Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up October: Autumn Long Island Garden

October Garden-Welcome!

Welcome! Autumn has arrived and the view is starting to change as temperatures moderate into the upper 60's to low 70's, with a true feeling of fall in the air. As some blooms try to hang on, other fall-blooming perennials start their display, and the surrounding foliage starts to show shades of golden and orange accents. Join me for a stroll in my October Long Island garden to see what nature has to offer!

Front Walkway

Along the front walkway, Variegated Liriope is displaying its purple blooms on upright stalks, as Coral Bark Maple can be seen starting to change to its fall colors in the backdrop.

Liriope 'Variegata' (Lilyturf)

Liriope is known for its display of colorful foliage throughout the gardening season and even through winter. Helpful Tip: Cut back Liriope (Lilyturf) after winter (in early spring) as it pushes out new growth. This method provides this perennial with extra protection during the winter months.

Autumn View Front Lawn

On the front lawn, the Weeping Japanese Maples are going into autumn mode. Before long, only the artistically twisted trunks will be visible. Evergreen Blue Atlas Cedar can be viewed in the backdrop.

Eastern Redbud Lavender Twist Along Walkway Entry

Back along the eastern walkway, the heart-shaped foliage of Eastern Redbud (foreground) is about to start changing colors to hues of yellow and red, while Heuchera Palace Purple are still displaying their deep burgundy color. Weeping White Pine, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Blue Star Juniper, Japanese Garden Juniper and Golden Sedge also reside here.

Front Island Bed

In the front island bed, Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ is pushing out some new growth in hues of cream and pink, while the rest of the garden slowly starts to go to sleep.

Autumn Color: Evergreens and Blooms

As we move further, perennial Veronica (Spiked Speedwell) continues to push out the last of its purplish-pink blooms. I love how this plant just keeps on giving from early summer to fall!

Montauk Daisy Season!

It's Montauk Daisy time and these beauties surely extend the gardening season along the back garden bed! 

Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima'

Autumn in the poolside garden means that wispy plumes have arrived above Dwarf Maiden Grass ‘Yalu Jima’. In the foreground, Sedum ‘Brilliant’ is displaying its dried flower heads.

Pulmonaria (Lungwort) Foliage Autumn

This Pulmunaria is a new addition to the shade garden this year. I could not resist its pretty polka dot foliage. Small blue flowers will appear above the foliage in spring.

Echinacea Seed Heads Autumn

A familiar sight this time of year are seed heads on Echinacea, which are enjoyed by birds well into the fall.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' 

While most of the flowers of Echinacea have gone to seed, a few still refuse to quit.

Knock Out Roses Continue to Bloom!

Knock Out Rose ‘Radrazz’ just keeps on going, displaying its brilliant red fragrant blooms. It will keep blooming well into fall and there have even been buds as the first snowfall arrives!

Platycodon (Balloon Flower) Last Blooms

The Balloon Flower along the back patio also refuses to quit and I don’t mind a bit…

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus)

and garden gal displays her Black Mondo Grass too.

Coral Bells in Back Island Bed

In the northern bed, Caramel Coral Bells continue displaying their colorful foliage, which is very appropriate for fall, while evergreen Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ shows its colorful display.

 Osmanthus 'Goshiki'

I enjoy the changing colors of new and old foliage on this cultivar.

Praying Mantis Visitor!

After many years of absence, Praying Mantis have arrived again in the garden. We’ll encounter another visitor soon!

Rosemary Blooming

The pollinators are enjoying these blooms on Rosemary in the herb garden... 

Mandevilla Vine Still Blooming!

as Mandevilla vine continues to bloom by the back patio.

Another Visitor!

Another very welcomed visitor is here to finalize the tour! Don't you just love the expression on his face?

Hope you enjoyed your visit!

October Long Island Garden

Thank you for visiting my October garden. I hope you enjoyed your visit and as always, I look forward to 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:

I will be presenting to the Sayville Gardening Club on October 18th and am looking forward to sharing my love of gardening with like minded individuals, while teaching design principles and tips I have learned over the years as a landscape designer. Now that Fall has arrived, I am also looking forward to the return of monthly GardenComm zoom meetings, which originated due of the pandemic and started a wonderful new tradition!

Also, there is a new follow.it subscription service at the top right side of this page to replace the feedburner app which has announced that it will no longer be sending post notifications in the future.

Click on Me!

Lastly, 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. 

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

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

This Month in the Garden: How to Create a Bird-Friendly Winter Garden-Plant Suggestions

This Month in the Garden

Welcome to This Month in the Garden. Winter can be a challenging time for backyard birds as food sources, water and shelter become scarce. Shorter days mean less time for foraging and many insects are in hibernation, making it even more difficult for birds to obtain food. In addition, many seed-bearing plants have already been consumed, while deciduous trees have lost their leaves, no longer offering protection from the harsh winter winds. With freezing temperatures water can also become inaccessible. 

There are steps you can perform in creating a bird-friendly garden that can be beneficial, and even life-saving for our feathered friends. For starters, planting a mixture of evergreens and deciduous shrubs provides shelter during winter months and nesting areas for birds during springtime. Generally, Juncos and Towhees prefer to nest beneath bushes, while species such as Cardinals, Morning Doves, Mockingbirds and Nuthatches prefer the sanctuary of dense foliage. Depending on species, a bird's food preferences can vary, but most enjoy feeding off insects, berry producing shrubs and trees and the dried seed heads of perennials. Here is a list of bird-friendly plants that you can incorporate into your winter garden.

 Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' (American Beautyberry)

The first is Callicarpa or Beautyberry. Callicarpa maintains a tidy habit of 3-4 feet high by wide, displaying beautiful arching branches and loads of colorful fruit. Clusters of pale lavender-pink flowers form in summer and develop into masses of glossy amethyst berries in fall. The fruits tend to persist longer on the shrub than others, offering some (but limited) winter interest and are a desired food of the Northern Bobwhite. Callicapra is hardy in USDA zones 5-8, prefers full fun to partial shade and a moderately moist soil.

Juniperus communis-Common Juniper (Photo Credit Wikipedia)

Common Juniper is an evergreen found across the northern United States and southern Canada, which is also native to Europe and Asia. This small evergreen can be an excellent plant for backyard wildlife gardeners, forming bluish-black berries that are an attraction to a variety of birds including catbirds, thrashers and woodpeckers. Juniper is slow growing, hardy in USDA zones 2-6 and prefers to be grown in full to partial sunlight. The plant reaches a mature height and width of 5-10 feet by 8-15 feet; however there is a dwarf variety, Juniperus communis 'Compressa', that grows to a height of just 2-3 feet. Besides Juniper communis, other edible species include Juniperus drupacea, Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus deppeana, and Juniperus californica.

Ilex (Nellie Stevens Holly)

One of the most attractive of hollies, 'Nellie Stevens' Holly is a vigorous grower with dense branches, making it an excellent screening plant. 'Nellie Stevens' grows in a pyramidal shape to a height of 15-20 feet tall by 8-12 feet wide, while displaying oblong, glossy, dark green leaves with spiny margins. Inconspicuous greenish-white flowers appear in spring followed by abundant amounts of berry-like bright red fruits which ripen in fall and persist into winter. Ilex 'Nellie Stevens' is hardy in USDA zones 6-9, prefers full sun to partial shade and a moderately moist soil. This species of holly will form berries without cross-pollination; however, planting near a male Chinese holly will promote more fruit. Nellie Stevens Holly are especially preferred by Blackbirds for food and nesting.

Sambucus (Elderberry) Photo Credit Wikipedia

Elderberry is known for its white flowers followed by blackish-red fall berries which can be harvested for making elderberry wine and jam, or left on the plant to attract birds and other wildlife. This shrub grows to a height and width of 6-8 feet tall by wide and is hardy in USDA zones 4-7. Elderberry prefers full sun to partial shade and a moderately moist soil, but is adaptable to most sites. A new cultivar of Elderberry known as 'Black Lace' is a stunning development in Elderberry breeding, displaying intense purple black foliage, pink flowers in summer, followed by blackish-red fall berries. 

Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy'

Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy' displays creamy white flowers in spring followed by bright red, berries that make for a stunning display in the fall. Fruiting appears to be strong even without another pollinator in the area and are favored by birds and butterflies. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy' matures to 4-5' tall by wide and prefers to be grown in full sun to partial shade. Its well-branched habit allows it to fit nicely into the landscape. This variety of viburnum has improved hardiness compared to other dilatatum varieties.

Mahonia (Oregon Grape Holly)

Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, Mahonia aquifolium is an evergreen shrub that is noted for its mildly fragrant yellow flowers in spring followed by clusters of edible blue-black berries in late summer that resemble grapes. Holly-like foliage emerges red-tinted in spring, maturing to glossy dark green by summer, turning a purplish hue in fall, followed by a burgundy-bronze tone by winter. Berries are somewhat sour fresh off the plant, but make excellent jellies and are a favorite food source for birds. Plants grow to a height of 3-6' tall by 2-5 feet wide, prefer partial shade and a moderately moist soil.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata ) Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Winterberry is a favorite of several species of birds including Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing and Woodpecker with its profusion of bright red berries. This native deciduous Holly requires a pollinator (such as Jim Dandy) for a beautiful display of berries on bare branches in winter. Winterberry is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and prefers to be grown in full sun to partial shade. It is a slow grower, reaching an eventual height and width of 3-5 feet in the landscape.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea, or coneflower are found in eastern and central North America, where they grow in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. This family of perennials includes a vast selection of species, ranging in both size and color. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Echinacea prefers to be grown in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Flowers emerge from mid-summer to mid-fall forming a showy, upright clump which is a favorite feeding station for many butterflies. After blooming, seed heads are a huge attraction to a number of bird species, including Blue Jays, Cardinals and finches.

Eastern White Pine Seed Cone

Eastern White Pine is a rapid-growing, long-lived, needled evergreen tree that is native to the northeastern United States and hardy in USDA zones 3-9. Pyramidal in its earlier years, this evergreen matures to a broad oval habit with an irregular crown, reaching a mature height and width of 50-80 feet tall by 15-20 feet wide.  Soft, bluish green needles appear in bundles of five, accompanied by cylindrical, brown cones at maturity, which are a favorite food of finches, chickadees and woodpeckers.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses include a large selection of species ranging in size and shape, mainly taking the form of an upright clump of arching green leaves. Most are hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and prefer a well-drained soil in full sun. Green or variegated foliage is followed by spikes of soft mauve plumes in fall, that turn to buff or tan as they dry. Plants usually remain attractive well into winter and seeds from the plumes are an excellent food source for over-wintering birds.

How to Create a Bird-Friendly Winter Garden

While natural food and shelter are important in creating your bird-friendly habitat, also be sure to provide a water source for over-wintering birds. In addition, I enjoy making sure that a bird feeder is available during the winter months. Establishing a desirable habitat is the main key and including species of plants such as those mentioned above will not only benefit wildlife, but will add all-season color and interest to your landscape. When planning your garden for next season, consider incorporating some of these selections into your space.

 Author Page

~As Always...Happy Gardening ~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2019. All rights reserved.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: July 2016 Long Island Garden in Bloom!

July 2016 Garden

Welcome to my Long Island garden! The arrival of July has prompted a succession of colorful blooms throughout the landscape. While June temperatures had remained in the upper 70's to lower 80's, the month of July has delivered a warming trend with some days reaching into the upper 80's and low 90's. The perennial borders are bursting with an array of color, along with the arrival of new blooms daily. Come take a walk with me in my July garden.

(Coneflower) Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

July marks the appearance of Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' blooms in a multitude of colors, all on the same plant. I never knew I could get so much enjoyment from a single species of coneflower. Now that this one has become established in the garden, it has become a focal point at the entrance to the front beds.

Pollinators love Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Coneflower)

As an added bonus, the pollinators love it and the blooms are often visited by a multitude of bumble bees and butterflies.

Alium Mont Blanc Seed Head

Another plant which has given me much pleasure is Allium. This dried seed head from Allium 'Mont Blanc' even offers interest once the flower is spent, so I keep the decorative stalks in the garden bed all throughout the summer months.

Montgomery Globe Spruce and Stella D' Oro Daylily

As we walk around to the back garden beds, Montgomery Globe Spruce and Daylily 'Stella D'Oro' make an excellent combination of foliage and blooms. The brilliant blue of the globe spruce with the bright yellow blooms of the lilies complement one another perfectly.

Backyard Long View (North Side) Perennial Border and North Garden

As we follow the gardens to the north side of the property, here is a better view of the perennial border as it wraps around from the patio area to the north fence garden.

Backyard Long View (North Side) from Garden Tour 2010

Funny...I was just looking at some photos of the garden tour from a few years back and the photograph is of the same identical spot. The upper photo shows the new Arborvitae additions to the left that were planted just last summer. All things considered, the garden has remained pretty stable.

Perennial Border

Here is the perennial border as we get closer up. It has gotten to be very established over the years with a combination of Allium, Salvia 'May Night', Astilbe 'Fanal' and 'Pumila', Lamb's Ear, Hosta, Echinacea and Daylily.

Perennial Border Lamb's Ear and Astilbe

The white of the Lamb's Ear and shocking pink of the Astilbe provide contrast to one another.

Salvia 'May Night' and Sedum 'Brilliant'

Salvia 'May Night' has become a stable in the gardens. providing bright purple blooms.  It companions nicely with just about anything...

Add a little Heuchera 'Caramel' to the Mix!

including this combination with Sedum and Heuchera 'Caramel' in the south garden bed.

Backyard Left Long View

As we travel along to the southeast gardens, there is a mix of evergreens and flowering shrubs. The blue evergreen to the left is a grafted Montgomery Globe Spruce and the golden evergreen is Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni'. It wraps into the island bed which is home to Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' (which will bloom at the end of this month and into September).

Backyard Right Long View

Here is a view from the back island bed to the western corner of the property. Prior to 1996 this entire backyard area consisted of all lawn and just a few maple and cherry trees. It was when the pool went in that year that the property started to transform, which was also the time I had started a second career in garden designing.

Lampost Planting

The lamppost seen at the end of the driveway is surrounded by Coreopsis 'Zagreb', Nepeta 'Walker's Low, Weigela 'Wine & Roses' and Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' with more of a cottage style look.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Mix)

The blooms on the Echinacea never cease to amaze me!

North Border

Around towards the western side of the property is a combination of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Gold Mop Cypress, Purple Salvia 'May Night' and Dwarf Butterfly Bush (which will bloom in August). There are also Nepeta and Knock Out Roses to the right.

Heuchera 'Caramel" Blooms

Heuchera 'Caramel' is blooming in July. The blooms are just an added bonus to the fascinating caramel colored foliage, which is also semi-evergreen. Heuchera 'Caramel' is a personal favorite of mine, as the foliage varies throughout the seasons with hues of caramel, peach and orange, depending on the sunlight and temperature. 

East Perennial Border

Here is another view of the east perennial border...

Nepeta 'Walker's Low'

along with some Nepeta blooms and a visiting butterfly moth.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Peach)

'Cheyenne Spirit' displays more blooms...this time peach in color...

Hosta Blooming

and the Hosta 'Patriot' are producing blooms on long graceful stalks.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Orange)

Here is one last stroll by the coneflowers sporting their multi-colored blooms...

Birds Loving the New Feeder

and views of the new feeder, which has been a haven for birds visiting all day long.

Birds Loving the New Feeder

I can't seem to keep it filled enough and the birds are loving it!

This Year's New Succulent Planter

Last, but not least, I have a new interest in creating succulent planters such as this one here for the summer of 2016. It is about as low maintenance as you can get and the various species of sedum are producing blooms.

Hens and Chicks Blooming!

This Hens & Chicks planter which I made up last year is blooming profusely, which actually came as a surprise. They are thriving in the full southern exposure and the blooms are magnificent!

In a Vase on Monday! (Pardon Me Daylily, Stella D'Oro Daylily, Heuchera Blooms, Hosta Blooms, Salvia May Night and Coleus Bloom)

Cut flowers from my July garden to brighten your day!

2016 July Garden

I  hope you enjoyed your stroll through my July 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 Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, I Heart Macro, Macro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out What's Blooming This Week Garden Update and In a Vase on Monday at Rambling in the Garden.

For more gardening information, you may be interested in my newly published book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer (Gardening in Zones 3-9). You can see a preview here on Amazon. 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/landscapedesignbylee

https://www.facebook.com/AGuideToNortheasternGardening/

https://landscapedesignbylee.wordpress.com/  
https://twitter.com/NEGardening

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

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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