenance.

Other Places to Find Me:
You can visit my Author Page to learn about and Purchase My Books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey!

Check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe and receive monthly updates right into your inbox!


Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

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

Monday, April 1, 2024

Feature Shrub Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn'

Feature Shrub Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn'

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! There is a new flowering shrub in town, and it is called Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn', scientific name Spirea japonica. While this shrub produces wonderful deep pinkish-lavender blooms in summer, in this designer's opinion it's all about the ever-changing medley of foliage! This new cultivar was developed by Dr. Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University and has become popular for several reasons, one of them being that it is considered sterile and non-invasive.

 Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn' Summer Foliage

Cold hardy to USDA zones 4-8, Double Play 'Candy Corn' thrives best in full sun and a well-drained soil and offers an ever-changing array of foliage color, from bright red to candy corn orange to yellow-green. Summer foliage color is determined by exposure. Leaves are darker in part shade, and a brighter yellow in sunny exposures. Pollinator friendly blooms offer another round of color in late spring and early summer. This dwarf form of Spirea stays compact and rounded at a height of 18-24 inches high by wide at maturity and is compact enough to grow in a container. I was also surprised to see this variety getting spring buds before any of the other Spirea.

Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn' Late Winter/Early Spring

This cultivar is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, including clay and is drought tolerant once established. With its small size, little to no pruning is required, making it perfect for low-maintenance gardens. This flowering shrub is also deer and  rabbit resistant.

Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn' Spring Foliage
I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! Perhaps Spirea Big Bang 'Candy Corn' will go onto your wish list as a new garden addition!


"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

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