Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up December 2017: Snowflakes on Roses

December 2017 Garden

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of December. After a relatively mild November, winter has arrived in the northeast with temperatures in the 30's-40's by day and 20's-30's by night, with a layer of snow covering our Long Island garden. The first snowfall arrived on the 9th with just enough covering to transform the landscape into a winter wonderland, with a refreshing on the 14th. At this time of year, it's all about colorful evergreens, texture and structure. Join me for a stroll to take in the view! 

Snowflakes on Roses

With the milder than usual temperatures, the rose bushes had still been pushing out new foliage, which is now covered with crystals of snow. Many of the deciduous trees and shrubs had just recently lost their leaves within the past couple of weeks, with some still not ready to fall. The seasonal changes have been noticeably behind by about three weeks until just recently.

White Covered Branches of Gold Lace Juniper

Evergreens are in the spotlight during December. Here is Juniperus 'Gold Lace' with its graceful golden branches all covered in snow.

Ice Crystals on Montgomery Blue Globe Spruce

Montgomery Blue Globe Spruce never ceases to amaze me with its vibrant blue foliage, that seems even more prominent during the late fall and into the winter months. The ice crystals make the shrub "glow" even more in the sunlight.

Pool Area December 2017

In the pool garden is Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Pendula'). Behind it on top of the rock waterfall are spreading yew and to the left are Hinoki Cypress 'Nana', which reach a height of only about three feet tall at maturity.

Sedum Winter Interest

I often leave the dried seed heads of Sedum 'Brilliant' a little longer so that birds can enjoy them. They also look nice when snow covered, which adds interest to the garden.

Nandina domestica

Towards the northern area of the property is Nandina domestica, also known as Heavenly or False Bamboo. It is a clumping variety (non-invasive in our area) and the interesting looking foliage remains semi-evergreen over the winter. I have read recently from studies that the berries may be harmful to wildlife if eaten in large quantities. While I have never seen any sign of birds going near the Nandina, I still remove the berries as food supply becomes scarce and continue to enjoy the  lovely foliage.

Holly 'Nellie Stevens' Berries

Another berry producing plant in the garden is Holly 'Nellie Stevens'. The berries are a beautiful bright red against dark green shiny leaves and make an excellent food source for birds for a good portion of the year.

Weeping White Pine Reproductive Cones

Weeping White Pine is showing off its large seed cones. I really enjoy nature's artwork as the cones are in varying shades of brown with white accents.

Driveway Entry Garden (Photo taken in Between Two Snowfalls)

In the driveway entry garden, Coral Bark Maple and Weigela 'Spilled Wine' have lost their foliage, leaving evergreens to take on the role of supplying color. Here are Skyland's Oriental Spruce (to the left), Hinoki Cypress and Boxwood (to the right) and Blue Atlas Cedar (in the distance-center).

Skyland's Oriental Spruce

The female seed bearing cones of Skyland's Spruce start off purple in spring and mature to a deeper brown by winter.

Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku) Bark in December

Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' is starting to show its glowing coral-red bark as the temperatures fall. Generally, the lower the temperatures, the more brilliant  the tree.

Hellebore Shooting Star Buds (Lenten Rose)

In the northern garden, Hellebore 'Shooting Star' is developing buds that will open in a month of so. Recently added is Hellebore 'Dark and Handsome', which was planted just this past summer. The goal is to add more interest to the winter garden and have more to look forward to. I am not sure about getting blooms this season, so I'll have to wait and see if it produces any buds.

Patio Garden

Along the patio (left to right) is Colorado Blue Globe Spruce, Weeping Norway Spruce, Blue Star Juniper and Dwarf Fountain Grass, the later being done for the season.

Snowflakes on Hydrangea

Along the fence are the snow tipped remains of hydrangea blooms. The flower heads will eventually disintegrate over the winter, but add interest for now.

Front Walkway Liriope and Juniper

Here is a snowy view of along the front walkway with Variegated Liriope and Japanese Garden Juniper, topped with a tinge of white frosting!

Baby...It's Cold Outside!

At this time of year, even gardening boy and girl look cold with piles of snow upon their heads!

Welcome!

I love the garden throughout all the seasons, each month of the year bringing something new to look forward to. No matter what the time of year, whether spring, summer winter or fall, the garden is my sanctuary...a place of thoughts, dreams and sweet memories.  

There's No Place Like Home!

Being that this is the last Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up post for the year of 2017, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to you, for being here throughout the year, with best wishes for a beautiful and peaceful holiday season. There's more to come with 'This Month in the Garden" on the 1st to bring in the new year, and a 2017 Gardening Year in Review on the 7th!

December 2017 Garden

I hope you enjoyed this month's tour through my garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses 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 and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods. Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides, Wednesday Around the World, Dishing It & Digging It and Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday. 

Sharing My Passion and New Video Trailer:

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

Landscape Design Combinations

<

~Enjoy the beauty of the season...and As Always...Happy Gardening!~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow Up January 2016: A New Year in the Garden

January 2016 Garden

Welcome to a brand new year and first Bloom Day of 2016 in my Long Island garden! There is always a beauty to the garden, and if you look even closer you can find it anytime of year, even in the midst of winter. Come along with me to take a look. 

January Garden

It's almost like on the first of January "Mother Nature" throws a switch to say winter is officially here.  After an extremely mild November and December with record high temperatures, the thermometer has plummeted almost overnight to daytime highs struggling to get out of the 30's.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

Many of the plants in the garden are confused.  The Hellebores are blooming now instead of in late winter and yes...that is a hyacinth emerging from the soil in January!

Hyacinth Bulb in January of 2016

There has not been any snow to insulate the bulbs so hopefully the colder temperatures will allow the garden to go to rest without any harm. I had covered them a bit with a little mulch but they insisted on showing as if spring were here.

Blue Globe Spruce Foliage

At this time of year the highlight of the gardens are the evergreens, as they are the backbone of the landscape.

Skylands Golden Oriental Spruce and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

I especially appreciate the wispy needles of dwarf Eastern White Pine and golden hue of Skylands Oriental Spruce along with the weeping nature of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Weeping Norway Spruce.

Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf White Pine

There is also an inner beauty to the Weeping Japanese Maple as the leaves disappear and the structure of the tree can be noticed.

Weeping Japanese Maple

The twisted trunks appear to me as if they are of a piece of artwork.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar with Variegated Liriope and Mugo Pine

As the temperatures fall and there is less of a food source for birds they are enjoying the feeder I keep out for them.  I also get great pleasure from watching them feast throughout the day, with especially high traffic in the morning hours.

Northern Cardinal

I am so pleased that the Cardinals have been over-wintering here during the past number of years.

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' Dried Flower

There are still a few gentle reminders of summer past as some of the dried flowers still remain, as the winds have not yet carried them away.

Garden Whimsy 

Now for a little whimsy...I purchased this amazing wind spiral in Vegas on a recent trip and am enjoying it as the fixed ball magically appears to move up and down the spiral in the wind and I can view it right from my window.

Garden Wind Spiral

I also have this other copper spiral which I have enjoyed for a number of years and it has formed a natural patina which I think gives it a little more character.

Garden Statue

As we complete the tour we pass by one of the pieces of garden statuary I have gotten much enjoyment from over the years. Much of last winter it was covered in snow so it is a pleasure to be able to view it still in January.

January 2016 Garden

I hope you enjoyed your walk through my January garden. If you stop by leave me a note so I know you were here and I will be sure to visit you as well.

And remember... "The gardening season officially begins on January 1st. and ends on December 31."  ~Marie Huston

Thank you to our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens, who makes it is possible to see blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved

The Four Seasons of Gardening-Garden Design

As a gardener and designer who lives in the northeast I give extra special attention to creating a landscape that will supply interest throughout all of the four seasons.  After determining  function, such elements as structure, form, color, foliage and texture need to be taken into consideration when planning a landscape.

SPRING  PERENNIAL BORDER

The first main element I consider is structure.  Structure is important in the garden because it serves as a framework for the design.  Structural elements can be either plant material or hardscape. The use of evergreens or landscape plants with interesting bark or trunk formation can provide interest as well as functional elements such as patios, pathways, garden benches or water features.  In the above perennial garden, Blue Montgomery Globe Spruce overlooks the main garden adding vertical interest while Juniperus ‘Blue Star’, Spirea ‘Goldflame’, Dwarf Fountain Grass and perennial Lamb’s Ear serve as a framework or anchors for the garden bed in winter. I have also added a few pieces of moss rock here and there to add some additional interest and dimension.  When discussing form and function consider the purpose you would like your landscape to achieve. If it is a quiet place you desire then perhaps adding a small stone patio and/or garden bench could create a peaceful retreat. If looking to attract wildlife then a birdbath or feeder could also be an addition or possibly a garden statue could provide some whimsy! 

SUMMER  PERENNIAL BORDER

Color plays an important role and is more difficult to achieve in winter. Plant perennials that complement one another (warm and cool hues) and that have varying bloom times.  Add colorful shrubs such as Barberry and Gold Mop Cypress for additional interest. Take into consideration the fact that foliage and bloom colors of perennials and shrubs do change with each season. The idea is to disperse color equally among the four seasons. Elements such as Dwarf Fountain Grass provide greenery in spring throughout summer and a take on a bronze appearance in fall and winter. Fall foliage on such perennials as Astilbe and Daylily turn a vibrant orange and gold while Hosta leaves turn a bright yellow. Lamb’s Ear is a discovery I made years ago.  Its soft white foliage can be seen along the garden border every season of the year and its pink flower spikes add extra interest in the summer.  In the winter months the blue evergreens such as Montgomery Spruce and Blue Star Juniper along with golden evergreens (Gold Mop Cypress and Gold Lace Juniper), Dwarf Fountain Grasses and Lamb’s Ear give just enough interest to get through those cold and snowy days.

AUTUMN  PERENNIAL BORDER

Without blooms texture becomes the primary design element. Texture refers to the size, shape, coarseness or smoothness of foliage and plays along with structure. Some plants known for texture are Hosta, Heuchera, Daylily, and ornamental grasses. The incredible large and colorful foliage of Heuchera(Coral Bells) and graceful fronds of Daylily complement the broad veined variegated leaves of Hosta and narrow wispy blades of dwarf fountain grasses. The feathery foliage of Astilbe and the elongated smooth foliage of Lamb's ear make a great combination as well. Even the dried seed heads and stalks of saliva rise up above the garden to create landing pads for dragonflies in the fall.  Deciduous shrubs such as spirea and barberry add interesting foliage in spring, summer and fall and provide structure in winter. Add some evergreens which play an integral part in adding all the elements of structure, color, form and foliage to the landscape for all of the four seasons.  

WINTER PERENNIAL BORDER

Evergreens can be found in a variety of colors ranging from golds to blues and greens and textures ranging from broad-leaved evergreens to fine-needled varieties. They can also take on a variety of forms including rounded, horizontal or spreading, vertical and weeping. These elements can be placed accordingly to add width or height to a garden.  In this case the grafted Montgomery Globe Spruce provides a vertical element in the garden.  'Blue Star' Juniper, Spirea and Dwarf Fountain Grasses anchor each side of the garden bed and show continuity, uniformity and balance. Lamb's Ear frames the front of the perennial area. Looking further you can view Weeping Pussy Willow and Arborvitae (vertical) with Gold Mop Cypress and Barberry (Medium height and horizontal). That upper and lower sections of the garden have more detailed structure with evergreens and flowering shrubs with the perennial garden in the center.

COLOR, FORM & STRUCTURE: Evergreens provide form in winter landscape, Structure of Japanese Maple Trunk, Color of Coral Bark Maple Bark in winter, Changing Colors of Spirea Foliage

In the above photograph evergreens provide form and structure in the winter landscape, the twisting structure of a Weeping Japanese Maple trunk provides interest while the tree is dormant, the vibrant red bark of the Japanese Coral Bark Maple (Sango Kaku) provides structure and color in winter, and the changing blooms and foliage of Spirea are turning a deep pink in fall.  A garden is constantly changing and can be enjoyed all year round with some basic elements of structure, form and color. Creating an all-season landscape can be accomplished by following the design principles discussed here and guaranteed your garden will have something to offer every day of the year!

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@ A Guide to Northeastern Gardening.  All rights reserved 2014.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day January 2013

January 2013 Garden

It's January in this Long Island garden and time for another Garden Blogger's Bloom Day.  Inspired by the quote, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” by Elizabeth Lawrence, Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts Garden Blogger's Bloom Day on the 15th of every month. Gardeners from all over the world walk out into their gardens to note what is currently blooming.  Blooms are few this time of year here in the northeast but I was able to venture out into my garden and find some colorful sites to share.

Nandina domestica Winter Berries

The winter so far has been mild with temperatures in the 40's and 50's by day and 30's by night.  We had just a slight dusting of snow so far around the holidays. Come with me and let's take a look.  No need to bundle up...it's mild outside plus this is a virtual tour!  The first plant to visit is my Nandina domestica.  It displays its bright red berries all throughout the winter months.

Crab Orchard Walkway with Junipers and Sedges

 Along the winding walkway in the front are Japanese Garden Juniper, Liriope and Sedges which are the winter stables in the garden. 

Sedum Groundcover

Here is some Sedum groundcover peeking out in the back garden area.  

Heuchera 'Caramel' in January

This Heuchera 'Caramel' just added to the garden during the past couple of years has proven to add some nice winter interest. 

Barberry 'Royal Burgundy' Winter Berries

Here is Barberry showing its red winter berries.

Endless Summer Hydrangea Flower Head

I love Hydrangeas and they even supply interest in wintertime with their dried flower heads.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fernspray' False Cypress

Here are some Cypress 'Fernspray' ...

Sedum Buds in January

 and some Sedum buds poking their heads up out of the soil in anticipation of spring.

Weeping Norway Spruce and Heuchera 'Caramel'

Viewed here are some more of the newly added Heuchera along with a Weeping Norway Spruce.

Winter Poolscape

The pool is all closed for the winter months but we can still enjoy the poolscape here with an assortment of evergreens.  The most forefront plant is a Variegated Boxwood with some Nellie Stevens Holly in the right backdrop.

Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' in January

 Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' keeps it purple color all winter.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

The Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is one of my favorites any time of year with its cascading "waterfall-like" appearance and blue-green foliage. To the left is a Weeping White Pine and an upright Blue Atlas Cedar in the far backdrop.

Winter Garden

 Garden gal and boy wait for spring to arrive in a few months.  Thank you for taking time to stop by and visit my January garden...please let me know you were here...and please visit our hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens for links to more gardens around the world.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

 Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved