Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up July: Summer Blooms in the Garden

Welcome to My Garden!

Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! With a record breaking heat of 97 degrees on the 3rd, (which felt like 102) followed by torrential rains on the 6th, believe it or not, we are still in a drought. On the hotter days as I sit under my the covered porch and as the lyrics to the song "Summer Breeze" go over and over again in my mind, I gaze out into the garden and daydream. On the cooler days, it is time to work in the garden deadheading perennials and performing some needed pruning. Whatever the temperature outside, the garden is always my happy place. Join me for a tour! 

Welcoming Committee

As we start the tour, here is a view of the patio garden. Trombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple stands as a focal point, surrounded by Spirea ‘Candy Corn’, Echinacea, Lamb’s Ear, lilies and juniper. The welcoming committee is here to greet you along with a beverage of choice!

Patio Border

This is the view I see from the patio, where I sit and contemplate what is going to be the next chore to do in the garden, go over in my mind the course of the day, or to take a break after doing some maintenance. In view are the blooms of Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry', along with a closer view of Spirea 'Candy Corn', Juniper and mixed perennials.

Pool Border

Along the pool border is my favorite statue of a young girl with her kitty, along with Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ and Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress. Astilbe ‘Sprite’ can be seen displaying its unusual feathery, star-like blooms in the backdrop. 

Weeping White Pine, Astilbe 'Sprite' & Sedum Groundcover

Here is a closer view of Astilbe 'Sprite'. This dwarf variety displays light pink wispy blooms beneath the cascading foliage of Weeping White Pine along the pool border. Groundcover sedum is going into bloom along the sunnier portion of the bed.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' and Blue Globe Spruce

Here is the Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ with its multitude of different color blooms on the same plant, along with Dwarf Blue Globe Spruce. 

Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' (Speedwell)

Veronica 'Royal Candles' displays its long lasting spikes of colorful blooms along the walkway, while Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' shows its attractive blue blooms each summer.

Shade Garden-Endless Summer Hydrangea 

'Nikko Blue' is a reliable old fashioned hydrangea that blooms on old wood. Pruning Tip: To ensure blooms each summer, only prune off only the dead flower heads just above the next node in late winter or early spring. We have had some cold Spring temperatures where the buds can be affected, but luckily the plant is sheltered where it is.

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue'

Here are the blooms up close. I so look forward to enjoying them each year.

Daylily 'Sammy Russell'

Now that the month of July has set in, and the Stella D Oro Daylilies have been blooming for some time, the next round of blooms are here from Daylily ‘Sammy Russell’. The orangey-red blooms with yellow centers last for quite some time and brighten up the garden.

Miniature Blue Hosta 'Mouse Ears'

The blooms of Hosta also take notice starting in July, and the tubular flowers are an attraction for hummingbirds. Here are some of the first blooms from a miniature variety called Hosta ‘Mouse Ears’, which resides along the pool border. 

Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas' (Catmint)

There are many new varieties of Nepeta (Catmint). This one is Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas', which stays smaller and more compact and displays deeper bluish-purple blooms. It also blooms throughout most of the summer and attracts pollinators too!

Hydrangea Patio Planters

Along the patio, I am enjoying my new matching planters with different varieties of dwarf hydrangea, which are in full bloom right now. Here is Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' on the left and Tuff Stuff 'Top Fun' on the right!

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution'

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' is hardy to USDA zones 5-9, and is admired for its long lasting blooms on both new and old wood, and it is a compact plant, growing to just one to two feet tall by wide. It is known to bloom up to five months and produces tones of pink or blue blooms (depending on soil pH) which deepen in color to purple, maroon and green as they age. I just got this beauty, so I am looking forward to enjoying the show!

 Hydrangea Tuff Stuff 'Top Fun'

Hydrangea Tuff Stuff  'Top Fun' is a re-blooming mountain hydrangea with lace-cap blooms that form on both old and new wood. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, and grows to a height and width of two to three feet. I have been enjoying this beauty for three years now. Colors can range form pink to blue depending on soil acidity.

Shade Garden

Here in the back shade garden is a mature Weeping Norway Spruce with Upright Boxwood, Astilbe, Coral Bells 'Caramel', Jacob's Ladder and another mountain hydrangea.

Northern Border

Strolling around to the northern border, here is Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves', Endless Summer Hydrangea to the left, Black Eyed Susan, Hosta 'Patriot' and Gold Lace Juniper to the right.

Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' Getting Ready!

Along the eastern side of the property, Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' (hardy in USDA zones 3-8) is getting ready to bloom! This compact two to three foot panicle hydrangea blooms on new wood and will show off its creamy-white blooms that eventually fade to pink when approaching fall.

Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' Foliage

We could not end the tour without visiting the Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist' along the front walkway. Even though it blooms in spring, I admire the foliage even more. It's large heart-shaped leaves seem to get bigger every year!

Driveway Border

Last, but not least is a visit to the driveway planting for some different forms of foliage and blooms too. In the backdrop is Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' with the deep purple foliage of 'Spilled Wine' Weigela, deep green foliage of Mugo Pine, light green foliage of Dwarf Norway Spruce and blooms of Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. That is it for now, and it looks like we are in yet another heat wave! I guess I will be playing "Summer Breeze" in my mind once again!

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my July 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.

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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!

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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 July: Let the Blooms Continue!

Welcome!

Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden. It’s mid-summer and Hydrangea and Coneflower are the stars for this month! With a rather mild past winter, a cool spring and temperatures rising into the mid to upper 80’s for July with plenty of rain so far, the blooms are more robust than ever. Now with a sudden burst of higher temperatures and humidity, some of the blooms are even earlier than usual. Join me for a tour! 

Hello Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’!

The two previous winters before the 2024 season brought temperatures in the teens to single digits to the northeast for several nights in a row, virtually destroying any buds that the hydrangea had formed. Fellow gardeners were experiencing the same hardship, a lack of blooms and the old fashioned hydrangea, especially 'Nikko Blue', were hit the hardest since they bloom on the previous years growth. This is the year of the hydrangea we have been waiting for, as the conditions were perfect and the blooms are magnificent! 

Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’

Here along with ‘Nikko Blue’ Hydrangea is Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’ with its delicate lace cap blooms in shades of pink, while and blue. The foliage of evergreen Juniper ‘Gold Lace’ adds some contrast  against the blooms of hydrangea and within the next few days to a couple of weeks, the Crape Myrtle and Dwarf Butterfly Bush in the same planting bed will display their blooms. Stay tuned!

Echinacea ’Cheyenne Spirit’ (Coneflower)

The other pride and joy in the garden this year is Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ in the pool border. This hybrid with its blooms of multiple colors on the same plant is more robust than ever! 

Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’’

Another variety of Coneflower is Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’ growing in the patio border and accompanied by columnar Japanese Maple 'Twombly's Red Sentinel’, Juniper ‘Blue Star’, Spirea ‘Candy Corn’, Lamb’s Ear and Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Parden Me'.

Pool Border

In another view along the pool border is  Astilbe 'Sprite' with its delicate light pink blooms that appear later in summer, along with groundcover Stonecrop (Sedum 'Angelina') and another view of Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'.

Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

I just cannot get enough of these Echinacea blooms, so here's another close up view!

Calluna 'Firefly' (Heather)

This Calluna 'Firefly' is a new addition of Heather that I added to the back walkway area this summer. It is one of the most colorful Heathers I have encountered with pretty magenta blooms, which are just starting to appear now in mid-summer. This plant is evergreen with changing colorful foliage that deepens to bronze in winter and grows to just 18-20 inches tall by wide. 

 Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Loveable'

Here is Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Loveable' (hardy in USDA zones 5-9) from Proven Winners and yes...it is loveable! I have been growing this re-blooming beauty in a planter for two years now on my patio and it has thrived throughout the winter months and produces beautiful deep pink blooms that persist throughout summer.

Daylily 'Pardon Me'

While Hydrangea and Coneflower are having a banner year, daylilies are holding their own too. Here is Daylily 'Pardon Me' with its colorful blooms.

Southern Pool Border

In the southern pool border, Allium 'Millenium' is starting its blooms along with evergreens Golden Japanese Yew and Rhododendron, spring/early summer blooming Spirea 'Goldmound' and Astilbe 'Visions' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'.

Another View!

In this view is Variegated Boxwood and a closer look at the Nepeta 'Walkers Low', which has been blooming all summer.

Back Island Bed: Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

Another hydrangea is starting its bloom. It is Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime', which produces greenish white blooms that mature to white then fade to pink. It is accompanied by evergreens Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' (left), Dwarf Mugo Pine (right) and 'Palace Purple' Coral Bells.

Salvia 'Blue by You'

Here is Salvia 'Blue by You'! It is a new cultivar of sage which has just hit the nurseries within the last couple of years. I find it starts its blooms earlier in the season, blooms longer and is more robust.

Ornamental Onion 'Millennium'

Circling back around to the pool border, here is Allium 'Millenium' close up with its rosy-purple blooms. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and prefers sun to part sun...

Lilium 'Stargazer'

and check this out! My 'Stargazer' Lilies are blooming two weeks earlier than usual!

Dipladenia

This Dipladenia was a gift and I get to enjoy it everyday on my patio. I have always loved these plants! Helpful Tip:  Mandevilla and Dipadenia look very similar and are hard to distinguish apart when small. Mandevilla is more of a climbing plant and will need a trellis to grown on while Dipladenia has a more compact, clumping habit.

Fig Tree!

Here is a fun story. My husband bought this fig tree online and when it arrived it was a tiny little cutting about four inches tall. After three months and two pot upgrades, look at it now! 

Herb and Tomato Planter

This herb/vegetable planter is also new this year and has proven to be a good purchase. The basil, parsley and tomatoes are growing like crazy and producing great crops! Spearmint and Chives join the mix in their separate containers.

Heuchera (Coral Bells) for the Patio

Last, but not least, I am trying something new. I have a client who grows Heuchera (Coral Bells) in wooden planters and they have overwintered for years. I just did the same with these Heuchera 'Palace Purple' to add some color and interest to the patio area. I am hoping to have the same success.

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my July garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and look forward to 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 books in the meantime! As always...Happy Gardening!

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

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

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

Welcome to my August Garden!

The temperatures have finally moderated after several weeks of the "dog days" of August with rounds of temperatures in the 90's and one of the hottest summers I can remember here in the northeast. Thankfully, the heat has now broken and temperatures are back into the upper 70's and low 80's, and all we need now is some much needed rain. There are many blooms to be seen for the month of August, so do join me for a tour of my Long Island garden!

Mandevilla Vine

The first stop is by the back doorway entrance where Mandevilla is producing an abundance of its pink blooms. I make it a point of getting one of these each year and love how the blooms just keep on coming!

Perennial Border

Along the back walkway the Daylilies and Echinacea are finishing up their display. This view is from the start of the month, since the blooms came a couple of weeks earlier this August with the heat.

Patio Garden

As Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' is now blooming in the back island bed, and Platycodon (Balloon Flower) is in full bloom along the patio border. This variety 'Komachi' is unusual in that the balloon-like blue flowers do not burst open like in other varieties. Rather, they remain closed and can be popped like bubble wrap once they dry out!

Platycodon 'Komachi' (Balloon Flower)

Here is Platycodon 'Komachi' close up with the silvery-white foliage of Lamb's Ear in the backdrop.

Lilium 'Stargazer'

The Lilium 'Stargazer' in the pool surround bloomed much earlier this year and is now pretty much done, but I had to share a view from just two weeks ago. The blooms were magnificent this year! 

Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime'

In the back island bed, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' is blooming with its stunning greenish-white blooms that turn to pure white and then to a pinkish hue as they age. This variety stays smaller than 'Limelight', growing to a maximum of 4-6 feet high by wide and is hardy in USDA zone 3-8.

Back Island Berm<

As you know, I am a fan of foliage combinations! Here is Sedum 'Brilliant', Heuchera 'Caramel' and Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'. The purplish foliage of the ajuga contrasts nicely with the caramel colored Heuchera and green foliage of Sedum in the backdrop, which will soon display pink blooms.

Patio Garden

Along the patio garden is another foliage combination with the chartreuse foliage of  Dwarf Cryptomeria and the blue needles of 'Blue Star' Juniper. I have strived over the years to incorporate as many colorful evergreens as possible throughout the garden to provide all season interest.

Back Island Berm-Crape Myrtle & Hydrangea

Evergreens Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' and Mugo Pine reside along the island bed with Crape Myrtle  Hydrangea and Coral Bells 'Palace Purple'.

Crape Myrtle Exfoliating Bark

One of the features of Crape Myrtle is its interesting exfoliating bark, which sheds this time of year...

Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' Blooms!

and of course, the blooms are spectacular!

Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'

Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' is all in bloom. This variety stays well-behaved in its space and tends to be more compact compared to the traditional form.

Groundcover Sedum Mix

This Sedum groundcover mix, featuring Sedum 'Angelina' and 'Dragon's Blood' adds interest all summer long to the pool surround...

Future & Past Blooms-Sedum and Astilbe

while this combination of Sedum 'Brilliant' and Astilbe 'Visions' adds foliage and blooms, with Astilbe blooming in July and Sedum due to bloom in August.

Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima' & Sedum 'Brilliant'

Behind the Sedum is a backdrop of a single Dwarf Maiden Grass 'Yaku Jima', which will soon be forming its plumes.

Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Stella D Oro'

Along the pool perimeter and patio garden, Daylily 'Stella D Oro' is producing some new blooms after I rejuvenated it back in July...

Echibeckia

while Echibeckia (a hybrid formed from combining Echinacea and Rudbeckia) is blooming in the perennial border. I find this cultivar does best in full sun (6 hours or more) with moderate watering.

Knock Out Rose Pink

Double Knock Out Rose just keeps on giving with its bold red and pink blooms that continue throughout summer and into fall until the first frost.

Knock Out Rose Red

Besides the continuous blooms, their fragrance is nice too!

Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'

In a container planter on the back patio is Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'. This is its second season in a planter and it is doing very well, providing blooms throughout the entire summer. I have this one in a partially shaded location with late day sun and I keep it well watered. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, this compact hydrangea grows to just 2-3 feet tall by wide.

Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' (Stonecrop)

For some late summer color, here is Sedum 'Kamtschaticum' with its bright yellow blooms, while staying low as a groundcover.

Front Island Bed-Sedum 'Pure Joy'

In the front island bed, Sedum 'Pure Joy' is starting to bloom with its light pink flowers on a small, one foot tall plant. Hosta, Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf Cryptomeria are in the backdrop.

Lampost Garden-Coreopsis 'Zagreb'

Last, but not least is Coreopsis 'Zagreb' blooming along the driveway border...

Driveway Border-Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'

with Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit', which is not at all happy with the extreme heat. Maybe it will get another round of blooms now that the temperatures have gotten cooler.

Hydrangea 'Tardivia'

To end the tour, here is Hydrangea 'Tardivia' tree hydrangea on the northern facing side of the property with its magnificent fragrant white panicle flowers, and one of my favorite late summer bloomers!

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what's happening 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 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.  Are you looking for some gardening inspiration? If so, visit my author page and books! 

My Author Page: Come Visit! 

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.