Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up February: A Snowy Winter Wonderland

Welcome to my Garden!

Welcome to my February Long Island garden! With record snowfall on the 25th-26th with over a foot of snow, another couple inches afterwards and temperatures below freezing and in the single digits for the following two weeks, the garden is settled in for winter. Now for the first time in weeks, the temperatures are finally rising above the freezing point and the snow is beginning to thaw. Join me for a tour of my zone 7b garden!

Welcoming Committee

First is the infamous welcoming committee! This time of year the beverage of choice is a cup of hot cocoa! Now, let's venture through the garden!   

Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple

Starting along the back patio area is Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple in winter mode. I am enjoying how its branches have a soft reddish glow against the evergreen variegated foliage of Osmanthus (False Holly).

Garden Gal!

In the same bed, Garden Gal, a statue I have had for as long as I can remember, carries her basket as she is nestled in the snow...

Patio Border

while the foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' seems to glow brightly against the deep green foliage of Weeping Norway Spruce and golden-green foliage of Dwarf Cryptomeria.

Patio Border South

Along the back patio border, the blue color of dwarf Blue Globe Spruce is even more pronounced against the snow.

"Secret Garden"

In the back "secret garden", as we venture around the bend and follow a short pathway, Weeping Norway Spruce can be seen. Four years ago, a major branch had broken off from the weight of the snow, so my arborist decided to "juice it up", as he would say. With some feeding the past few years, it has rebounded and grown another six feet taller! Other interest in the landscape this time of year are the berries of Nellie Steven's Holly.

Nellie Steven's Holly Berries

Pool Border

As the snow starts to melt, the outline of the pool border can just now be seen...

Pool Border

along with the snow covered branches of Weeping Norway Spruce.

Pool Border Northwest

Leucothoe 'Axillaris' displays its colorful foliage in the back bed along the western portion of the property, and is accompanied by Sky Pencil Holly. 

Feathered Friends!

The birds have been keeping me busy! Even with this new feeder, which holds two and half times the amount of food as the previous one, I am still refilling it every two to three days, as it is non-stop with visitors.

A Close Up View!

I will do anything to keep them fed, even if it means trenching out through a foot of snow in single digit temperatures. They watch from the nearby trees as I replenish their food, then tweet to express their gratitude!

Walkway Border

Follow along as we venture to the front. Here the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar bordering the front walk can be seen, with the glowing red bark of Coral Bark Maple (Acer Sangu Kaku) in the distance. Skyland's Golden Spruce can be seen to the right and Weeping White Pine to the left, while at the driveway's end, the lamppost peaks out from under the drifting snow.

Driveway Border

Hellebore Buds from Last Month!

Here are the Hellebore (Lenten Rose) buds as they appeared last month...not to be seen now, but insulated by a blanket of snow...

The Latest in Footwear!

and here is the necessary foot gear for venturing out into the February garden. 

The Indoor Garden!

While the snow covers the landscape, the indoor garden is thriving and brings me joy, and the Thanksgiving Cactus is still blooming since the beginning of November! I recently read that the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting a warmer and drier spring than usual for here in the northeast. Only time will tell!

Still Blooming!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my February 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, Image-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.

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! 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!

Find me on Instagram at Northeastern Gardening and Facebook at A Guide to Northeastern Gardening Blog & Author Page.

Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

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

2025 Gardening Year in Review: Welcome Visitors!

January

Happy New Year! It's nice to see you here and welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden as we recap the 2025 gardening season! After a very mild December of 2024, the month of January quickly diminished any thoughts of the warmer temperatures we had been experiencing. As daytime temperatures dropped below freezing and into the teens at night with high winds and a chill factor in the single digits, it made for a cold start to the month. Two small dustings of snowfall graced the landscape on the 6th and another on the morning of the 11th. The month of January brought other exciting news with the launching of my sixth book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants.

February

After a January with record low temperatures, the month of February brought a combination of cold windy days and moderately comfortable days, making the forecast very unpredictable. Our first significant snowfall occurred overnight on the 8th, followed by more snow on the evening of the 11th, creating a blanket of white upon the landscape. Despite the snowfall, Hellebore 'Shooting Star' was showing off its winter blooms, while the berries of 'Sky Pencil' Holly added interest to the garden. The rest of the landscape was covered in a light coating of snow, just enough to create a winter wonderland. 

March

After a windy start to March and with spring on the way, temperatures finally rose up into the upper 50’s, and the garden started to emerge from its winter sleep. It had been an unusual winter with fluctuating temperatures and very little in the way of snow as compared to years in the past. Northern winds during the month of February and into the beginning of March made it feel a lot colder than it actually was. Finally after a cold and windy start, Mother Nature had finally thrown the switch for spring to arrive. Hellebores (Lenten Rose) continued to bloom, while spring bulbs made their appearance.

April

The beginning of the month of April brought reminders of winter with cold and wind, but that did not stop the flowers from blooming! With some milder days mixed in with temperatures mainly in the 40's and 50's and a moderate amount of rain, the garden was coming to life everywhere. As the red stalks of Peony emerged from their winter's sleep, blooms of Hyacinths and Crocus could be seen throughout the garden.

May

The month of May was a busy one filled with blooms as the temperatures gradually warmed up into the 70's by day, and with frequent rain in the forecast. Every day there was something new to explore in the garden, which makes May one of my favorite months for gardening and dreaming of what future blooms are in store. Some of the blooms to be seen were those of 'Girards' Azalea and the beautiful bluish-purple blooms of Jacob's Ladder 'Golden Feathers' and Nepeta 'Cat's Meow'!

June

The month of June turned out to be one of the coolest and rainiest I can remember. The temperatures had remained mostly in the upper 60's and low 70's, with one day topping at 88 degrees, which felt like a heat wave! Foggy morning and evening skies and on and off showers delivered an abundance of moisture to the garden. Knock Out Roses, Itoh Peony 'Bartzella', Lamb's Ear, Kousa Dogwood and Spirea were all in full bloom. On Saturday June 14th, our property was on the Sayville Garden Tour and it poured rain all day, but that did not stop the gardeners as they walked the grounds. The general consensus was that, “There is something magical about a garden in the rain!”

July

After a cooler than usual June, July brought temperatures in the upper 80's and 90's with heat and humidity, and a record breaking day of 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This tied July for the “hottest day on record”, along with five inches of rainfall on the 31st. The combination of heat, humidity and sufficient rain made the garden accelerate into an array of color. Blooms to be seen included Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' and 'Pow Wow 'Wild Berry', Salvia, Roses, Daylily, Veronica, Astilbe 'Sprite' and Butterfly Bush, just to name a few!

August

With a cool start to the spring and summer, then record breaking heat, the summer of 2025 ended up being our hottest summer on record. The arrival of August brought some relief with cooler temperatures in the low 80's, which was followed by another heat wave mid-month. In the garden, Crape Mrytle 'Sioux', Platycodon (Balloon Flower), Allium 'Millenium' and Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' continued to be in full bloom.

September

After two months of extreme heat and drought, the seasons finally shifted into fall mode by September, with cooler temperatures in the 70's and blue, cloudless skies. September is one of my favorite months of the year as the garden is starting to transition into an array of changing colors. While new blooms appeared and some blooms keep their momentum going, the garden was a place that brought me joy as Abelia, varieties of Sedum, Roses, Lilies, and Lilyturf continued to bloom. 

October

October started off unusually mild with temperatures in the 70's and 80's, then suddenly cooled down  into the lower to upper 60's by mid-month. Our first nor'easter of the season brought an abundance of rain and wind on the 12th through the 13th. The garden did appreciate the rainfall though and was starting to show signs of autumn with its quickly changing foliage, as leaves took on hues of pink, orange and gold. As Coneflowers went to seed, blooms including Montauk Daisies and Balloon Flower continued their show.

November

The month of November started off with mild temperatures, then an artic blast brought the very first snow showers of the season on the 11th as the morning temperatures dipped into the low 30's with an afternoon high of 42 degrees. The evening brought strong wind gusts, giving a feeling like winter had arrived. Following were more normal seasonal temperatures in the 50's, bringing a sigh of relief that the much colder temperatures hopefully were on hold for a while. There were still blooms to be seen, lots of foliage transitioning, and bright red berries appearing on 'Nellie Stevens' Holly. 

December

December brought seasonal temperatures plummeting into the 30's and 40's by day and into the teens on some nights, as the garden entered dormancy. Just like that, on the morning of the 14th as we awoke, the weather predictions had became true. Our first snow had arrived and the once green landscape had turned into a snowy winter wonderland with seven inches total of snowfall. It became official...it was the largest December snowfall we have had in years. There was something about that first snow that brought a warm feeling to my heart.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and the virtual recap of my 2025 garden. As we begin a new year, I wish you and yours a wonderful, happy and healthy 2026 with lots of new and wonderful memories and gardens that will thrive! As always, happy gardening and thank you so much for being here!

 Sharing a Love of Gardening with my 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

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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May: Color, Color Everywhere!

Welcome!

Welcome to my May garden! I am happy to see you here! Here on Long Island, as everywhere else, the weather patterns have been erratic. From summer like temperatures pushing into the high 70's in the beginning of the month to days in the 50's and now a series of repeating rain events, the spring of 2024 has certainly been interesting. The garden does adjust though and there is new growth and lots of blooms to see. Join me for a tour of my Long Island zone 7b garden.

Patio Border

Our first stop is at the patio border where Weeping Norway Spruce is accompanied by Nandina 'Obsession' and Ajuga 'Black Scallop'. Nandina 'Obsesssion' is an evergreen, non-invasive species and stays at a compact size of just two to three feet over time. Ajuga 'Black Scallop' displays deep greenish-black foliage with purple blooms in springtime. 

Backyard Island Bed Western Side

In the back island bed, Variegated Weigela is forming buds which will soon become pink flowers and is joined by Coral Bells 'Palace Purple', Hydrangea Limelight and evergreens Mugo Pine and Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta'. 

Shade Garden

In the back shade garden is Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel' joined by Pulmonaria (Lungwort) with its polka dot foliage and deep purple blooms.

Azalea Season!

As the Azalea are blooming, Rhododendron buds are getting ready to open within a couple of weeks. A Skyland's Oriental Spruce joins the mix in the backdrop.

Perennial Border Renovation

I have been revamping the perennial border as it was time for a change and planted this Trombly's 'Red Sentinel' columnar Japanese Maple as the focal point last fall. Just a week ago I added three Spirea 'Candy Corn' behind it while keeping the existing Lamb's Ear and Astilbe. The goal is to achieve a lower maintenance garden. 

May is Ajuga Time!

Here are the blooms of Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' in the raised island bed...

Welcoming Committee!

and here is the welcoming committee to greet you! It just would not be the same without them!

Patio Border

Along the opposite section of the newly renovated patio garden is Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple and Salvia 'Blue by You'. This cultivar of perennial Salvia is supposed to be longer blooming. We shall see!

Patio Border

Along the patio border, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is doing well after the winter and is displaying its continuous array of golden color with white trumpet-shaped blooms to follow in summer.

Azalea 'Girard's Crimson'

Here is Azalea 'Girard's Fuschia' all in bloom. If you are looking for an Azalea that catches the eye, give this one a try. The color of its blooms are amazing!

Backyard Island Bed Northern Side

This combination of Hinoki Cypress, Mugo Pine, dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue', Caramel Coral Bells, Gold Lace Juniper and Dwarf Japanese Andromeda 'Cavatine' resides in the back raised island bed. A mature Crape Myrtle is in the backdrop. Stay tuned for blooms in July! 

Pool Border

Following along to the pool border, reblooming Encore Azalea is joined by Sedum 'Angelina'. The Azalea will repeat bloom later towards fall while the sedum will produce spikes of yellow blooms in summer.

Kwanzan Cherry

Springtime means it's Cherry blossom season and here is the amazing Kwanzan Cherry. It seems that the blooms started a little earlier this year, so I am enjoying them while they last.

Allium Globemaster

While awaiting the blooms of Allium 'Globemaster', Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' is showing off its delicate lavender blooms in the front garden. 

Weeping Eastern Redbud

Large heart-shaped foliage will start to emerge soon. 

Driveway Border

Along the driveway border garden, Dwarf Norway Spruce is accompanied by golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce, Hinoki Cypress, Coral Bark Maple, Spilled Wine Weigela and Nepeta 'Walker's Low'..

Driveway Border

  while Spirea 'Magic Carpet'  prepares for its dramatic blooms!

Front Island Bed & Lawn

As the tour comes to an end, let's venture around to the front corner island bed with a combination of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennials and lawn where two mature Weeping Japanese Maple reside.

Front Lawn

I admire them every season of the year both structurally and for their foliage. Nature sure does work its magic!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and look forward to seeing what you have growing in your area. 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, Image-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. 

 Are you an avid gardener or wanting to learn?  My books can help you! 

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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

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