Welcome to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up for the month of September. Fall arrives in less than a week but the blooms are more vivid than ever in the garden. It has been an unusual gardening year weather wise with a severe winter followed by a cool and moist spring and a cooler and drier summer than usual. We had our warmest days of the summer the first week of September with temperatures in the 80's with high humidity but now the temperatures are regulating in the 70's and there are signs of fall. I have been enjoying the garden and invite you to take a tour with me so come along and see!
 Blue Atlas Cedar Cones September In the front yard showy cones are forming on the spiky blue foliage of the Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica Glauca) showing signs of fall. This tree now towers at approximately fifty feet! 
Driveway Entry: Coral Bark Maple and Golden Oriental Cedar
The grasses are showing off their wonderful plumes and the Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' is already turning to shades of yellow.
Echinacea PowWow 'Wild Berry'
I have been enjoying one of my newest additions to the front garden beds, Echinacea PowWow 'Wild Berry'. Their deep pink hue and ability to attract butterflies is a benefit to the garden. Another variety that I have added is 'Cheyenne Spirit' which displays hues of pink, orange,yellow and cream all on the same plant. We will visit that one as we come to the other side of the garden!
 A favorite of mine at this time of year is Sedum 'Brilliant'. It is a sure sign of fall with its late blooming brilliant pink color.  Heucheralla 'Buttered Rum' was a new find in the past month at the local nursery. It is a hybrid mix between a Heuchera and Tiarella and is supposed to stay evergreen throughout the winter....updates next spring! I am enjoying its caramel and rum colored mixture of foliage.  Here is Hydrangea 'Tardivia' in bloom...  and a close up against the blue "almost" autumn sky. 
Hakonechloa macra '
The Japanese Forest Grass has unusually large plumes this year as it is reaching about two feet in diameter.
Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang' September
Here are some more signs of fall. The Spirea Double Play are turning to hues of gold and orange and the hosta blooms are forming their seed heads.  Liriope is a welcomed sight in the garden in September with its flower spikes of vibrant purple as you can see here. 
September Perennial Garden
As we move along to the back gardens the perennial border is in September mode. You can see the Platycodon (Balloon Flower) is displaying its blue blooms. We'll get a little closer up later on.
 Here is a bloom and foliage combo of Sedum 'Brilliant' against Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Coral Bells) in the backdrop. 
Sedum with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Mugo Pine
Here is another combo of Sedum with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Mugo Pine.
 This dwarf Butterfly Bush Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' as proven to be a winner and is in bloom again for this mid-September garden. I have seen a few Swallowtails and Monarchs on it this season but the numbers of butterflies have seem to gone down. I enjoy seeing the ones I can.  This is a scene of the street from my front yard in late afternoon. I was amazed by the hues of the trees in the background turning to shades of golds and oranges already. It is really starting to look like fall and I think it is a combination of the dry summer we have had and the sudden drop in temperatures over the past couple of weeks after the few days of a heat wave.  After many years the Alaskan Cedar and Rhododendron in the back garden are really maturing... 
Cedrus atlantica 'Pendula' (Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)
and the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar now reaches to approximately fifteen feet in length!
Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' Ready for some close-ups? Above is Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (read more about it here) and next is...
and Hemerocalis (Daylily) 'Stella D Oro' in bloom. This is the second bloom for the daylily after I rejuvenated them in August.
One of the things I admire about autumn are the changes that take place in the garden. Here the plumes on my dwarf fountain grasses signaling the change in seasons.
Even the 'Rosy Glow' Barberry starts to change in color this time of year as it goes to shades of pinks and oranges. It is starting to turn here.
September Sunset over Shade Garden
I hope you enjoyed the walk through my September garden. Please visit our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking up to Creative Country Mom's new Home Sweet Garden Party and Today's Flowers. Thank you so much for visiting and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well!
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved
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Monday, September 15, 2014
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up: September 2014 Garden - Almost Fall
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Feature Perennial: Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit-Multi Colored Blooms Mid-Summer Until Fall
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| Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit
I have discovered a new hybrid Coneflower, Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit with spectacular blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Winner of the highly regarded Fleuroselect Gold Medal and All-American Selection Awards of 2013, Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit features slightly fragrant daisy-like blooms in vivid shades of orange, red, rosy-red, yellow, purple and cream surrounding a large brown cone all on the same plant! Besides guessing which color each bloom is going to be, the large colorful petals on this pollinator are just lovely in my late summer garden and are an attraction for butterflies.
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As Always...Happy Gardening!
Friday, August 15, 2014
Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up August 2014: Late Summer Garden
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| August Garden |
Welcome to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up. The dog days of summer have arrived with temperatures in the 80's and little rain. This is typical for August before the cooler days of autumn arrive and there have not been many days in the upper 80's and 90's like in previous years, which has made for a pleasant summer. But wait...that is not the end of the story. On August 13th we had the highest recorded rainfall in 500 years here on Long Island...13.25 inches in one day with the first 9 inches within a couple of hours. The long period of drought is over and the gardens are doing well displaying their late summer color. Come take a walk with me to see what is blooming in the month of August.
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| Echinecea 'Magnus'
One of the newest arrivals in my garden is Echinecea. I have always admired this plant for its late summer blooms and have found a place for it along side some fountain grasses in the front entrance where I can enjoy its beauty.
The Dwarf Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip') is showing its deep purple fragrant blooms after coming back from a harsh winter. The bees and butterflies are enjoying the flowers and so am I!
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| Hydrangea 'Tardivia' |
The harsh winter also affected the hydrangea for this season, The 'Endless Summer' and 'Nikko Blue' suffered severe die back but have grown new foliage and will be back in bloom for next year. To the rescue is my tree Hydrangea 'Tardivia' with its beautiful elongated fragrant white blooms that are opening in time for August and September.
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| Daylily 'Stella D Oro' |
Constantly reliable throughout the entire summer and into fall is ever-blooming Daylily 'Stella D Oro' which you can see here with its bright golden-yellow blooms. It brings color to many parts of the garden and draws many pollen loving insects.
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| Heuchera 'Caramel' in front of Japanese Garden Juniper |
Here is Heuchera 'Caramel' in front of Japanese Garden Juniper. This variety of Coral Bell grows to approximately twelve inches in diameter resembling a miniature hosta with unusual orange-yellow foliage that lasts all summer and into fall.
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| Oriental Lilly (Lillium 'Cassablanca') |
Here is Lillium 'Cassablanca' which is near the end of its bloom time but still displaying lovely pure white fragrant flowers with deep crimson pollen....
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| Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell' (Daylily) |
along with the blooms of Daylily 'Sammy Russell' alongside the pool for some late summer color.
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| Salvia 'May Night' |
In the perennial border the tall stalks of 'May Night' Salvia tower over the rest of the garden displaying their bright deep purple blooms. The blooms are an attraction for dragonflies as you saw in last month's Bloom Day post and are now are a food source for butterflies and other creatures.
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| Double Knock Out Rose Pink |
The Double Knock Out Roses have been filled with abundant blooms all summer with new buds opening each day...
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| Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' |
and yes...it is Crape Myrtle season with continuous mildly fragrant blooms from July until fall just when the earlier summer blooms are fading.
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| Sedum 'Brilliant' against Mugo Pine |
Seen here is Sedum 'Brilliant' which will display deep pink blooms from the end of August into September, fading into straw colored seed heads for fall. For now I am enjoying the show of light green clusters on succulent foliage before the blooms.
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| Foliage Combo: Sedum 'Brilliant', Mugo Pine and Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Foliage is important in the garden as well. Here is a combo of Sedum in front of the medium green of Mugo Pine and blue-green of Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar with a touch of variegated liriope in the backdrop to the right. Below is the foliage of the Rependens Yew that I could not pass by without taking a macro with the new lens. |
Foliage of Taxus 'Rependens' (Low Spreading Yew)
I hope you enjoyed the walk through my August gardens. It has been said that "the best way to create a garden is to begin with your heart" and since gardening is my true passion I must agree. Please visit our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking up to Creative Country Mom's new Home Sweet Garden Party. Thank you so much for visiting and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well!
I hope you enjoyed the walk through my August gardens. It has been said that "the best way to create a garden is to begin with your heart" and since gardening is my true passion I must agree. Please visit our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking up to Creative Country Mom's new Home Sweet Garden Party. Thank you so much for visiting and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well!
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
The Gardens of Aruba: A Look Beyond Part III-Flora and Fauna
The 33 kilometer long (20 mile) desert island of Aruba is located in the Dutch Caribbean approximately 1600 kilometers (900 miles) west of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea and 27 kilometers (17 miles) off the coast of Venezuela. It is the home to numerous species of cacti, tropical blooms and wildlife. Coined as "One Happy Island". Aruba has much to offer for the garden enthusiast. Come take a look beyond at some of the tropical flora and fauna the island has to offer.
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| Aruba Iguana Iguanas are native to the Island ranging in a multitude of colors and sizes. They actually don't mind being photographed as long as you keep an adequate distance. 
Tropical Azalea
Aruba is the home to many tropical blooms including tropical Azalea, Allamanda and Ixora (Jungle Geranium). Many of these flowering plants are evergreen and bloom continuously with the constant year-round 80 to 90 degree temperatures.
Island Dove
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The doves are so accustomed to visitors at the resorts and will walk right up to you. It is difficult photographing birds at home so this was a pleasure to be able to get some close-ups.
Agave
Agave can be seen throughout the island in an assortment of colors and sizes and can make quite a statement with its wonderful foliage and large four foot tall stature.
Island Berry
Tropical Bloom
Ixora coccinea (Jungle Geranium)
Mother Dove and Baby
I especially enjoyed photographing this mother Dove and her baby and was even able to get a glimpse of her feeding her young.
Palm with Croton
Hummingbird Host Tree Orange Geiger (Cordia sebestena)
This trip provided a rare treat. I have been wanting to get up close and personal with hummingbirds for years and have tried to lure them with bright red blooms and a hummingbird feeder at my home on Long Island. When a friend and photographer brought me to this hummingbird location on the island I was thrilled to not only see several varieties of these creatures but also to photograph them. While photography of these rapidly moving birds is almost impossible I was able to capture a few shots.
Brown Hummingbird
Hummingbird Ruby-topaz (Chrysolampis mosquitus) and Hummingbird Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)
After research I was able to identify some of the varieties of hummingbird (hopefully) and believe the tree they were being drawn to is Orange Geiger (Cordia sebestena) which is hardy in zones 10 to 11.
Queen Emma lily (Crinum pedunculatum)
  
Barrel Cactus and Aloe Vera
I hope you enjoyed Aruba's tropical blooms and fauna. For more gardens of Aruba visit Gardens of Aruba and Gardens of Aruba Part II. Now back to the gardens of Long Island!
As Always...Happy Gardening!
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