Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up September: The Changing Garden

Welcome!

As days with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70's continue, fall is just around the corner as I gaze into the garden. As the seasons change so does the landscape, with much anticipation for the colorful display to arrive. Hopefully the time will not pass by too quickly, as for right now this gardener is living in the moment. Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden. Join me for a tour!

Patio Garden: Weeping Norway Spruce and Sedum 'Pure Joy'

One of the major signs of autumn arriving in the garden is the appearance of Sedum blooms. This late summer blooming cultivar is Sedum 'Pure Joy', which tends to stay at a more more compact height of just twelve inches tall. It is accompanied by Weeping Norway Spruce.

Another View of the Patio Garden

Viewing the patio garden from another angle,  here is Juniper 'Blue Star' and Nandina 'Obsession' joining the spruce and sedum. This variety of Nandina is a dwarf evergreen, non-invasive cultivar, which does not produce berries or seeds; hence, safe for birds.

Liriope 'Big Blue'

Along the shade border, Liriope 'Big Blue' is showing off its deep purple blooms this time of year. 

Pool Border

Here is Sedum 'Thundercloud', which I bought years ago at the local nursery. It does resemble a cloud with its tight clusters of star-like white blooms.

Double Red Knock Out Rose Mid-September

Even though it is September, Double Red Knock Out Roses are blooming and will continue up until the first frost...

Ornamental Grasses & Sedum in Pool Border

while Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' displays its wispy plumes, joined by Sedum 'Brilliant'.

Sedum 'Brilliant'

I had separated some Sedum and started new plants last summer and the newer plants have a deeper color pink bloom. They are both the same cultivar, but with a different look!

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' Mid-September

Newly added this summer to the pool border is Nepeta 'Blue Wonder', a more compact variety of catmint, growing to just 9-12 inches tall by 12-18 inches wide, and with deeper blue blooms.

Patio Border Western Side

Along the patio border, Japanese Maple 'Trombly's Red Sentinel' has been pushing out new growth... 

Salvia 'Blue By You' Mid-September

and Salvia 'Blue By You' has been blooming since mid-May!

Iris Garden Renovation

I have shown this iris garden area every spring, which I had watched my mom plant when I was growing up. The once beautiful massing of iris had been taken over by wild ferns that had invaded the garden, and no matter how hard I tried to eliminate them, they would continue to persist. It took several years of contemplating, but I finally had my crew clear the area and plant these beautiful hydrangeas just two weeks ago. I think my mom would approve and think of her every time I look at them.

Hydrangea 'Fire Light Tidbit'

While the new Hydrangea 'Fire Light Tidbit' displays its beautiful panicle white blooms that will fade to pink, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is blooming along the patio border. It's colorful evergreen foliage is complemented by white tubular flowers.

Abelia 'Kalidoscope' Late Summer

The bumblebees are really enjoying the late summer blooms too!

Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

The Echinacea has been done blooming for some time and the Goldfinches have been enjoying the seeds, but just yesterday there were new blooms, so no complaints here! The garden always has surprises in store!

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Coral Bells)

As the summer winds down, Heuchera 'Palace Purple' in its planter continues to add some color to the patio area...

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' Mid-September

and the dried flowers of Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' are just nice to look at.

Taking Time Out!

The newly added garden statue that is tucked in among Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Heuchera 'Caramel' invites one to stay a while and perhaps read a book...

Dipladenia

as the deep pinkish-red blooms of Dipladenia continue to shine along the patio.

Front Lawn

As we come to the end of the tour, here's a little bit of those blue skies I mentioned when we started. The month of September certainly has its moments.

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, 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. See you next month and do check out my newsletter and books in the meantime! As always...Happy Gardening!

Sharing a Lifetime of Gardening with My Books! (Garden Design, Planning, Maintenance Tips and more!) - Makes a great gift too!

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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved. 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March: Long Island Garden Signs of Spring!

Welcome!

Welcome! There are signs of spring everywhere as the temperatures warm into the mid to upper 50's to 60's after two inches of rain and sixty mile an hour winds just a few days ago. Look around and you will see colorful foliage and blooms emerging everywhere from their winters sleep and the garden changing day by day as we head towards spring. I can see a difference in the timing of blooms as they seem to be a couple of weeks earlier this year. Perhaps the groundhog was right, but as well all know, March is an unpredictable month. Join me for a tour of my Long Island garden!

Welcoming Committee

The Welcoming Committee is here to greet you and the first stop is the along patio border.

Purple Crocus & Hyacinths too

With the rain and warming temperatures, crocus started coming up everywhere and rather quickly. It was just a few days ago that it was just foliage emerging from the ground. Along the patio border is purple crocus with the foliage of Hyacinths behind it. There will be more blooms to follow as spring gets underway.

Hellebore 'Champion' (Lenten Rose)

In the pool border winter blooming Hellebore 'Champion' is now in full bloom as it thrives in the shade cast by a Weeping White Pine. I enjoy the yellowish-green color of  the bracts on this variety.

Hellebore 'Champion' (Lenten Rose)

Here are its amazing blooms closer up. You can get a view of the pinkish undersides which provide an additional touch of color.

More Purple Crocus!

As you may have guessed by now, I have an admiration for purple crocus! I love how the blooms symbolize spring and the shades of purple do vary a bit. This one seems to have a little more white in its veins compared to the others.

Hellebore 'Merlin' (Lenten Rose)

Along the back perimeter is Hellebore 'Merlin' in bloom with its pinkish bracts and central yellow flowers. 'Merlin' tends to start blooming in February and continues through March, providing months of interest.

Leucothoe 'Axillaris' Late Winter

In the back shade border Leucothoe 'Axillaris' is displaying a slightly reddish tint to its foliage this time of year...

'Nellie Stevens' Holly Berries Late Winter

and the berries of Nellie Stevens' Holly are at their best.

Japanese Skimmia

Also in the back shade garden is Japanese Skimmia forming its buds. Creamy white fragrant blooms will follow in mid-spring.

Blue Atlas Cedar and Juniper 'Gold Lace'

For some foliage, here is Blue Atlas Cedar and Juniper 'Gold Lace' on the northern front island bed. This is just another combination that supplies color and interest year round.

Hellebore 'Shooting Star' (Lenten Rose)

On the northern side of the property Hellebore 'Shooting Star' has been blooming since January...

Sedum 'Brilliant' Rosettes

and the rosettes of Sedum 'Brilliant' are now emerging in the southern part of the garden.

White Crocus

Some white blooming Crocus add a sense of purity to the garden...

Allium 'Globemaster'

as the foliage of Allium 'Globemaster' emerges. Giant lavender-purple blooms will appear on tall stalks during the month of June!

Spirea 'Candy Corn' Budding Out

I purchased this newer cultivar of dwarf Spirea named 'Candy Corn' last season and decided to put it into a planter by the back door. It stays more compact only growing two feet in height and width and has the most amazing foliage, colored like candy corn! I was surprised to see it getting buds before any of the other Spirea. 

Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae'

For more foliage on the front eastern side island bed is 'Anna's Magic Ball' Arborvitae with its yellow hue which stays year round. Behind it to add some darker contrast is Dwarf Mugo Pine.

Pieris 'Cavatine' Buds

On the same island bed is Pieris 'Cavatine', a dwarf form of Japanese Andromeda. It's foliage is evergreen and soon its buds will open into little bell-shaped flowers.

Front Island Bed

I often get comments about the tree in the left backdrop. It is Coral Bark Maple 'Sango Kaku' and it is prized for its beautiful pinkish-red bark, which becomes even more vibrant as the temperatures cool. To the right of  the Coral Bark Maple is Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce and in the direct center of the island bed is a Weeping Norway Spruce. Spirea 'Lemon Princess', Spirea 'Big Bang' and various perennials join the evergreens. Gardening Tip: Late winter/early spring is the time to prune back your Spirea to encourage fullness, new growth and to encourage blooms. 

Seasonal Planter

The seasonal planters always bring me joy whatever the season and this one which I have had for a few years now is thriving. This combo is Dwarf Alberta Spruce, 'Whipcord' Arborvitae, Boxwood and Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, which resides by the back gate entry. 

Seasonal Planter

The planter I created in late Fall has weathered the winter well and I have been getting much enjoyment from it. I did have to cover the plants when the temperatures dropped down into the teens for a few nights to protect the more delicate Cypress, but the combination of the yellow color from the Cupressus macrocarpa 'Goldcrest' (Lemon Cypress) along with the berries of the Gaultheria (wintergreen) was a win-win!

And Indoors!

As the spring season approaches, I am enjoying the African Violets blooming indoors and kitty is too, although I think it's all about the sunshine for her. Until we meet again, happy almost spring and I hope you get to have some quality time in the garden. "The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”- Alfred Austin

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 look forward to seeing what you have growing in your area. 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. 

 Plan your Garden-Read My Books! Click on the links for more info and to Purchase!

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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2024. All rights reserved. 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up November: The Changing Views of Autumn

Welcome!

We are in the midst of autumn here on Long Island and the landscape is a changing array of color. I must say that besides Spring, this is one of my favorite times of the year. There is a chill in the air, but not too cold to wander out into the garden to observe what nature has to offer, and there is a sense of energy and a willingness to explore. We all know a garden is constantly changing with something new to experience awaiting around each corner. Join me for a stroll in my November zone 7 garden!

Front Lawn

The first view is of the front lawn where two types of Japanese Maple exist. The first is Japanese Maple 'Viridis', which reaches a height and width of about 6-10 feet. I have had this one for about thirty years or so and it has reached its mature height.

Front Lawn

The second variety is Weeping Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama', which reaches a mature height and width of 6-8 feet tall by 12 feet wide. This one is about 25 years of age. To the far left of the Maples is Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica). This one came to the garden at just five feet tall back about 27 years ago.

Back Patio Garden

There have been some major changes in the garden over the past several months. It seems that once an idea gets into this gardener's head and the first tree that has lived out its lifespan is replaced, that it starts an ongoing domino effect. Once the Weeping Pussy Willow was removed from the patio garden and replaced with a Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple (last month's post), all that had to happen was for my dear husband to mention that perhaps the enormous grafted Blue Globe Spruce further down the patio should to be replaced. The crew returned two days later and planted this Acer palmatum 'Twombly's Red Sentinel'. I had admired it at the nursery and it is a newer hybrid of Japanese Maple which tends to stay more on the narrow side. It was perfect solution for the space.

Perennial Border

There are still some things the same. Behind the maple in the perennial border is a combination of Lamb's Ear and the dried seed heads of Astilbe in fall mode. The orangey color of the Astilbe against the pure white color of the Lamb's Ear always  seems to "pop" in the garden this time of year.

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' Autumn

Along the walkway, the newly added Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' displays its colorful foliage and is still flowering throughout autumn...

Nellie Steven's Holly Berries Autumn

while along the pool border, a mature Nellie Stevens Holly is showing off its orange berries.

Welcome Visitors!

With the removal of the Magnolia tree this past spring, the bird feeder has a new home and there has been a lot of activity at it. I think they are enjoying the new setup!

Echibeckia Seeds

There are the interesting seed heads which can be found around the garden in autumn. This one comes from the perennial Echibeckia, a combination of  Echinacea and Rudbeckia, and very much resembles a pine cone.

Sedum 'Pure Joy' Autumn

Here is Sedum 'Pure Joy', a dwarf form of Sedum, which can turn a brilliant deep pink in the fall, adding interest to the garden...

Hydrangea Faded Blooms

while the faded blooms of Hydrangea add a touch of color as well.

Daylily Still Going!

There are also the blooms that just do not want to quit! This 'Stella D Oro' Daylily has been pushing out new buds and blooms since I cut it back at the end of summer...

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

and Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' keeps on blooming throughout autumn depending on the temperatures. 'Radrazz' is the original cultivar of Knock Out Rose and always aims to please. 

Dwarf Cryptomeria and Nandina 'Obsession'

For some foliage, here is the lime green hue of Dwarf Cryptomeria against the reddish-orange hues of  Nandina 'Obsession'... 

Sedum 'Brilliant'

and the foliage and seed heads of  Sedum 'Brilliant' for some added interest.

Fall Decor

Along the back entry is a collection of dwarf evergreens accompanied by this tree ring covered pumpkin, which I purchased years ago at the local nursery. It is starting to show some ware, so I hope it continues to survive the elements. It was such a unique find.

Spirea 'Candy Corn'

Last, but not least, is this Spirea 'Candy Corn', a newer miniature form of Spirea which only grows to 1.5-2.5 feet tall by wide and sports this "candy corn" colored foliage throughout the season and pink blooms in summer. It is going to live in a planter for now, so that I can enjoy it by the back patio.

Driveway Border

As we come to the end of our stroll, here is a view of the driveway border with Coral Bark Maple (on the right) and Skyland's Oriental Spruce (on the left) with Hinkoi Cypress 'Compacta' in the center. I await the glowing red bark of the Coral Bark Maple once the leaves fall, a bark which appears even more colorful against a backdrop of snow...

Driveway Border

and here is another view with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar standing in the foreground along the walkway.

Back Around to the Front Lawn

There is a well known quote from author Albert Camus which suits the season well..."Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."  I could not agree more.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my November garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and look forward to seeing what you have blooming in your neck of the woods! 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 with gardens that thrive!

 Plan your Garden for Next Spring: Purchase My 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

and my newest addition,

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

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