Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Join Me For A Walk Through My May Garden

Welcome to my May Garden!

"It's into the garden I go to lose my mind and find my soul", is a well-known quote by John Muir and one that I live by. As the garden awakens in May, it is one of my favorite months of the gardening season. After an unusually cold April and start to May, the temperatures are now finally rising from the chilly 50's into the 70's and maybe even the 80's by the end of the week! There are new blooms to be seen everyday as the garden explodes with new growth and color. Join me on a tour of my zone 7b Long Island garden!

Rhode Island red Japanese Maple & Salvia 'Blue By You'

The first stop is my Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple, which I cherish. The new foliage is a beautiful and vibrant pinkish-burgundy in springtime, then ripening into a darker maroon throughout the rest of the season. This compact maple is perfect in the patio garden and just keeps getting better with time! Salvia 'Blue By You', a repeat blooming Salvia, stands in front of the maple and is starting to display its purple blooms!

Kwanzan Cherry Bloom

In the southern border, Kwanzan Cherry was full of blooms, a sight I look forward to every spring. I am holding on to every remaining flower as they slowly drop to the ground, creating a sea of pink.

Patio Border

Along the patio border is Weeping Norway Spruce, Dwarf Cryptomeria, Nandina 'Obsession' and Blue Star Juniper. In the backdrop along the fence is newly planted Nepeta 'Cat's Meow' (Catmint).

Nepeta 'Cat's Meow'

I am enjoying the vibrant blooms!

Allium 'Globemaster'

Here are the buds of Allium 'Globemaster' along the pool border, getting ready to explode into an array of large lavender blooms, which should happen by late May into early June.

Spirea 'Candy Corn', Lamb's Ear & Daylily

Along the patio border, the vibrant foliage of Spirea 'Candy Corn', white, fuzzy foliage of Lamb's Ear and spiky foliage of Daylily can be seen, with blooms to follow!

Relaxing in the Garden

Relaxing in the northwestern patio border is a statue I can see year round outside my window, and it always makes me smile...

Peony 'Bartzella'

and in the western patio garden is Peony 'Bartzella, which seems to be loving the snow cover we had this past winter and cooler spring temperatures. It is getting bigger by the day and seems even larger than I remember from previous years. 

Peony 'Bartzella' Bud

I am hoping that the blooms turn out to be even more abundant this year. 

Azalea Girard's Pink

Azalea 'Girards Pink' resides in the back pool border, and as I travel around the winding path in the back garden, the blooms are there to enjoy.

Twombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Along the patio border is Trombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple, an upright and more slender form of red maple... 

Pool Border

and here is my favorite statue of all time, one which reminds me of childhood. It stands among a patch of mixed cultivars of groundcover Sedum.

Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' Blooms

Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' is not only an attractive broad-leaved evergreen, but it also displays lightly fragrant bell shaped white blooms in springtime. Two groupings of three can be seen along the right and left of the main waterfall.

Pool Waterfall

Here is a closer view of the waterfall, with Weeping Norway Spruce, Upright Variegated Boxwood, Golden Pacific Juniper and Sedum. 

Weigela 'My Monet'

In the back raised island bed, Weigela 'My Monet' is getting ready to show its pink blooms along with its variegated foliage...

Front Island Bed

and in the newly renovated front island bed is a new hybrid of Nepeta called 'Chartreuse on the Loose'. It blooms all summer and the foliage remains the color it is now, so I hope it does well!

Patio Planters

Last but not least, are two of the planters by the back entry providing color with Spirea 'Candy Corn' and groundcover Sedum. I started having planters along the entries and patio area years ago, as they can be enjoyed every time one steps out the door!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May 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, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays 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!

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: Spring Has Arrived & April Blooms!

Welcome!

Welcome to my April Long Island zone 7b garden! It has been another rollercoaster ride of a month with lots of wind and temperatures fluctuating from in the 50's one day (that feel like in the 40's) and rising up into the 60's other days, and now temperatures have risen over the past two days to an almost record breaking upper 70's! The garden has been a couple of weeks behind, but there have been frequent gentle rain events to help the flowers grow, and the blooms are now catching up. Join me for a tour! 

Hellebore 'Champion'

Buried beneath a blanket of snow throughout the month of March, Hellebore 'Champion' is a delight for the eyes. I was happy to see that it was unharmed and the foliage even looks a bit better than after other winters. The blooms were certainly worth the wait!

Hellebore 'Merlin'

Joining 'Champion', Hellebore' Merlin' is blooming and joining the display...

Hellebore 'Dark & Handsome

and well, hello there to 'Dark & Handsome too!

Allium ' Millenium' & Golden Yew

In the back garden, Allium 'Millenium' has appeared almost overnight, next to Golden Japanese Yew. 

Pieris 'Cavatine'

As we get some warmer days, the petite bell-shaped white blooms of Pieris 'Cavatine' (Dwarf Andromeda) are showing themselves in the backyard garden...

Peony 'Bartzella'

and the bright reddish-pink stems of Peony 'Bartzella' are emerging from the ground!

Sedum Groundcover

Around the pool border, a mixture of groundcover Sedum is coming to life with a combination of golden yellow or deep pinkish-burgundy colored foliage. Stalks of yellow blooms and tiny pink blooms will follow in mid to late summer...

Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

and look...the Pulmonaria are blooming too!

Hyacinths are Blooming!

Along the patio border, the Hyacinths are in bloom, joined by the foliage of Daylily 'Stella D Oro'.

Spirea 'Candy Corn'

Here is 'Candy Corn', a relatively new dwarf cultivar of Spirea, which is displaying its vibrant new pinkish-red growth. Pink blooms will follow in late spring to early summer. Lamb's Ear joins in the mix!

'Repandans' Spreading Yew & Sweet Flag

For a little more foliage, here is Repanden's English Spreading Yew and Sweet Flag, a combination that maintains interest all year long, and now in springtime, the succulent rosettes of Sedum are a delight too!

Sedum 'Brilliant'

As daylight lengthens and the days grow warmer, spring is certainly underway with lots of expectations that await. It is time to get out into the garden and get some spring pruning and cleaning done, a task which is actually good for the soul!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my April 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.

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!

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

Spring Pruning Guide: When & What to Prune

This Month in the Garden

As the weather warms up and new growth begins to emerge, early spring is an ideal time to prune many shrubs and perennials. Pruning helps shape plants, encourage healthy growth, and improve flowering and foliage. However, timing is key—some plants benefit from spring pruning, while others should be left alone until later in the season. When pruning, use clean, sharp tools to make precise cuts and prevent disease spread. Prune on a dry day to minimize disease risk, and avoid pruning too late once new growth has started to emerge, especially for plants that bloom on new wood.

Here’s a guide to common trees, shrubs and perennials that should be pruned now in spring for their best performance. When in doubt, always research specific plant needs before pruning, since some plants require light shaping, while others benefit from hard rejuvenation pruning.

TREES & SHRUBS TO PRUNE IN SPRING:

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia): Crape Myrtle bloom later in summer on the new wood of the season and can be pruned in late winter-early spring before new growth occurs. Avoid harsh cutting (often referred to as Crape Murder) and focus on removing only damaged or crossing branches or sucker growth emerging from the bottom of the plant. A light pruning is recommended to reduce overall height, improve shape and encourage stronger growth.

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'

Abelia:  Trim back up to one-third of the plant, focusing on removing dead or weak branches. Abelias bloom on new wood, so pruning now will not reduce flowering and make a more compact plant. Remove dead, damaged or crossing branches and long shoots to encourage vigorous new growth and abundant blooms in summer.

Abelia 'Kaliedoscope'

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia 'davidii'): blooms on the new wood of the season and should be pruned in late winter/early spring to encourage new growth. Prune branches when you see green buds appearing and before new growth starts to approximately 12-24 inches from the ground. Buddleia highly benefits from a severe pruning.  "Hard" pruning promotes many new arching branches with larger flowers than if the plant had not been pruned.  

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

Roses:  Cut back dead, diseased or weak canes, removing about a third of the plant. Shape as needed and trim just above outward-facing buds. Hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras benefit from a hard prune, while climbing roses need selective thinning. Pruning out old woody stems encourages new growth.

Knock Out Rose

Spirea: Pruning Spirea in spring encourages a fuller, compact and healthier plant with more abundant blooms. If you have summer-blooming Spirea (like Spiraea japonica), cut back by about one-third in early spring before new growth emerges. Spring-blooming varieties (like Spiraea vanhouttei) should be pruned after flowering.

Spirea japonica

Caryopteris (Bluebeard Shrub): Trim to about 6–12 inches tall before new growth emerges. Since Caryopteris blooms on new wood, a hard prune leads to better flowering. Bluebeard Shrub benefits from pruning similar to Spirea, creating studier dense growth and a healthier more compact plant.

Caryopteris (Bluebeard Shrub)

Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata & Hydrangea arborescens):  Panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata) and smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens) bloom on new wood, and can be pruned now by cutting back no more than one-third of their height. These varieties include but are not limited to Hydrangea 'Tardiva',  'Endless Summer', Let's Dance 'Big Band', 'PeeGee', and 'Limelight'. Prune only as needed and avoid over pruning as it can lead to loss of blooms as the plant puts all of its energy into new growth. Avoid pruning bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) and Climbing Hydrangea in spring, as they bloom on old wood. For Hydrangea that bloom on old wood, it is alright to prune off only the faded blooms above where the buds appear and to thin out overcrowded and dead branches to improve air circulation and light penetration. 

Panicle Hydrangea

PERENNIALS TO PRUNE IN SPRING:

Hellebore (Lenten Rose): It is best to remove winter burned and tattered foliage from Hellebores in late winter-early spring to clean up the plant, allow blooms to be seen. New growth will start to appear once the temperatures warm. 

Hellebore (Lenten Rose)

Lily Turf (Liriope muscari & Liriope spicata): Use shears to cut back all foliage to about 2–3 inches tall before new growth appears in early spring. This practice refreshes the plant and removes tattered foliage.

Liriope (Lilyturf)

Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Panicum): Cut back to about 4–6 inches from the ground before new growth begins to clear out dead foliage and encourages new shoots. If you wait too long, new shoots will be difficult to avoid cutting.

Ornamental Grasses

PLANTS TO AVOID PRUNING IN SPRING:  

Some trees and shrubs bloom on old wood and should not be pruned in spring. Instead, wait until after they flower. These include but are not limited to Lilac (Syringa), Forsythia, Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, Kwanzan Cherry, Ornamental Plum, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Weigela, Viburnum, Bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla), Climbing Hydrangea and Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Note: Be very careful when pruning Hydrangea as many varieties produce their blooms on old wood from the previous season. 

As a rule of thumb, any tree or shrub that blooms in spring or early summer should not be pruned until after bloom. 

Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden! By pruning your trees, shrubs and perennials at the right time, you will set them up for a season of lush, healthy growth and abundant blooms. 

Visit my Author Page/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

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved. 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up March: The Spring Garden Awakens!

Welcome March! 

Spring is arriving and it is an exciting time of year here in the northeast! I invite you to join me on a tour of my zone 7a Long Island garden for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up, the day of the month in which we all walk out into our gardens to see what surprises await. This has been one of the most unusual winters I can remember, with temperatures in the 60's in February, followed by our first and only accumulating snow of just two inches on February 28th, to a calm start to March with daytime temperatures fluctuating from the mid to upper 50's to the 40's and back again. To add a little excitement, a nor'easter with large sprawling snowflakes and enough snowfall to cover the garden came to us on the 14th, which was Mother Nature's way of saying, "I'm not done yet!" Even with the unpredictable weather, every day continues to bring new foliage, buds and blooms! Let's start the tour!

Crocus vernus ‘Flower Record’ 

The first stop is at the front garden berm where my favorite cluster of crocus in the garden grows, displaying a deeper purple bloom when compared to others. This variety is known as 'Flower Record' and it continues to thrive after many years.

Crocus vernus 'Remembrance 

In the back perennial border are Crocus vernus 'Remembrance' with their pretty lighter purple blooms to bring in spring!

Hellebore 'Champion' 

The various varieties of Hellebore have been blooming since the beginning of January. This variety is Helleborus 'Champion', which blooms from February through March and possibly into April.

Allium 'Globemaster' Coming up!

The Allium bulbs in the pool surround are coming up much earlier this year. This one is 'Globemaster', which will display large purple blooms in June, so keep on the look out!

Sedum Rosettes

Sedum 'Brilliant' is a wonderful plant even for its foliage, which emerges as mini rosettes in late winter-early spring. Deep pink blooms will appear in late summer.

Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix caprea 'Pendula')

A sure sign of spring are the fluffy white catkins on Weeping Pussy Willow. FUN FACT: Pussy Willow are dioecious, meaning they are either male or female. Male plants have larger catkins that open to expose longer filaments and more yellow looking flowers, while female plants have smaller, thicker catkins with greenish flowers.

Shade Garden! 

Venturing over to the shade area, here is Magnolia 'Royal Star' with a backdrop of Leucothoe 'Axillaris' and Golden Sweet Flag. The moss and lichens on the tree are much more prominent this year with the mild winter and will slowly disappear as the weather warms.

Happy Visitors!

In this same garden, the bird visitors keep me busy filling up the feeder on a regular basis, as they are loving their new seed mixture containing and assortment of seeds and nuts for some culinary delight!

Nandina 'Obsession' 

Moving along to the back foundation garden is a combination of Dwarf Cryptomeria and Nandina 'Obsession'. The foliage of this dwarf form of  Nandina has been a vibrant orangey-red all winter.

Rhododendron Buds! 

Back in the pool surround is Rhododendron 'Elegans', as it prepares for its early spring bloom!

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus)

Here is Black Mondo Grass in a planter in the back perennial-patio border. Mondo Grass remains evergreen all winter and in early spring I remove any damaged foliage to allow for new growth.

Pieris 'Cavatine' Buds!

In the back raised island bed, Pieris 'Cavatine' is getting ready to show off its beautiful white bell-shaped blooms in early spring, while the structure and foliage of Weeping White Pine keep the garden going all year long. 

Weeping White Pine and Golden Japanese Sedge in Pool Garden

The Golden Sedge seems to have taken a beating this year with the fluctuating temperatures, but should pop back up in spring. Once the temperatures warm up, I will remove any damaged foliage so that new foliage can emerge. HELPFUL TIP: Golden Japanese Sedge remains evergreen in zones 6-9 and does not get cut back, except for the removal of winter damaged foliage.

Daylilies Emerging! 

Another early arrival this year is Hemerocallis (or Daylily). Along the back patio, you can already see clumps of green foliage emerging above the ground!

Front Lawn

As we come to the end of our stroll, here is a March view the front lawn with Blue Atlas Cedar, and a glimpse of the front walkway. This is perhaps the last glance of the bright red bark of Coral Bark Maple before its foliage arrives.

Front Walkway

As outdoor blooms become more widespread, new blooms continue in the indoor garden. 

Indoor Garden: Thanksgiving Cactus Still Blooming!

The Thanksgiving Cactus has continued to bloom throughout winter and into spring, putting on quite a show...

Indoor Garden: Echeveria Blooming!

and the succulents are blooming too! Here is Echeveria with its orange bell-shaped flowers.

Indoor Garden: More Succulent Blooms!

The new planter I created over the winter with a combination of succulents is thriving in the bright west facing window and it is fun to watch flower stalks appear, followed by delicate white blooms!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my March garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and 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, 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 a wonderful 2023 planting season with gardens that thrive!

IN THE NEWS:  It's that time of year for the Great Grow Along Virtual Garden Festival running from March 10th to the 19th. You can still register for an abundance of gardening workshops and tours. Search for “The Great Grow Along Virtual Garden Festival” to register for this free conference. Gardens make the world a better place!

Visit 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

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.