A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING: late summer gardening

Showing posts with label late summer gardening. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September: Late Summer Garden Tour

Welcome!

Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! With fall approaching rapidly, the summer seems to have dwindled away so quickly. While the seasons are changing with cooler temperatures mostly in the 70's and much needed rain, the garden continues to produce interesting foliage and blooms. Join me for a tour and discover what there is to see!

Back Island Bed

Starting in the back island bed, the later blooming Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is still showing off its blooms, which turn in color from greenish-white to white and then to the pinkish tint, which you see here as we approach the fall season.

Patio Garden

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' along the patio border is starting to produce its trumpet shaped white blooms in mid-September, which will continue into October. Since I introduced this relatively new addition to the garden, I have been enjoying the late summer interest and the foliage as well, as it remains mostly evergreen throughout the different seasons.

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'

Here are the blooms up close!

Blue Globe Spruce and Echinacea (Coneflower)

Along the patio border, Blue Globe Spruce is in the distance with Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' in the foreground. The American Goldfinches have really enjoyed the seed heads of the Echinacea this year!

Echinacea Late Summer

There are a couple of somewhat remaining blooms...

Echinacea Seed Head

and I am enjoying the interesting spiral structure of the seed heads.

Liriope 'Big Blue'

In the back shade border, Liriope 'Big Blue' (Lilyturf) is showing off its wonderful bright purple blooms...

Jacob's Ladder

while variegated Jacob's Ladder is displaying its wonderful foliage! The plant itself stays a compact 12 to 18 inches tall and produces bluish-purple blooms in late spring.

Northern Fenceline

Along the northern fence-line, Kousa Dogwood is joined by miniature Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar') and Hosta 'Patriot'.

Back Shade Border 'Secret Garden'

Following the stepping stone path around to the "secret garden" is where Weeping Norway Spruce can be seen along with Mountain Hydrangea, Heuchera 'Caramel' (Coral Bells) and Jacob's Ladder.

Endless Summer Hydrangea Almost Fall

There are still the remains of some blooms on Endless Summer Hydrangea, and on the other side of the yard, Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' continues to bloom as we approach the back perimeter garden.

Back Perimeter View

Here is a view of a section of the back gardens along the perimeter on the southern side of the property with the patio garden in the foreground. Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' starts its bloom at the end of July and continues into fall.

Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit'

Here is another relatively new addition (within the last three years). Meet Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit'. Its white blooms are now getting their wonderful pinkish tint.

Sedum 'Pure Joy'

Speaking of pink, Sedum 'Pure Joy' is still blooming away since August...

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

and blooming all summer long with its bright red blooms is Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'.

Back Patio Garden

For a little foliage, here is Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple with variegated Osmanthus 'Goshiki' Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Dwarf Mugo Pine 'Slowmound' (left) and Dwarf Red Pine 'Low Glow' (right).

Front Island Bed with Moss Rock Boulder Wall

Follow me as we go around to the southeastern lawn where we see the newly added Nepeta 'Chartreuse' (Catmint) along the front of the new boulder wall. Since the large tree came down from the corner, the area is now receiving full sun and the Nepeta is doing well.

Front Eastern Border

Along the front foundation and facing directly east is golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni', Juniperus 'Blue Star' and Japanese Variegated Sedge. With a slight cleaning out this past spring, the variegated sedge is exceptionally vibrant this season.

Hydrangea 'Tardiva' Front Northern Side

Hydrangea 'Tardiva' is one of the latest blooming hydrangea varieties and is blooming away for late summer through fall. I look forward to its large white panicle shaped flowers every year as the summer nears its end.

Hydrangea 'Tardiva' Blooms Up Close!

Here are the delicate blooms up close.

Starting to Look Like Fall!

As we near the end of the tour, you can see the changing foliage of Weeping Japanese Maple on the front lawn with Blue Atlas Cedar in the backdrop...

Tea Time!

and perhaps it is now time to enjoy a nice hot cup of tea!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my September 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, and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden.

Connect With Me 🌼

It's time to plan your garden! 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!

Saturday, August 15, 2026

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

Welcome!

Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! As summer passes by quickly, the month of August brings both an abundance of heat and blooms. With some days in the 90’s, thunderstorms arrive in the evening hours and bring some needed rain to the garden. Late bloomers such as Crape Myrtle, hydrangea, allium and balloon flower (to name a few) bring color to the landscape. Join me for a tour of my late summer garden!

Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit'

The first stop is along the entry to the backyard as you pass through the gate. This newly transformed garden has stolen my heart as it was once my mom's iris garden which had finally run its course after some forty years. I planted these Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' as a tribute to her and they have grown and become even more beautiful over the past three years. As fall arrives, the once white blooms will take on a pinkish hue.

Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

Also in the back portion of the property is another late summer blooming hydrangea, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime', which brings beautiful white blooms to give contract against the deep green foliage of the Compacta Hinoki Cypress behind it, Mugo Pine to the right and Variegated Weigela 'My Monet' to the left.

Patio Surround

Along the patio border is Trombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple, Ableia 'Kaliedoscope' (blooms late August-September), Spirea 'Candy Corn', Echinacea and a rarely seen variety of Balloon Flower known as Platycodon grandiflorus 'Komachi' whose flowers never open up, but rather remain as uninflated puffed up balloons!

Platycodon 'Komachi' (Balloon Flower)
Here are the blooms up close, and yes...it lives up to its name!

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'

On an island bed on the southern side of the property is Crape Myrtle 'Sioux', which started blooming about two weeks earlier this year, along with Compact Hinoki Cypress (to the left), Mugo Pine (front) and Juniperus 'Gold Lace' in the backdrop. The hydrangeas along the fence-line are completing their bloom for the season.

Buddleia 'Pugster Blue'

On the opposite side of the raised island bed is Buddleia 'Pugster Blue', a dwarf non-invasive hybrid of Butterfly Bush with large, deep purple blooms.

Spirea 'Candy Corn' and Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

Bordering the patio is Spirea 'Candy Corn' with a second mini round of blooms and in the foreground is Echinacea.

Southern Border Garden-Secret Garden

Leaving the southern secret garden presents a different view, from before. Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' can be seen in the distance, with Allium 'Millennium' in the foreground. I love seeing these wonderful lavender blooms in late summer. The bumblebees love them too!

Allium' Millennium'
Here is a close-up of a very happy visitor!

Northern Border

Here along the northern portion of the property is a garden statue of a boy reading a book along with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel'...

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

and along the pool border, Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' continues to bloom. An American Goldfinch visitor has been enjoying the seeds on a daily basis!

Patio Border

A dwarf form of Sedum growing to only 10-12 inches in height is Sedum 'Pure Joy'. Along the patio, it is starting to show its late summer blooms.

Back Northern Border

Along the northern fence-line, Kousa Dogwood is joined by Hosta 'Patriot', Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar', Gold Lace Juniper (to the right) and Endless Summer Hydrangea to the left.

Rudbeckia 'Little GoldStar' (Dwarf Black Eyed Susan)

I enjoy how this cultivar of Rudbeckia is dwarf, more compact and does not spread everywhere.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Summer is winding down, so Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' is pushing out another round of its white star-like blooms resembling snowflakes...

Pool Border

and the Golden Pacific Juniper which I planted a few years ago seems to be very happy as it trails down the moss rock waterfall. The Juniper is joined by a mature Weeping Norway Spruce and Upright Variegated Boxwood.

Back Shade-Secret Garden

As we approach the end of the tour, a bluestone path leads to the back northern secret shade garden where another Weeping Norway Spruce is joined by 'Caramel' Coral Bells, Pulmonaria, Jacob's Ladder, Cherry Laurel and Variegated Boxwood. At the very end is a miniature bird bath which is visible around the corner bend.

Thanks 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, and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden.

Connect With Me 🌼

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

Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Monday, September 15, 2025

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September: Late Summer Long Island Garden

Welcome to my Garden!

Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden! After two months of extreme heat and drought, the seasons have shifted into fall mode 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 appear and some blooms keep their momentum going, join me for a tour of my garden, a place that brings me joy.

Spirea 'Candy Corn' & Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

One of the first signs of autumn each year are the fading blooms of Coneflower, creating a feast of seeds for birds. Here is Echinacea (Coneflower) Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' against the foliage of 'Candy Corn' Spirea.

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'

While Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' displays variegated evergreen foliage throughout the year, an added bonus is its trumpet shaped white blooms in later summer and into fall.

Patio Border

Along the patio border Upright Japanese Maple 'Red Sentinel' is pushing out some new growth...

Lamb's Ear (Stachys)

while the white fuzzy foliage of Lamb's Ear (Stachys) against the candy corn-colored foliage of Spirea 'Candy Corn' provide the excellent fall look!

Sedum 'Brilliant' (Stonecrop)

Out of the many varieties of Sedum available, Sedum 'Brilliant' provides excellent late summer color on a more compact plant, which grows to just 18-24 inches tall.

Pool Border

Another variety of Sedum (Stonecrop) is this Sedum 'Thundercloud' with tight clusters of small white flowers, which stays at about 12 inches tall. The blooms do remind me of thunderclouds; hence the name!

Pool Waterfall

Along the pool waterfall the Weeping Norway Spruce that was planted in 2023 is finally feeling at home and pushing out an abundance of new growth, while Golden Pacific Juniper starts to trail gracefully over the rocks. An mix of Upright Variegated Boxwood and groundcover Sedum accompanies them.

Hydrangea 'Tardiva'

Join me on the northern side of the property. Here is a sight I look forward to every year. The panicle white blooms of Hydrangea 'Tardiva' appear much later in summer and last well into fall.

Hydrangea 'Tardiva'

Here is a view of the full tree along with Repandens Yew and Variegated Lilyturf.

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' Late Summer

A true winner in the garden is Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' displaying blooms non-stop from spring through fall with little interruption. I deadhead after each round of blooms and it just keeps on giving!

Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Late Summer

Stella D Oro' Daylily is another winner with a burst of new foliage and reblooms late summer into fall with a little bit of mid-summer rejuvenation.

A Welcomed Visitor!

It is late summer and Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue' is blooming away and attracting the Monarchs. I was thrilled to get this photograph, as I was in the right place at the right time! Note: This dwarf form of Buddleia is long blooming and non-invasive!

Dwarf Butterfly Bush 'Pugster Blue'

Here is 'Pugster Blue' again along with the foliage of Dwarf Mugo Pine and Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' in the backdrop.

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' has been producing a nice bloom since it was behind a couple of weeks during the cooler than usual spring. It has also been exfoliating bark much more than I recall in past years. Note: An interesting tidbit is that exfoliation is a sign that there has been a lot of growth during a season and this process is the tree's way of making room.

Liriope (Lilyturf) 'Big Blue'

This has also been a good year for Liriope 'Big Blue'. I love the spikes of deep purple blooms it produces this time of year.

Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple Patio Border

For some more late summer color, here is some of the new growth on Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple along with the variegated evergreen foliage of Osmanthus 'Goshiki', blue foliage of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and backdrop of Emerald Green Arborvitae and Knock Out Roses.

Front Walkway Garden

Along the front walkway and driveway border is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist', Weeping White Pine, Golden Oriental Spruce and Coral Bark Maple, which is starting to look a little bit fall-like!

Front Lawn

Along the front lawn is a 40 year old Weeping Japanese Maple...

Hydrangea Firelight 'Tidbit'

and by the back walkway entry (planted last year) are 2-year old Hydrangea Firelight 'Tidbit'!

Hydrangea Firelight 'Tidbit'

Their blooms have gone from pale green to pure white and now take on a rosy glow.

Patio Planter (All Season)

Last, but not least, is this reliable all-season planter on the front stoop. I created this combination of evergreen Juniper, Dwarf Alberta Spruce and dwarf variegated Osmanthus (False Holly), which thrive perfectly together!

Thank you for Visiting!

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!

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 and receive monthly updates right into your inbox!

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

Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Welcome!

Welcome to A Guide to Northeastern Gardening. I am a landscape/garden designer, consultant, speaker and book author from the south shore of Long Island. Involved in the horticultural field since 1996, I started this blog so that I could share my love of gardening with others. Join me for over 350 articles on general gardening, landscape design principles, gardening tips, planting, pruning, garden maintenance, feature plants and more. I look forward to and welcome your comments and will try my best to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you for visiting and do come back often! Happy Gardening! ~ Lee (A Guide to Northeastern Gardening)