Gardening and Gardens

With the month almost at the close and the busyness of life at its peak right now (or so it seems), I thought I'd post some photos of my garden in November. I took these right before the big freeze set in which either forced all the leaves to drop or turned them into a crisp. Still the beauty of autumn was here until the end...  They don't call it Burning Bush for nothing! This Euonymus alatus literally looks like it's on fire. When most of the garden flowers are heading off to sleep, these Anenome 'Prince Henry' are in full bloom. All the hostas are now turning a brilliant shade of yellow, which adds such a flair of awesomeness to the garden. What would a fall garden be without mums? I love how these are flopped over the boulders, down the slope here.  Silly daffodils, it's not spring yet! Go back to bed. The Japanese Maple's deep reddish hue in autumn looks so pretty against the weeping spruce.  The foliage and the drying...

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...

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...

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 co...

It's been unseasonably warm the past few weeks and the fall foliage is loving it. Everything is in peak color right now. Here are some of the great looking trees in the neighborhood: As for my pots and containers - not much is blooming anymore, save for a few hardy mums. But the foliage on the hostas and the ferns still look attractive: And this poor container - it was planed with lovely fall colored pansies. But the silly squirrels keep digging in the soil thinking they have buried some food treasure. I had been dutiful about putting down "squirrel-be-gone" repellent, but at this point, I've given up trying to keep them away. Ah well!