Gardening and Gardens

Even though autumn doesn't officially start for another few days, it certainly feels like it outside. The air is cool and crisp and the sun still feels warm - a perfect day for a fall festival! The teaching gardens at  Farmingdale State College  are always beautiful and lush. But the colors I saw at their annual fall festival were just stunning. Have a look:

They sunlight streams through the trees at a different angle these days, the mornings and evenings are cool and the leaves gently fall to the ground like raindrops. Autumn is definitely here. The days are getting shorter and yet, my days are not getting any less busy. Two of the children are off at school, the other two still home with me. This doesn't leave me much time to garden or blog, but I do what I can, knowing that both will still be here next year and maybe then I'll have a few more minutes. In the meantime, I am admiring the life cycle of my garden, the beauty of the season's colors and the sweet smell in the air. Here's what's blooming in my Long Island, NY garden this month: My cute little garden owls continue to make me smile as they peek out from under the hydrangea leaves. The rose hips on the carpet roses are just lovely and the perfect color to go with their surroundings. I bought these mums last year for a few containers and before t...

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 ...

Not too much is blooming this month, to be honest. After all, it is November. But also, it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and so, along with other fellow garden bloggers, I'm here to show you what is going on in my garden this month. Just two weeks ago, my garden and surrounding landscape was a mass of autumn vibrant colors ( take a look here ). Then a cold snap happened earlier this week and we actually got a dusting of snow. Now everything tender has died back and the leaves are almost all gone. Still, there is beauty if you look for it. The pink carpet rose is still going strong with a few blossoms and buds here and there. Never thought I'd enjoy the color pink in November as much as I do now. Speaking of pink, the first blossoms of my Anenome 'Queen Charlotte' plants are starting to fade, but they still have a few more buds on them and we are due for a warm weekend...maybe they will surprise me with one last hurrah.  The variegated Liriope is still...

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower -- Albert Camus Here on the north shore of Long Island, that quote is certainly true. The beauty of New York's fall foliage is right outside my window...  The Barberry bush is a multitude of vibrant colors - like an impressionist painting.  The leaves of the Lady in Red fern (Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red) have turned from  lush green to butter yellow, still atop it's red stems.  The Hostas are a gorgeous golden color  The Crape Myrtle has just turned colors - more red at the top and yellow/orange toward the bottom.  Although the Pee Gee Hydrangea's flowers have technically faded, I think their brown/pink hue is a lovely compliment to the yellow leaves in it's drooping habit. The older Crape Myrtle in the front of the house is not only bursting with color but also berries,  residing where the flowers once reigned.   As the days progr...

Autumn is definitely in the air! The leaves are starting to turn, the air is cool and dry and the mums are blooming everywhere beautifully. Here's what's blooming in my Long Island garden this month: Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' The carpet roses are still blooming and their pale pink color is a nice contrast to the  golds, reds and oranges this month.  The New Guinea Impatiens are really looking full and lush right now. They are paired next to an attractive variety of coleus that keeps a mounding habit.  The Japanese maple tree is the highlight of this garden bed.  Below it, the Sedums have taken center stage.  Salvia pratensis 'Twilight Serenade' The last few remaining Black-eyed Susans are complimented nicely by the  deep pink of these New Guinea Impatiens.  Salvia 'Black and Blue' - oh how I love the deep, rich color of the blooms contrasting to the bright green foliage. Definitely getting more of t...