Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up August: Late Summer Views & Blooms!

Welcome!

Welcome to A Guide to Northeastern Gardening and to my August Long Island zone 7b garden! With record breaking heat, this has been our hottest summer on record as June hit 101°F. July also ended up being more than 3°F warmer than average and nearly tied for as “hottest on record” along with five inches of rainfall on the 31st. Now that we are in the start of August, the first week brought much cooler temperatures in the low 80's, with another heat wave back again this week. The garden is in full bloom, so join me for a tour!

Lilium 'Stargazer'

Our first stop is along the pool border where Lilium 'Stargazer', with its fragrant blooms. It had an earlier bloom time compared to previous years, so here is a view from two weeks ago.

Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue'

Today in the garden, Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue' is in full bloom along with the start of flowers on Sedum 'Brilliant'.

Sedum ' Pure Joy'

Sedum 'Pure Joy' is starting to display its more compact pale pink blooms. This cultivar grows to a smaller size of just 10-12 inches tall and is excellent for smaller spaces.

Backyard Island Bed

In the back raised island bed Weigela 'My Monet' is showing off its lovely variegated foliage and is accompanied by the blooms of Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'.

Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

The blooms of Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' start off as a pale green, mature to pure white, then fade to  a pinkish hue, giving all season interest.

Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' (Black Eyed Susan)

Along the back border Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' is making its presence known with an abundance of golden-yellow blooms with black centers...

Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

and Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' continues to display its long lasting blooms. I have found that a little deadheading after the first round of blooms encourages even more blooms and a longer bloom time, while leaving seed heads for the birds to munch on later in the season!

Platycodon 'Komachi'

Here is Balloon Flower, Platycodon 'Komachi' with its interesting blooms which do not open up like other species of Balloon Flower, but rather stay closed like balloons! I found this variety many years ago and I have been on a mission ever since to find it again!

Abelia 'Kaliedoscope'

Now going on its third season, Abelia 'Kaliedoscope' continues to please with its colorful variegated foliage and white trumpet-shaped blooms in later summer...

Spirea 'Candy Corn'

while upright Japanese Maple 'Twombly's Red Sentinel' and Spirea 'Candy Corn' add some colorful foliage for interest throughout the entire summer.

Allium 'Millenium'

Here is Allium 'Millenium', which I planted along the southern pool border a few years back. It is showing off its wonderful blooms! This has become a favorite in the late summer garden!

Salvia 'Blue By You'

Salvia 'Blue By You' continues to bloom along the patio border with just one deadheading back in early July. The newer cultivar of perennial Salvia is hardy in USDA zones 4-9 and has the longest bloom time I have experienced out of all the Salvia.

Double Red Knock Out Rose

Old reliable Double Knock Out Rose continues to push out blooms and will continue to do so throughout the rest of the summer and into fall...

Groundcover Sedum

and the assortment of varieties of groundcover Sedum continue to supply interest along the pool border.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' is pushing out another round of late summer blooms. I love how this more compact form of Viburnum can have several bloom periods throughout the season.

Daylily 'Stella D'Oro'

Stella D' Oro joins in the mix as well with a second round of blooms after a late summer rejuvenation.

Crape Myrle 'Sioux'

As we approach the end of our tour, Crape Myrtle is starting to display its amazing deep pink blooms.

Crape Myrle 'Sioux'

Here is a close up view! If you look closely, you can see that the tree is also in the process exfoliating its older bark. This is a normal process, especially in more mature trees, and soon the newer more colorful bark will be exposed.

Tree Hydrangea 'Tardiva'

Along the northern side of the property, Hydrangea 'Tardiva', a later blooming variety of hydrangea, is displaying its fragrant panicle-shaped white blooms... 

Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit'

and Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' is also in full bloom.  It is now showing hints of a pinkish hue on the more mature flowers. I am so enjoying this new addition for its second year.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my August 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. 

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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!

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May: Long Island Garden in Springtime!

Welcome to my Garden!

It's the month of May, a time in the garden when more blooms are appearing everyday. With temperatures now moderating into the 70's and low 80's and with some nighttime rains, the garden is coming alive with color. Join me for a stroll in my zone 7a Long Island garden!

Allium 'Globemaster' Making its Appearance!

The first stop along the way is the pool garden, where Allium 'Globemaster' is blooming among the foliage of Daylily 'Stella D Oro', which will bloom in June. A mature weeping Norway Spruce is in the backdrop.

Allium 'Globemaster'

The blooms of this Allium are magnificent and will reach up to four to five inches in diameter when fully open.

Pulmonaria and Heuchera 'Caramel'

In the back shade area, Pulmonaria has been blooming for months and is now joined by the newly formed vibrant foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel'.

Pulmonaria

Here are the Pulmonaria blooms up close.

Perennial Border

The Perennial Border also comes alive this time of year with blooms of Salvia, accompanied by Lamb's Ear, Astilbe, Coneflower and Echibeckia blooms to follow as the season progresses. 

Salvia 'May Night'

The blooms of Salvia 'May Night' are a vibrant deep purple in springtime.

Weeping Norway Spruce, Spirea 'Limemound' and Allium 'Globemaster'

Circling back around to the pool garden is the bright lime colored foliage of Spirea 'Limemound' against the darker green foliage of Weeping Norway Spruce, with Allium 'Globemaster to the left.

Weigela 'My Monet'

The pink blooms of Weigela 'My Monet' are abundant this time of year.

Weeping Norway Spruce, Nandina 'Obsession' and Ajuga

Along the patio garden is a younger Weeping Norway Spruce with the colorful foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' and blooms of Ajuga 'Black Scallop'.

Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

Here is a closer view of the purple blooms of the Ajuga.

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry Laurel )

In the shade garden, Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' is having a banner year as far as blooms!

A Little Garden Whimsy

Along the stroll is a little garden whimsy tucked in among the shrubs and blooms.

Peony 'Bartzella' Buds!

Peony 'Bartzella' is full of buds and ready to bloom within the next two weeks. This hybrid Peony stands upright and produces bright yellow blooms at the end of May.

Peony 'Bartzella' Getting Ready to Bloom!

Strolling around to the back of the pool area is another semi-shade garden with blooms of Azalea, along with Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra). 

Azalea 'Girards Fuschia' and Japanese Forest Grass

The Japanese Forest Grass does well nestled under the partial shade of the Azalea.

Azalea Girard's Rose

In the same garden are a variety of  evergreen Azalea, including this Girard's Rose.

'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum

Here is Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' with the first of its white blooms, which resemble snowflakes. This variety of Viburnum produces blooms on and off throughout summer and into fall.

Hosta 'Patriot'

Foliage is important too! Here is the attractive green and creamy-white foliage of Hosta 'Patriot'...

Driveway Border

and in the driveway border is the golden foliage of Skyland's Oriental Spruce and Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni', along with Mugo Pine, Weigela Spilled Wine (getting ready to bloom) and the bluish-purple blooms of  Nepeta 'Walker's Low'.

Picea orientalis Skyland's ('Skyland's' Oriental Spruce)

The Skyland's Spruce is loaded with baby seed cones this time of year.

Leucothoe 'Axillaris'

There is new foliage and blooms everywhere, including the new red foliage and white bell-shaped blooms on Leucothoe 'Axillaris'.

Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' (False Indigo)

Along the patio garden are the blooms of Baptisia Lemon Meringue, otherwise known as False Indigo...

Japanese Iris

and the Japanese Iris are blooming too!

Driveway Border

As we venture along to the left driveway border, Weeping Norway Spruce is accompanied by Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Blue Star Juniper and Variegated Iris.

Driveway Border

The foliage of Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is striking, especially in springtime, with pink blooms to follow.

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed the stroll through my May garden. I appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have blooming where you live! 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, Friday Bliss at Floral Passions, 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. Wishing all a wonderful spring with gardens that thrive!

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"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2023. All rights reserved.