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

Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

Tree of Life

As the summer winds down and the seasons are changing, there are slight hints of autumn with more comfortable temperatures in the 70's to lower 80's and finally some rainfall after seven weeks of drought like conditions. It was one of the hottest and driest summers I can remember here growing up on Long Island.  As the garden is officially in late summer mode, there are blooms to look forward to keep the garden going through fall, with more surprises in store for the winter months. Come along with me for a tour of  my zone 7a garden!

Weeping Norway Spruce and Sedum 'Pure Joy' (Stonecrop)

The first stop along the way is this Weeping Norway Spruce with a surprise below, that of Sedum 'Pure Joy', a more compact 10-12 inch form of Stonecrop with light pink blooms that appear in August and September. I love this compact form, as it stays low to the ground and blooms profusely, displaying a mound of  beautiful late summer color. 

Knock Out Roses

This vibrant red Double Knock Out Rose continues to bloom throughout summer into fall, and will continue to until the first frost. No deadheading is necessary, bit I like to keep the shrubs compact by pinching off higher growth. This encourages more re-blooming too.

Sedum 'Thundercloud'

Another form of groundcover Sedum is that of Sedum 'Thundercloud', displaying flat white blooms that resemble clouds, hence the name. It is low growing to just 10-12 inches high by wide and is an attraction to butterflies!

Liriope 'Big Blue' (Lilyturf)

While I often show Variegated Lilyturf in my garden, here is a look at Liriope 'Big Blue', which is really striking this time of year with its purple blooms. It certainly adds some color to the shade border.

St. John's Wort Late Summer

The St. John's Wort in the back shade garden is pushing out a few more of its yellow flowers along with its pretty red fruits, and next is Pulmonaria showing off its wonderful blue-green speckled foliage. 

Pulmonaria & Heuchera 'Caramel'

The Pulmonaria (Lungwort) resides next to the caramel foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel' (Caramel Coral Bells). Blooms will appear on the Pulmonaria in springtime and the Coral Bells are now finishing up their spikes of delicate pinkish-white flowers.

Shade Garden

Also in the back shade garden is a combination of Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass) with Leucothoe 'Axillaris'. Have I mentioned I love combining foliage?!

Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' and Sedum 'Brilliant'

On the sunnier side of the property along the pool is Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' with its late summer plumes, along with Sedum 'Brilliant', which is a compact, medium sized form of Stonecrop.

Spider Hosta Blooms!

Spider Hosta is always interesting to look at, especially when it is pushing out its deep purple blooms in late summer...

Pollinator!

and it's nice to see some pollinators enjoying the garden.

Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Late Summer

'Stella D Oro' Daylily is generating some new blooms after I rejuvenated it back in July. I love seeing the yellow blooms continue this time of year!

Sedum Groundcover Mix

The Sedum groundcover mix poolside has finished blooming, but the foliage is always interesting to look at. I will leave the dried seed heads for now, just for show and for the birds to enjoy too!

Back Island Bed

During this time of year, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is still beautiful with its white blooms that fade to pink at the summer progresses. The Hydrangea is accompanied by Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Mugo Pine, Coral Bells 'Palace Purple' and Crape Myrtle.

Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

Here are the voluminous blooms up close!

Evergreen Garden

Behind the Boxwoods along the fence resides my mother's iris garden, which is done now for the season, but  evergreens such as Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' and Blue Globe 'Montgomery' Spruce keep the garden going through the fall and winter months.

Mandevilla Vine Late Summer

The Mandevilla Vine by the back entry is still going strong, and Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band' is doing beautifully in the 20 inch planter I have it in from last year.

Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'

I am enjoying having this colorful and compact hydrangea right on the patio where all can see!

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my September garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and visiting your garden too! 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 has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still 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.  

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening In the News:

-It has been another busy season in the horticultural world and I am looking forward to retuning to virtual conferences in the fall and meeting up with like minded individuals. 

-My newest book on Shade Gardening is coming along and now undergoing the editing process...more news to come for 2023!

-In the reading world, a friend introduced me to a wonderful read for youngsters, called Garden Gruesome by Nelson R. Elliott. It touches on a different aspect of gardening through the eyes of a child as the author takes the reader through a day in the life of Gruesome Gus, as he explores his first time in the garden. There is a lesson to be learned, there are critters that lurk beneath the blooms! I enjoyed this adorable and educational book as an adult, so I think any child would enjoy it too! (Available on Amazon)

Looking for some gardening help and inspiration? Check out my Author Page & 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. 

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

 Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2022. All rights reserved.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June 2020: Welcome to my Long Island Garden!

June Garden

Welcome to my June Long Island zone 7a garden! Although we are not yet able to visit botanical gardens during this worldwide pandemic, we can still enjoy one another's private gardens and communicate as gardeners do. We all speak the same language...that is...we share the love of all things green. As the month of June arrived, it almost seemed as if "Mother Nature" had thrown a switch transforming cooler temperatures in the 60's to a sudden jump into the 70's and low 80's. With the sudden surge in warmth and frequent thunderstorms, the garden has jumped into high gear. Although I am involved in some facet of horticulture throughout the year, I must admit that my favorite time to be in the garden is from the end of May and into mid-June. Join me and come along on the tour!

Perennial Border

The perennial border comes to life in May and peaks at the end of May and into the second week in June. The main focal point is the combination of Peony 'Bartzella' (hardy in USDA zones 4-8) with Salvia 'May Night' (hardy in USDA zones 4-9). 'Bartzella' is a hybrid variety with very strong stems that do not require staking. Giant yellow blooms are formed which contrast nicely with the deep purple blooms of Salvia. The perennial border gets southwestern exposure sun from early afternoon on. I am thrilled to announce that these very captures very chosen for the Fine Gardening Magazine Photo of the Day just this past Wednesday!

Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' June

Here is a closer view of the foliage and blooms of the peony. Even after the blooms are finished, the foliage of this plant acts as a medium-sized shrub through to fall.

Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'

Salvia 'May Night'

Here is Salvia 'May Night' as it combines with the foliage of Chamaecyparis 'Gold Mop'. We will also get a view of Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld', which lies just behind the purple Salvia and to the left of the Gold Mop Cypress.

Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'

Along the fence line, Pink Double Knock Out Roses (hardy to USDA zone 5) are in full bloom from June until frost.

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

Roses are so nice to have in the yard and their mild fragrance can be detected when up close. Even though Knock Out Roses do not require deadheading to re-bloom, I still make it a practice of keeping the shrubs compact with regular trimming of extra long off-shoots. I also feed my roses monthly with a systemic food and fungal treatment, which keeps them robust and healthy.

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

Here is one of the individual roses up close for you to see.

Kousa Japanese Dogwood

In the back corner, Japanese Kousa Dogwood is in full bloom with Hosta 'Patriot' and 'Minuteman'. This variety of Kousa is known as 'Greensleeves'. It is a newer hybrid that produces more blooms and is more disease resistant.

Ilex Sky Pencil and Heuchera 'Caramel'

In the pool surround garden is Ilex 'Sky Pencil', which was introduced last year. Behind the Ilex is Heuchera 'Caramel' (Caramel Coral Bells) and in the backdrop the rhododendrons are blooming.

Southern Pool Garden

Let's venture around to the southern side of the property where a narrow lawn path leads to what I refer to as the "secret garden". Around the bend are Nepeta 'Walker's Low', Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Azalea 'Girard's Fuschia' (just finishing bloom), 'Goldmound' Spirea, rhododendron and 'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum.

Allium 'Globemaster'

Along the pool garden, Allium 'Globemaster' are on display with their voluminous lavender-purple blooms that rise above tall stalks.

Allium 'Globemaster' with 'Stella D Oro' Daylily

I plant my Allium bulbs so that they come up among the foliage of Stella D Oro Daylily. 'Limemound' Spirea is in the backdrop with a Weeping 'Red Select' Japanese Maple to the left and Star Magnolia to the right.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Come see the 'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum (hardy in USDA zones 5-8). These beauties produce delicate white blooms from late spring into summer.

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Here is one of the blooms close up for you to see.

Secret Garden

Venturing from the "secret garden", we are now headed east towards the main part of the backyard. You may notice the Nepeta we passed on the way in, along with 'Goldmound' Spirea, 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells and Variegated Hosta. The whole perspective changes as one enters and leaves the garden.

Red Double Knock Out Rose

Along the northern border (southwestern exposure) are Double Red Knock Out Roses along a Western Arborvitae backdrop.

Red Double Knock Out Rose

Let's step back a little to get the full picture!

Magic Show 'Enchanted Indigo' Verbena

This is Magic Show 'Enchanted Indigo' Verbena, hardy in USDA zones 4-8. It impressed me from the start with its spikes of violet-blue blooms that last throughout summer with just a little bit of deadheading, and the pollinators love it! The compact size of just 16 to 18 inches makes its perfect for along my patio area. The original plant has doubled in size this past year.

Driveway Border

Along the driveway border, 'Magic Carpet' Spirea and Salvia 'Caradonna' are also in bloom for the month of June and will continue blooming throughout summer. I enjoy the height on the 'Caradonna'.

Azaleas Blooming Earlier in Month

As we come towards the end of our tour, here is a flash back from just two weeks ago when the Azalea were all in full bloom. The possibilities of a virtual garden tour are endless!

Mandevilla Vine

Back to today...the Mandevilla is blooming profusely! I had gotten hooked on having one of these planters by my back door ever since my husband brought one home for me years back. With the pandemic going on, it was a little more difficult this year trying to find one, but with persistence...I did! In the planter for this year is a combination of both red and white blooms.

June Garden-Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June garden. As always, I thank you for being here and hope you experienced a smile along the way. 🙂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 has hosted Foliage Follow-Up for all these years, a meme I will still continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Monday 2, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Dishing It & Digging It on Sunday with Angie the Freckled Rose, 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 Homestead Blog Hop  and Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays.

Looking for some gardening inspiration?-Visit my Author Page

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2020. All rights reserved.