Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March: Countdown to Spring!

Welcome!

As spring approaches in less than a week and with temperatures finally getting up into the upper 50’s, the garden is starting to come to life after its winter sleep. It has been an unusual winter all around with mild temperatures followed by temperatures in the teens and single digits with very little in the way of snow to insulate the garden, followed by lots of wind during the month of February and into the beginning of March.  It has been within the past week that Mother Nature has thrown the switch for spring to arrive. Welcome to my zone 7B Long Island garden, and join me for a tour!

Hellebore 'Shooting Star'

One of my favorite views in the garden this time of year are the colorful bracts of Hellebore ‘Shooting Star’. The buds started back in January with some blooms in February and they have been somewhat delayed due to the weather, but they are now in full speed ahead for March.

Hellebore 'Merlin'

Hellebore 'Merlin' is just getting its buds and 'Champion' will probably not be blooming until April, but for this gardener it just brings more anticipation and something to look forward to.

Nandina 'Obsession'

While waiting for early blooms, I am still enjoying the colorful foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' against the lime green foliage of Dwarf Cryptomeria...and some signs of spring are upon us!

Hello Hyacinths!

Well, hello Hyacinths! The foliage has surfaced in just the past week and give hope of blooms to follow. 

Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' 

While walking throughout the garden, the bark of Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves' really catches the eye. It is not something I have particularly noticed before, but this March it seems to call to me to get a closer look. The bark exfoliating is an adaption for shedding old growth and creating new; hence, strengthening the tree.

Coral Bark Maple

While the garden is waking up, the coral-red bark of Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' is still vibrant against the deep blue sky and soon the Weigela in the foreground will start to get some new buds.

Crocus!

Slowly but surely, crocus is starting to emerge from its dormancy. I have gardening friends in cooler climates with crocus already blooming, so these are taking their time! I just looked back at the March post from last year  and the crocus were in full bloom. I think the spans of temperatures in the teens and single digits really delayed their growth. Is your (almost spring) garden on time or delayed?

Front Island Bed

Here on the front island bed is the view for March with some signs of new buds on deciduous shrubs and perennials. As mentioned before, the evergreens hold down the fort in winter with their continuing interest.

Holly Berries

The bright red berries of Nellie Stevens Holly are always a treat both for the senses and for the birds...

Weeping White Pine

and something as simple as a single pine cone from Weeping White Pine can be fun to photograph.

Hello Allium 'Globemaster' !

In the same garden bed, Allium 'Globemaster' is emerging on time. I enjoy the pinkish-red tips that border the foliage, with large lavender-purple blooms to follow!

'Low Glow' Pine

Along the patio border is the interesting foliage of Pinus 'Low Glow', which will get even more attractive as it produces new brighter light green clusters, that almost glow. Alongside 'Low Glow' is Juniperus 'Gold Strike' with its deeper winter foliage that will become more golden as the temperatures warm.

More Hellebores!

As we get near the end of our stroll, here is another look at Hellebore 'Shooting Star'. It's creamy-rose blooms and golden yellow stamens make for a wonderful addition to the northern border, and it will continue to bloom through April.

And Indoors...

As the landscape awakens outside, African Violet continues to bloom indoors...

Blooms Continue!

while Thanksgiving Cactus just keeps on giving. I find that by pinching back growth slightly after bloom, new growth emerges and more blooms develop bringing interest right into spring.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my March 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. 

IN THE NEWS! Celebrating two months since The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants came to be! If you are into houseplants, this may be the book for you! I cover over 120 plant selections with full color photographs of each one and detailed descriptions on care and maintenance.

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 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!

Check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe and receive monthly updates 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 2010-2025. All rights reserved. 

This Month's Color in the Garden September 2017: Feature Plant-Black Mondo Grass

This Month's Color in the Garden

Welcome to This Month's Color in the Garden! It's September and the feature color is black. Black is a rare and unusual color in the garden, but is exquisite when mixed with the right combination of plants. Although there are no truly black flowers or foliage, some varieties appear black due to the deepness of the purple or burgundy hues within them. Black blooms or foliage can bring interest and drama to the landscape when used properly. One plant in particular, which is known for its striking black foliage, is Black Mondo Grass. Mondo Grass is actually not a grass, but rather a member of the genus Ophiopogon, a genus of evergreen perennial plants native to India, China, Japan and Vietnam. Black Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' is considered a ground cover that grows to approximately ten inches tall and slowly spreads to about two feet in width. Foliage emerges as dark green in spring and matures to a deep purplish-black by summer. Black Mondo Grass is hardy in zones 6-10.

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' )

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' produces spikes of small light pink-white bell shaped flowers in mid-summer, followed by small black berries. Mondo Grass prefers to be grown in full to partial shade in a well-drained, slightly acidic soil. In cooler climates, Mondo Grass can withstand some sun. These plants can be propagated by division, best to be performed in early spring before new growth emerges. 

Black Mondo Grass and Golden Japanese Sedge (Photo Credit: Houzz Idea Books) 

To add that wanted interest and drama to the garden, combine Mondo Grass with other grass-like plantings such as Variegated Liriope, Golden Japanese Sedge and Golden Variegated Sweet Flag (as pictured above). Black Mondo Grass fits into a variety of garden styles, including container gardening, mass plantings and rock gardens. Mondo Grass is mostly maintenance free, except for an occasional feeding with a light fertilizer, or as mentioned, a division in spring. If desired, prune back old foliage in spring to tidy up the plant and promote new growth. 

Black Mondo Grass with Variegated Liriope in Backdrop

When discussing the color wheel and design, black, white and gray are not true colors (or hues) but are considered as neutral, achromatic colors. According to the language of flowers, the color black has been associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery throughout history. It denotes a feeling of strength and authority, and is considered to be formal, elegant, and prestigious. In the horticultural industry, plant developers have been working on hybridizing even darker varieties of plants due to the increased interest of using black in the garden. 

I hope you enjoyed This Month's Color in the Garden for September. Please do share your experiences with the color black in your garden, whether it be with plants, hardscape or garden decor. Next, join me for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up on the 15th! See you around the garden!

 Linking with: Today's Flowers, Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Friday Photo Journal and Dishing It & Digging It.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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

Book Launching: Introducing My Second Book-Landscape Design Combinations!

Landscape Design Combinations

The Story Behind the Book:

I am very excited to be officially announcing the launching of my second book, Landscape Design Combinations! Fifty something years ago, I developed a passion for all things green and started digging in the soil by the age of five. In the 1980's, I entered the field of education and after sixteen years, with the encouragement of friends, started up a landscape design business in 1996. I took up an interest in blog writing and photography in 2010, and after retiring from 32 years of teaching in 2013, I decided to put all my experiences into a published work. I had quickly realized that writing and publishing a book was not an easy task, but persisted in accomplishing what I had started. By 2015, I published my first book A Guide to Northeastern Gardening. 

The thought of starting the process all over again was the furthest thing from my mind, but to my own astonishment, the desire to write within me grew even stronger. There was still so much I wanted to share. As I started to write, the words came easily, and a second book started to materialize.  Now, two years later, I have completed Landscape Design Combinations, which takes the first book a step further by going much deeper into the design process, while offering numerous landscape designs with labeled photographs and descriptions. One can say that it completes what I had started. I am now thrilled to be able to share my love of gardening and design with you through a second book. 

What does this book have to offer?

Landscape Design Combinations is a comprehensive guide to help you plan your outdoor space. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by “what to plant where” in your garden, or have spent months, or even years, not knowing where to begin, Landscape Design Combinations will help to facilitate the process. The first two chapters deal with the basic principles of landscape design and color coordination. You will get ideas for the desired function of your space and discover your own personal sense of garden style and color preference. Throughout the book, each chapter builds upon the one before it, discussing foliage combinations, then types of and proper placement of evergreens, followed by flowering shrubs and finally, perennials.

Numbered and labeled photographs are supplied throughout the book with information on each plant, such as common or scientific name, plant descriptions and cold hardiness. Once plant usage and placement is covered, the remaining chapters discuss hardscape, with directions on how to build a simple stone walkway or patio, along with more information on garden styles. Each chapter will incorporate plants discussed earlier and create designs starting from simple perennial combinations to full landscape designs.

Discussion of evergreens and flowering plants will focus on placement and interest provided, while perennial combinations will include bloom time for each plant discussed. As each chapter progress, more detailed design plan layouts will be provided as a guide to assist you in planning your space. In the later chapters, topics covered include designing for seasonal interest, container combinations and hardscaping, with easy to follow designs. The book ends with "Garden Inspiration", which discusses garden styles throughout the centuries and how various design elements have developed over the years. Finally, a glossary is included with definitions of design terms used throughout the book.

About the Book:

Landscape Design Combinations provides the necessary tools to help you easily plan your garden, while offering a multitude of design plans with labeled photographs and detailed descriptions. Topics such as landscape design principles, color in design, the use of foliage, designing with deciduous and evergreen plants, planter combinations and landscape planning are discussed. Additional topics include designing with hardscape with “quick and easy” landscape designs and garden styles throughout history, with colorful illustrations. The information presented is applicable to both novice or professional gardener alike, and is all based on Lee Miller’s personal experience as a landscape designer for over twenty years. Lee Miller is also the author of “A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer”, initially published in 2015.

About the Author: 

Lee Miller is a professional landscape/garden designer involved in the horticultural industry since 1996. Having started a gardening blog in 2010, she is the author of over 200 articles on general gardening, landscape design principles, gardening tips, planting, pruning, garden maintenance, feature plants and more. In addition, Lee Miller has donated her time as a contributing writer for the American Heart Association Gardening Blog, as well as Gardening Know How, and has been involved as a presenter at local gardening clubs. 

To Preview Landscape Design Combinations, simply click on the link or icon below. I hope to inspire you!

Landscape Design Combinations

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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

2016 Long Island Garden: A Year in Review

January 2016 Garden

As 2016 comes to an close, it is time to reflect on the past year in the garden. The year started off with no snow and milder than normal temperatures in the mid-upper 40's, but "Mother Nature" works in mysterious ways, and decided to bring in winter towards the end of the month! On January 23rd, winter storm Jonas came our way and delivered 20.2 inches of snow, as the thermometer plummeted to daytime highs struggling to get out of the 30's. The once green landscape had been covered in a blanket of snow. 

February 2016 Garden

February arrived with remains of snow on the ground and an early show of spring weather was predicted by the infamous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. More scientifically, the National Weather Service forecast had also called for the continuation of the "mild winter". It was mild, after all, all the way up to the first, with only one significant snow in January. After that news we were hit out of the blue with another snowfall, winter storm Lexi on the 5th, bringing seven inches of glistening white to cover the landscape. Another snowfall followed on the 8th and temperatures had plummeted into the 20's. As time went on in February, any remaining snow had melted and temperatures were back up into the mid-40's. 

March 2016 Garden

Despite the few snow falls we experienced, the winter of 2016 went down as the mildest winter on record since 2003. March came about with windy days and temperatures rising into the 50's and 60's. Blooms started appearing in the landscape as crocus and hyacinth bulbs emerged from their sleep. The arrival of spring had come early, like all the forecasters had predicted. March was so much different from the year before, as in 2015 the gardens were covered under a blanket of snow.  It seemed as if an "early spring" was to be expected.

April 2016 Garden

The start of April brought in an unexpected last snow of the season, as much to say it was the last hurrah. The white covering on the ground quickly melted within the same day to expose the spring bulbs that had been well under way. After an unusually mild winter, the temperatures were much lower than usual for April. The official start of spring surprisingly ended up being one of the coldest on record, along with prolonged periods of rain.

May 2016 Garden

After a very chilly April and start of May, the temperatures finally started getting back to normal with highs up into the 60's and 70's. Spring was on full speed ahead as Viburnum, Azalea, Rhododendron, Salvia and spirea were all in bloom. The new gardening season was well underway, and the month of May was fabulous with all its bursts of color throughout the landscape.

June 2016 Garden

June came along with more colorful displays of blooms, as temperatures rose up into the mid to upper 70's with some days in the 80's. The perennials seemed to be bigger and brighter than usual after the snowfall in January and chilly spring. At this time, some of my favorites in the garden, including giant Allium, Knock Out Roses and Peony Bartella were all in bloom, and life was good!

July 2016 Garden

With July came a succession of more colorful blooms throughout the landscape. While June temperatures had remained in the upper 70's to lower 80's, the month of July brought a warming trend with some days reaching into the upper 80's and low 90's. The perennial borders had a continuous array of color, along with the arrival of new blooms daily. The month of July went by with some record temperatures and little rainfall.

August 2016 Garden

The month of August was a transitional time for the garden. There were subtle signs of fall approaching, as the early summer blooms had faded; however, a whole new wave of blooms and color were arriving for late summer interest. Heat waves came and went as temperatures lingered in the upper 80's and 90's for days, then slowly returned to what was normal for that time of year.

September 2016 Garden

September arrived as Hurricane Hermine was lingering off the eastern coastline. We were thankful that we had been spared from the storm making landfall, and the effects had brought the much needed rainfall that we have been waiting for. The temperatures had finally gone back down into the 80's and the rains brought relief, revitalizing the garden.

October 2016 Garden

The month of October arrived as the temperatures declined into the 60's, and there was a refreshing chill in the air, but still warm enough for the garden to keep on thriving. An array of both new and established blooms continued on in the garden, as roses, lilies, butterfly bush and viburnum continued to flower, joined by chrysanthemums, liriope and daisies. 

November 2016 Garden

As the temperatures dipped into the 50's, November brought many changes as foliage that was once green turned to hues of orange and gold. I remember it being a lot colder in November growing up as a child, so temperatures in the 50's were not all that bad, and still warm enough to be outside and enjoy the garden.

December 2016 Garden

December on Long Island brought in normal temperatures for the time of year in the 30's and 40's with a week or so in the 20's, which felt much colder because we had been fortunate to have pretty mild temperatures all winter. With a lack of snow, except for one dusting, I could still go out into the garden and do some cutting back of perennials and weeding. It seems as if the gardening season gets longer every year, and this gardener does not mind a bit!

Overall, it was a wonderful year in the garden and now that winter has finally set in, my love of gardening moves indoors as I resume my writing. It keeps the mind fresh during the winter months and after publishing my first book last year, the desire to write is within me. As a matter of fact, my second book is actually nearing completion! During writing about my passion, I do take that occasional walk outdoors into my own garden and plan for those days ahead when the landscape awakens from its winters sleep. After all...as Marie Huston put it..."The gardening season officially begins on January 1st, and ends on December 31"...so I go with that thought and garden on!

As 2016 comes to a close, I wish all of you a very Happy and Healthy 2017! Happy New Year! 😊

As Always...Happy Gardening!

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

Feature Spring Perennial: Hybrid Peony: Itoh Paeonia 'Bartzella'-A True Beauty!

Paeonia x 'Bartzella'

I came across a new hybrid variety of Paeonia called Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' this past week and thought it was definitely worth sharing the information I found on it.  As an avid gardener and designer I was thrilled to find this yellow beauty to fill a void in my garden where the past harsh winter had severely damaged an established spirea. Itoh Peonies are hybrids created from a blend of woody Tree Peonies and herbaceous Garden Peonies. The plant is named after the Japanese breeder Mr.Toichi Itoh who created the first hybrid. The first successful cross was made in 1948 but this cultivar is considered to be relatively new.  The enormous double blossom flowers on this plant are breathtaking and resemble that of tree peonies but have the expanded color range of garden peonies. Their stems are sturdy like those of a tree peony and will support the weight of the unusually large blooms that appear in late spring. Itoh Peonies are hardy in zones 4-9, grow to a height of 30-36 inches and once established have an extended bloom time in succession for up to a month. 

Paeonia x 'Bartzella'

Plant Itoh Paeonia 'Bartzella' in full sun and in a moist, well-drained soil.  Keep them evenly moist to establish a deep, extensive root system but do not over water.  As blooms fade remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms.  After blooming, the dark green foliage of this hybrid peony resembles that of Tree Peony and adds interest to the garden well into fall. At the end of the season cut back stalks and cover with a thin layer of mulch as you would treat any herbaceous peony to protect the roots. Paeonia 'Bartzella' serve beautifully as a single focal point or as a mass planting and fit into a large range of garden styles including perennial borders, foundation plantings and cottage gardens.  As an added bonus Paeonia 'Bartzella' are also disease resistant, deer resistant, low maintenance and long-lived... hands down a winner!

As Always...Happy Gardening! 

                                             

       Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Structural Elements in the Landscape: Natural Stone

In the past several years garden planning has turned to even more of an emphasis on outdoor living space, extending the indoor living space outwards in order to serve a specific function.  Throughout history, natural stone has been used around the world for building due to its beauty and durability.  As a designer I have used a combination of natural and man-made materials in creating outdoor spaces and nothing leads to a more natural setting than (well you guessed it) natural stone itself.  Natural stone is elegant, low-maintenance and timeless.  It is known for its selection of various colors, structures and textures that vary slightly in each piece so that no two stones are ever exactly alike.  Natural stone ages well and retains a natural patina which only adds to the beauty nature gave it. 

Pennsylvania Moss Rock Wall

One of my favorite natural stones to use is Pennsylvania Moss Rock.  Pennsylvania Moss Rock is easily accessible in the northeast and adds interest to a variety of landscapes ranging from back garden beds to front foundation plantings, woodland gardens, cottage gardens, perennial borders and more.  The stone adds natural beauty to the landscape and may be purchased with or without the moss growing right on it.  The moss is easy to maintain with regular watering and adds that extra touch.  Moss Rock is available in a large range of sizes depending on your landscaping needs.

Pennsylvania Bluestone Border

A popular stone used for raised walls is Pennsylvania Irregular Bluestone.  It's color ranges from mainly blue to grey with occasional tinges of browns and greens.  It comes in one to three inch slabs which can be neatly stacked to form a decorative stone border as shown in the above photograph...

Pennsylvania Bluestone Wall

or as a stacked retaining wall adding dimension to a foundation planting as seen here. The wall is serving several functions, including improving grade of the property, separating the garden bed from the lawn area and adding a decorative touch to the landscape. 

Irregular Bluestone Patio

Another use of Irregular Bluestone is for the creation of an informal outdoor patio as in the two photographs shown.  This natural look fits well into a woodland or cottage garden setting and the homeowner will be able to enjoy lounging around a fire pit...

Pennsylvania Bluestone Patio

entertaining guests or perhaps enjoy some quiet time reading a book.



NY Bluestone Patio

This New York bluestone patio is constructed on a concrete base with mortared joints for a more formal look along with the beauty of natural stone. The shades of this stone range from a blue base color to a mix of brown, green, grey, and purple accents along with a natural cleft surface. Informal gardens surround this space with a mixture of evergreens and perennials.

Crab Orchard Stone Patio 

This patio is constructed of Crab Orchard Stone, a beautiful natural sandstone which comes from the quarries in Tennessee.  Even though a sandstone, Crab Orchard is exceptionally hard and weather resistant due to its high silica content. The stone's natural colors range from buff to tan, pink, yellow and golden-brown.  The yellow and brown swirls that give the stone its unique appearance are formed from iron stains and natural weathering.



Irregular Bluestone Backyard Path

For an informal backyard path huge slabs of irregular bluestone can be placed into a surrounding lawn as seen here with this path leading from the back gate to the deck and pool patio area or to perhaps leading to a secret backyard garden (below).

Irregular Bluestone Garden Path

 For a more formal look bluestone treads can be used.  This labyrinth design features a combination of both manufactured pavers and natural stone.

 Natural Bluestone  2' x 2' Treads and Bluestone Gravel

 The use of hardscape has increasingly become a more functional aspect of landscape design and is used in a variety of ways from basic walkways, driveways and patios to garden paths, fire-pit areas, retaining walls and garden borders.  Going even further it is used in the construction of veneers, lampposts, benches, outdoor bars, fireplaces, kitchens and outdoor decorations.  Modern technology has allowed manufactures to replicate the natural look of stone in a multitude of beautiful paving materials.  Depending on your taste and budget you may choose to go with either natural or manufactured materials or a combination of each. Either way the timeless elegance of natural looking stone is here to stay.

As Always...Happy Gardening!

  

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved