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