What's Blooming This Month? May 2014

May is bursting with spring flowers, trees are a bright yellow-green and the grass is looking fuller each day. After such a long winter, it's wonderful to see everything coming into bloom. In addition, a few things I planted later in the year last year are finally pushing forth fuller growth now. Here's what's blooming around my Long Island garden this month. 

 Beautiful columbines in full bloom. I love the pink outside and the white flower inside.

 Variegated red-twig dogwood looks stunning in front of the blooming viburnum in the background.

Heuchera 'Miracle' is one of the beautifully leaved coral bells. The new growth is really coming out now and its dainty little flowers shouldn't be far behind.

In the shade garden, the Kwansan cherry tree flowers are falling to the ground, creating a pink carpet. But through that, Phlox 'Home Fires', bleeding hearts, ferns, astillbe and anemone are living quite happily.

 Here is a close up of the white anemone behind one of the bleeding heart plants.

The azalea in the front yard is in full bloom, with new growth on the weeping spruce behind it. In the foreground, alliums are starting to open.

If it's May, it must be time for iris! These purple beauties look stunning in front of the purple lilacs behind them.

And my favorite tree - the Japanese Maple. These leaves just opened up and the color is simply show stopping!

And that's what's going on in my part of the world! Be sure to check out what else is growing around the country this month over at May Dreams Gardens "Garden Blogger Bloom Day" list.

What's Blooming This Month? September 2014

The last few days have been perfect September weather - cool mornings and evenings, warm days and low humidity. The sunlight hits the garden differently this time of year - warmer, softer and somewhat more peaceful. 

Here's what's blooming in my Long Island, NY garden this month:

Although the Rudbeckias (Black-eyed Susans) are starting to fade, their seed heads are a wonderful treat for the birds. In a few more days, the mums will be in full bloom, prolonging the show in this garden.

The panicle hydrangea is still in full bloom. I just love the fullness of this shrub, the delicacy of the flowers and its long season. 

The Crape Myrtle finished flowering weeks ago, but the seed heads will remain and are quite attractive. 

The Knockout Rose shrub is still blooming, with new buds appearing every day. It's a lovely compliment to the light green and pink of the neighboring Sedum.

Deep in the shade of my shade garden, these Toad Lilies are happy as can be.

The variegated Liriope is also in full bloom. I love the purple spikes standing tall over the green and white leaves. 

And what would fall be without a few new container plantings?

That's what's blooming in my garden this month! What's in yours? I'd love to hear from you.
As always, thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. It's great to see what's blooming all over the country!

What's Blooming: August 2012

Heat, humidity and thunderstorms -- all part of summer here on Long Island. I'm thankful for my Black Eyed Susans (Rubeckia hirta 'Goldsturm') as they continue to look great, despite all kinds of weather. Today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - have a look at what's growing and blooming in my garden this month.

Under the japanese maple, the sedums are almost ready to bloom. A few pink echinaceas still peek through but the real show stoppers are the rubeckias. 

Along the side of the front garden, the purple Angelonia angustifolia 'Dresden blue' is doing beautifully. The lantana in front of the Echinacea magnus is also looking good. 

A perennial lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria') just started to bloom. I just love the deep red colored flowers on erect stems against the deep, dark foliage below. 

The crape myrtle is in full bloom. I've never had one of these before and I love it! I might prune it after its finished blooming to keep it from getting too large. Anyone have any insight on that?

And the panicle hydrangea behind it is lovely, but way too big for the space. Its very overgrown, and will also be getting a nice trim immediately after its finished blooming. 

I love the pink tint on the almost-blooming sedums!

As always, any thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  

What's Blooming This Month? September 2013

Today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's a look at what's growing and blooming in my Long Island garden this month.

The variegated Liriope is now in full bloom. The lovely purple spikes of flowers are a welcome splash of color in the garden. 

I love the contrast of the pink flowers against the lush green leaves of this begonia and the entire plant form in front of the garden wall.

Beyond the Liriope, the pink carpet roses continue to bloom and are truly maintenance free. What a joy to have in the garden.

The hot colors of the Lantana remind me that summer is not over yet, as they continue to bloom in the warm September sun.

My latest addition to the border - Callicarpa acuminata 'Woodlanders'. Similar in form to the more common beautyberry shrub, but these have larger, deeper purple colored berries. The berries just started turning color so I'm anxious to see how it looks when it's full of them!

Dragon Wing Begonias...every time I pass this spot, I have to stop and marvel at their beauty. The dark pointed leaf with the striking red flower and how it gently flops over the top of my rock wall is simply lovely.

When the Sedum 'Autumn Joy' begin to bloom, you know it must be September on Long Island. They start with a light pink hue and gradually get darker as the weeks progress.

And of course, the mums are coming into bloom. This one is an orange/brown shade. I love how they compliment the changing of the leaves this time of year.

Salvia 'Black and Blue' is an annual here, but I couldn't resist enjoying it for a few more weeks until it gets too cold. Next year, I'll have to buy this one earlier in the season so as to enjoy it longer.

 The Knockout Roses are still going strong and look pretty next to the yellow Rubeckia.

And look what I found - this one lone bloom on my azalea bush! Go back to sleep little one, see you in the spring!

And that's what's going on in my part of the world! Be sure to check out what else is growing around the country over at May Dreams Gardens "Garden Blogger Bloom Day" list.

What's Blooming: June 2012

It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's what's growing and blooming in my new garden this month:

The Hydrangeas are in full bloom now. I didn't know what color these were going to be, but I just love this hot pink.

The front garden, under the Japanese Maple tree is blooming nicely. Lychnis, Impatiens, Shasta Daisy and soon-to-bloom Russian Sage are looking good.

The path to the backyard is lined with all kinds of different Hostas. Some are shooting out flower spikes (like the one below).

The garden by the front sidewalk is also in full bloom with Gaura, Achillea, Shasta Daisy and a few remaining Salvia.

These Tradescantia are a nice pale blue and I can just see one Black-eyed Susan starting to bloom around the midsection.

In the backyard, the Astilbe are blooming and enjoying their shady spot. 

And a beautiful blue lace-cap Hydrangea is blooming along the back patio.

Does anyone know if this is a weed? My gut says yes, but since I don't know what has been planted here, I can't really tell for sure. 

As always, any thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  

What's Blooming: October 2012

Today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's a look at what's growing and blooming in my Long Island garden this month.

The Montauk Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) is in full bloom. All summer long, my husband asked me "What's the deal with this plant? When is it going to bloom?" Just wait, I told him. And sure enough, when everything else is starting to settle into the coolness of autumn, these beautiful daisies open up and smile at all who pass by.

The Sedum 'Autumn Joy' has morphed from the vibrant pink of last month to a beautiful deep maroon color, more fitting for this time of year.

I love how the Hosta leaves begin to change color, similar to the tree leaves. The golden yellow against the fading green is simply lovely.

A few Black Eyed Susans remain, looking more attractive next to the deep color of the sedums now.

And the Burning Bush (Euonymus alata 'Compactus') is starting to live up to its name. The leaf colors will all turn a vibrant shade of red and truly look like it's on fire. 

We are busy working to complete the backyard renovation project in the next two weeks. Have a look at what we've done so far!

As always, any thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. 

What's Blooming: September 2012

Today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's a look at what's growing and blooming in my garden this month.

The buds on the Montauk Daisies (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) are starting to show. I've pruned this down twice throughout the summer to help keep its shape and can't wait to see the blossoms in a few weeks!

I love the pink hue of the Sedum 'Autumn Joy' against its lush green foliage. I still have a few Black Eyed Susans too which are a lovely contrast to the pink.

To my delight, the Lychnis coronaria decided to bloom again (left) and the potted geranium continues to put on a good show. I recently planted some new mums in the front of the garden and to the back, more will soon be blooming.

 This just started blooming too and I believe it is Salvia farinacea (Victoria White)

The blooms on the panicle hydrangea (possibly Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'??) are turning a light pink which is so pretty. The shrub I inherited is completely overgrown and needs to be pruned. It blooms on new wood, but I'm wondering if I should trim it down after the blooms fade and again in the early spring or just wait until March? Any advice would be appreciated!

After I had to rip out the impatiens due to downy mildew (see my post here) I planted these begonias. They are doing quite well in this shady spot. As you can see, a few rogue impatiens are still trying to grow!

We are hopefully starting the backyard renovation project in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for photos of the transformation!

As always, any thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.