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

Welcome to my July Garden!

Welcome! The summer has flown by and the July garden brings temperatures in the mid to upper 80's, with and lots of blooms! Things are busy in the horticultural world but the rest of my time is spent in the garden doing some deadheading and enjoying those summer blooms. Every moment is precious, as the summer flies by way too fast. Come along with me for a tour of my July Long Island garden!

Patio Garden

In the patio garden is a mixture of evergreens and perennials, including Blue Globe Spruce, Weeping Norway Spruce, Blue Star Juniper, Echinacea Pow Wow, Astilbe, Platycodon (Balloon Flower) and Hosta 'Golden Tiara', which are  now in bloom. The  pollinators just love going from flower to flower.

Mandevilla Vine

In a planter by the back door is Mandevilla in full bloom and it will continue to bloom throughout the summer and into fall. It just keeps on giving!

Tea Time!

The welcoming committee is sitting among the Hosta and greeting  those who enter the garden...

Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band'

and this Hydrangea Let's Dance 'Big Band' is thriving in a planter on the patio with just the right amount of light. This newer cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, is reblooming and only reaches a height and width of approximately 2 1/2 feet. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade for its best performance.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Endless Summer Hydrangea is blooming too along the back fence line.

Patio Garden: Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'

Here is a close up view  of the Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry' with its vibrant deep pink blooms throughout July and into August. I enjoy the blooms...

Happy Pollinators!

and the pollinators do too!

Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell'

'Sammy Russell' Daylily is blooming in the perennial border along with Echinacea, Astilbe, Lamb's Ear, Echibeckia and Salvia.

Echibeckia

The Echibeckia is doing well in its third season. It is a hybrid cross created between Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) and Echinacea. The key is it likes full sun, moderate watering and good drainage. The upright pinkish-white blooms of Lamb's Ear are along the front of the border and contrast nicely with the orangey-yellow blooms of the Echibeckia behind it.

Sedum

Along the northern border with southern exposure is Golden Creeping Sedum, which stays low at just four to six inches in height by twelve-fifteen inches wide and produces these wonderful bright yellow blooms that will last for several weeks.

Poolside Garden

Along the pool garden, miniature Hosta are blooming in the foreground with Sky Pencil Holly and Caramel Coral Bells in the backdrop.

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' Bloom

Here are the blooms of Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' up close!

Pool Garden

While most Astilbe bloom earlier in the summer, this cultivar, Astilbe 'Sprite' produces delicate light pink blooms that appear  later in the summer from July through August. In the foreground are Daylily 'Stella D Oro'.

Hemerocallis 'Stella D Oro'

Gardening Tip: Once the Daylily are done blooming, I rejuvenate them by removing dead stalks and pulling out all the expired foliage. They will re-sprout new foliage and produce more blooms for yet  another round!

Back Island Berm Conifer Garden

Come around to the south side of the garden. The back island berm consists mostly of  a variety of evergreens, including Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta', Mugo Pine, Juniperus Gold Lace and Dwarf Japanese Andromeda along with flowering shrubs Crape Myrtle, Dwarf Variegated Weigela and Dwarf Hydrangea with perennials Ajuga, Coral Bells and Sedum mixed in. 

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Coral Bells)

This is Heuchera 'Palace Purple', which is blooming this time of year, but I enjoy it mostly for its burgundy foliage, which lasts well into winter.

Dwarf Rudeckia 'Little Goldstar'

If you are seeking a Black Eyed Susan which stays more compact and stays in its place, here is Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar'. It stays at a height and width of  14-16 inches, is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, and thrives in partial shade. This one is going on its fifth year in the garden.

Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select'

Along the pool patio is Weeping Japanese Maple 'Red Select', a more compact form of Acer which is ideal for smaller spaces...

St. John's Wort

and in the back shade garden is St. John's Wort with its delicate yellow blooms and red berries.

Heuchera 'Caramel' and Skip Laurel

The Skip Laurel are bouncing back after a terrible winter two years back and finally pushing out enough new growth to fill back in. Hopefully Mother Nature won't be too harsh for the winter of 2023!

Front Walkway

To finish out the tour, let's venture around to the front entrance and driveway border gardens. Along the front walkway is Weeping Eastern Redbud 'Lavender Twist', which is all about the foliage in summertime and fall. The bright lavender blooms are gorgeous in springtime and put on quite the show, but it is the luxurious heart-shaped foliage that I adore! Weeping White Pine, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Coral Bark Maple can be seen in the background to the left.

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' (Coneflower)

Last, but not least, is a wonderful Coneflower called 'Cheyenne Spirit' that produces multiple color blooms on the same plant ranging from pink to orange, yellow and cream... 

Driveway Border

and a combination of Coreopsis 'Zagreb' and Nepeta 'Walkers Low'. These two perennials are personal favorites for all summer blooms. In the backdrop of this planting is Skyland's Golden Oriental Spruce and the burgundy foliage of Weigela 'Spilled Wine'. In the distance is Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'.

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.

This Month in the Garden: Summer at Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park-A Virtual Tour

Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park

Come along on a summertime virtual tour of Bayard Cutting Arboretum, a beautiful 691 acre state park  located on the south shore of Long Island, New York, about 50 miles east of New York City and bordering the Connetquot River. The park includes numerous theme gardens and continues to evolve yearly as new species of rare and unusual plants are donated. Bayard Cutting Arboretum is also the home of one of the most extensive conifer collections in the region, housing over 1600 specimens. 

Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park Manor House

The landscape architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmsted designed the grounds for William Bayard Cutting, attorney, financier, real estate developer, sugar beet refiner and philanthropist in 1886. The 68 room mansion, called Westbrook, was designed by architect Charles C. Haight for William, his wife and four children as a summer home. After William's death, the mansion and grounds were donated by Olivia Cutting and daughter in memory of William to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which declared the land as a state park in 1912.

Dwarf Conifer Garden

Alongside the mansion is the Dwarf Conifer Garden, with an assortment of evergreens including Dwarf Norway Spruce, Hinoki Cypress, Mugo Pine and rare selections such as Weeping Arizona Cypress and Gold Rush Dawn Redwood. The collection displays a huge diversity of conifers that have been sourced from across the country. Many native species such as Eastern Red Cedar, Pitch Pine, Eastern White Pine and Bald Cypress also reside in the gardens.

New Pinetum: Lilac Tree

There are many paths to take leading to the various collections. Along the New Pinetum, the Lilac tree is in bloom...

River Walk

and the River Walk along the Connetquot  River is so relaxing, especially when there is a gentle breeze.

Conifer Garden

Always an amazing sight are the enormous seed cones on Norway Spruce during the summer months. The female cones are red, while the male ones are brown.

Woodland Garden

For a relaxing walk, stroll down the paths of the Woodland garden and travel the wooden bridge over a babbling brook. There you can explore giant Hosta and ferns, which are indeed happy in their environment.

Woodland Garden

Here is another view.

Woodland Garden: Liquidambar styraciflua 'Variegata' (Variegated Sweet Gum)

On the path, one will come across this glorious Variegated Sweet Gum, which displays leaves that look almost prehistoric in nature.

Woodland Garden-Hosta Curly Fries

Hosta 'Curly Fries' lives up to its name with crinkled narrow golden foliage. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it stays small at just about six inches tall by sixteen inches wide.

Woodland Garden

In the woodland garden is a combination of Hellebores, Hosta and Astilbe, with ferns in the backdrop.

Woodland Garden

More ferns along with golden Hosta also make for a nice look!

Woodland Garden: Calla Lily

Here is White Giant Calla Lily, which is being grown in the woodland garden. It is borderline here (hardy in USDA zones 7-9), but can be possibly overwintered in a sheltered area. At three feet high by wide, its blooms are gorgeous! In cooler climates, these rhizomes can be easily dug up and stored in dry peat moss. Keep in a dry, dark location that is no cooler than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Woodland Garden

This groundcover really caught my eye and I had not been familiar with it. It is called Houttuynia, also known as fish mint, rainbow plant or chameleon plant and although it is pretty, it is an aggressive groundcover and should be used carefully! It is hardy in USDA zones 4-10, prefers medium to wet soil and produces these showy flowers in summer.  

Mahonia (Oregon Grape Holly)

Welcome to the Holly Walk and view various types of holly, including Oregon Grape Holly, Nellie Stevens Holly, Steeds Holly, and Winter Bounty among others.

Holly Walk

Coming around the Holly Walk, you will come across this more formal garden with manicured circular yew hedges... 

Holly Walk

and blooms of Nepeta and Coreopsis.

Southern Magnolia

This Southern Magnolia is gorgeous when all in bloom and the huge flowers are all so fragrant!

Four Season Garden

Last, but not at all least, is the Four Season Garden, which happens to be my favorite! An accumulation of plants perfectly positioned along a winding path provide blooms and interest for every season of the year. There are benches along the way for stopping and taking in the view.

Four Season Garden

This garden is simply so inviting...and constantly changing.

Four Season Garden

On the way out, a surprise was to be seen. An Osprey's nest along with Osprey overlooked the park as it appeared way up high on the mansion's chimney. It is so nice to see this protected species thriving here on Long Island.

Osprey Nest

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and tour of Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! Bayard operating hours are 9-5 Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays and winter holidays. For some views of Bayard in the fall, visit Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park Autumn. To visit their website, go to Bayard Cutting Arboretum. 

 For gardening information visit: My Author Page and 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!😊

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up June: Springtime Bountiful Blooms!

Welcome to my June Garden!

The arrival of summer is just a week away and the spring garden is full of bountiful blooms! Following a relatively cool and windy spring, the temperatures have now moderated into the upper 70's and low 80's, and with some nightly thunderstorms, the garden has come alive with color everywhere. From the red blooms of roses to the white blooms of Dogwood and Viburnum, nature has so much to offer. Come along with me for a tour of my Long Island, zone 7a garden!

Come Along on the Tour!

Peony 'Bartzella'

First, let's step back in time to just the beginning of the month when Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' was in full bloom. We could not let June go by without mentioning this amazing plant.

Peony 'Bartzella'

Different from other Peony, this hybrid is a cross between the standard form and a tree peony, so it does not need staking, even with its enormous blooms!

Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz'

Now...onto the rest of the tour. Planted along my patio garden years ago, this Knock Out Rose 'Radrazz' never ceases to amaze. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and with continuous blooms from the start of June and up until frost, this beauty gives me enjoyment all summer long.

Patio Garden

Continuing along the patio is a grafted Blue Globe Spruce with Hosta 'Golden Tiara', Daylily, Astilbe, Blue Star Juniper, Weeping Norway Spruce, Balloon Flower, Echinacea and Golden Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni' on the far left end. A Crape Myrtle 'Sioux' is in  the distance on the back island bed.

The Welcoming Committee

The Welcoming Committee sits here in rain, snow and sunshine to greet visitors and always have a smile to share!

A Little Bit of Foliage

For a little bit of foliage, here is a combination of Heuchera 'Palace Purple' and Heuchera 'Caramel' beneath the shade of a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. I find these two cultivars of Coral Bells to be the most hardy and longest lasting.

Flowering Kousa Dogwood

June means flowering Dogwood are all the rage and this one never disappoints. This cultivar is Cornus Kousa 'Greensleeves', a hardier more disease resistant Dogwood with greenish-white blooms, hence the name.

Northern Perimeter Garden

Along with Kousa 'Greensleeves' are an assortment of Hosta, including 'Patriot'. 'Minuteman' and 'Frances Williams'.  Juniperus 'Gold Lace' and Pink Double Knock Out Rose are to the right, with 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae in the backdrop along the fence-line.

Kousa Dogwood Blooms!

Here are the blooms of the Dogwood up close.

Mugo Pine

Known for its slow-growing nature and evergreen foliage, Mugo Pine is lovely this time of year with its prominent purple seed cones that contrast nicely against blue-green foliage.

Summer Snowflake Viburnum

Here in the shade area of the garden are Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' on each side of a Kwanzan Cherry. In the distance is a birdbath planter with shade loving plants.

Viburnum Blooms

Let's look at the Viburnum blooms up close. They resemble snowflakes and repeat bloom throughout most of the summer.

Shade Planter

This shade planter has an assortment of mini Hosta, Black Mondo Grass and Variegated Liriope.

Super Cool Sedum Blooms!

I planted this Sedum groundcover mix two years ago and it finally matured enough to produce these really cool yellow button-like blooms! I am loving them!

Pollinators on Salvia 'May Night'

The bumble bees have been enjoying this Salvia 'May Night'. They are around it all day long doing their thing! Behind it is the foliage of Peony 'Karl Rosenfeld'.

Driveway Border

In the driveway border is Nepeta 'Walkers Low' in full bloom. Oriental Golden Skyland's Spruce sits behind it. 

Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang'

Come along to the front island bed. A favorite bloomer is Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang' with its profusion of  neon pink blooms.

Front Island Bed Eastern Side

Weeping Norway Spruce, Mugo Pine, Hosta, Dwarf Japanese Andromeda and Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae can also be seen here.

Driveway Garden

On the western side of the driveway is  another Weeping Norway Spruce, accompanied by dwarf Norway Spruce 'Little Gem', Japanese Garden Juniper, 'Magic Carpet' Spirea and Salvia 'Caradonna' with its purple blooms in the backdrop. The Stella D' Oro Daylilies are in full bloom too!

Hemerocallis 'Stella D' Oro' (Daylily)

Last but not least, is the herb garden in pots that I planted for hubby, who loves to cook and use basal, parsley, and spearmint in his recipes!

Herb Garden

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my June garden and as always, I look forward to your comments and seeing what's growing 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 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, 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. 

Thanks for Visiting!

 A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING NEWS:

-The Long Island Master Gardeners tour of my property was a huge success and I was fortunate to meet so many wonderful like-minded people. As a result, I am now included on the Long Island Master Speakers List to do speaking engagements for community garden clubs.

-I continue to capture photos of shade loving plants for my newest book (to come out in 2023). Stay tuned and do check out my author page and books below. The gardening season is in full speed ahead and if you are looking for a little inspiration you've come to the right place!!

-To all my gardening friends, stay well and enjoy the beauty of the season until we meet again.🌳

 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.