Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up August 2017: Late Summer Blooms!

August 2017 Garden
Welcome to my garden and to another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up for the month of August. It's time once again to come along with me to see what is blooming in my Long Island garden! 
Dried Allium Seed Head
The month of August has brought a combination of warm days in the 90's, followed by rain showers and cooler days in the 80's. Overall, it has been a relatively comfortable summer season for both the garden and its visitors. With a cool start to the summer season, I have noticed that some of the later blooms have have been a bit delayed, but only by a couple of weeks. Some of the newer additions over the past couple of years have brought even more blooms to the late summer garden, complementing the more mature plantings.
Back Patio Garden
As we start our stroll, the patio garden is alive with blooms of Platycodon (Balloon Flower) and Echinacea. There are subtle signs of summer ending and autumn on the way as hosta finish their blooms and ornamental fountain grasses start to form their feathery plumes.
Balloon Flower (left) and Echinacea Pow Wow 'WIld Berry' (right)
The variety of Balloon flower seen here is Platycodon grandiflorus' komachi'. The blooms on this cultivar remain as puffy "balloons" and do not open like other varieties you may be familiar with. The recent addition of Echinacea 'Wild Berry' behind the Balloon Flowers makes for a great color combination during the late summer months.
Platycodon  grandiflorus' komachi' Balloon Flower
Here are the large blooms of the Balloon Flower close up as we pass along the walkway area towards the patio.
Mandevilla
This beautiful potted Mandevilla was given to me by a dear friend. I  have never had one before and am enjoying its lovely blooms that just keep on giving.
Mandevilla Close Up
Here are the blooms close up!
Dwarf Butterfly Bush and Bumble Bee Visitor
The garden is full of pollinators during the month of August, as this Bumble Bee enjoys some nectar.

 
Back Raised Garden Bed Long View with Dwarf Butterfly Bush (center) and Roses (right)
Dwarf Butterfly Bush, Buddleia Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' is in full bloom for August, and will continue throughout September with its fragrant purple flowers. 
Dwarf Butterfly Bush with Painted Lady Butterfly
As you can see, the shrub attracts many pollinators such as this 'Painted Lady' butterfly, that has been hovering around the shrub for days.
Hemerocallis 'Pardon Me' (Daylily)
Hemerocallis 'Pardon Me' has been blooming for a few weeks now in the western garden. I just rejuvenated my 'Stella D' Oro' Daylilies, so they should be re-blooming into September and October.
Dwarf Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' (Dwarf Black Eyed Susan)
I added these Rudbeckia to the northwestern border garden last summer. They started blooming back in July and will continue for quite sometime into mid-fall. Because they are a dwarf variety, they stay at a compact height of just 12-24 inches. Rudbeckia 'Little Goldstar' is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and prefers full sun.
Echinacea 'Pow Wow' Wild Berry
Looking for some bright late summer blooms? Here is a new improved variety of Echinacea named for its darker non-fading berry-pink blooms (as the name implies). Plants stay compact at a height of just 12-24 inches tall, prefer full sun, and are hardy in zones 4-9. 
Garden Boy and Gal
A garden needs some whimsy and this adorable pair have resided here for many years. I get a smile each time I pass them by.
Hydrangea Tardivia August
Around to the front northern side of the property, Hydrangea 'Tardivia' displays its blooms and this tree form never disappoints! Voluminous pure white semi-fragrant blooms start in late July and last throughout August and sometimes into September.
Colocasia (Giant Elephant Ear)
New to the patio area is Colocasia or Giant Elephant Ear. I bought the bulb while picking out some plants for a job at the nursery and thought it might be fun to try. The plant keeps producing giant three foot long leaves that look like they are from prehistoric time. The plant that now stands at a height of about six feet tall and is starting to look like "Audry 2" from Little Shop of Horrors, and I love it!
Morning Glory
In the same planter is purple Potato Vine and Morning Glory trailing over the edge. The Morning Glory Vine just presented its first delightful bloom, right in time for Bloom Day!
Dianthus 'Raspberry Surprise'August
Dianthus 'Raspberry Surprise' is a new addition that replaced some aging Heuchera back in early June. It bloomed profusely for about a month, and after some deadheading, it is re-blooming for the month of August. It's delicate light pink blooms are also fragrant!
Crape Myrtle Sioux
For more late summer blooms, Lagerstromeia (Crape Myrtle) Sioux is starting to display its beautiful deep pink blossoms. This tree has been a member of the back raised garden bed for over 20 years and continues to amaze me every time it blooms. Let's get up close and personal with its large fragrant blooms!
Lamp post Garden
Yellow Coreopsis 'Zagreb' and bluish-purple Nepeta 'Walkers Low' continue to bloom throughout the summer and into fall, as Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' displays its variety of differently colored blooms all on the same plant in late summer. White the Coreopsis and Nepeta stay at a height of approximately 18-24 inches 'Cheyenne Spirit' grows a bit higher and  reaches approximately 2-3 feet.
Lillium Stargazer
Here is Stargazer Lily. It is located in the back pool garden and although it is just about done with its bloom, it is worth sharing. The blooms are short lived from the end of July through the first week in August, but are worth the wait, and their fragrance is amazing.
Pool Garden
Here is a long view of the pool gardens with a mixture of weeping and dwarf evergreens, perennials and grasses. Dried Allium 'Globemaster' seed heads (photo far right) remain as a reminder of the earlier summer months gone by.
Double Knock Out Rose Pink
In the back garden bed Double Knock Out Roses continue to amaze with their beautiful double fragrant blooms, that will continue through to the first frost. 
Double Knock Out Rose Red 'Radrazz'
'Radrazz' is the original member of the Double Knock Out Roses and was the first variety of Knock Outs that I introduced into my gardens. Did I mention how much I adore their blooms?
Sedum spirium 'Dragon's Blood' (Dragon's Blood Stonecrop)
Last, but not least is the late summer blooming Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'. Green leaves with red margins become brilliant red in cooler temperatures, with vibrant deep pink blooms in August that last for months. This ground cover variety of Sedum grows to approximately four to six inches in height and is hardy in USDA zones 3-9.
August 2017 Garden
I hope you enjoyed this month's tour through my garden. Special thanks go out to our hostesses 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 and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral FridaysMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  Also check out Garden Bloggers' Foliage Day at Creating my own garden of the Hesperides and Wednesday Around the World.

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As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved

30 comments:

  1. Your plants look great! I especially like your Lagerstromeia, unfortunately it is not winter hardy in my climate.
    Best wishes,
    Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I enjoyed your beautiful roses. Happy Bloom Day!

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  2. Wonderful! Beautiful!
    Love the roses and the lilies!
    The 'pow wow wild berry' coneflower is without question my favorite plant this year.
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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    1. Hi Lea. Thanks for visiting. I love your Crape Myrtles with their abundant blooms for August...so beautiful!

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  3. So beautiful- all of it! My favorite though is the combination of the wild berry coneflower and balloon flower.

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    1. Thank you Joanna. The Echinacea sits right behind the Balloon Flower, so as the two matured, it made for a nice combination, which lasts into September!

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  4. Hi Lee, I always love looking at your bloom day pics because I particularly enjoy how the conifers in your garden enhance all of your blooms. Platycodon grandiflorus' komachi' Balloon Flower..is new to me. What a fun shape and color in the garden. Cheers!

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    1. It's so nice to hear that you enjoy my gardens Jennifer. I am a fan of evergreens and love the interest they provide all year long in a cooler climate. I really enjoyed your late summer garden with so many varieties of Helenium and Rudbeckia. Happy Bloom Day!

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  5. Love your Balloon Flowers (especially with the Echinacea Pow Wow 'Wild Berry'). They look like little purple balloons.

    Are you sure the Bougainvillea you have isn't a Mandevilla? Your blooms look more like our Mandevillas and not much like our Bougainvillea.

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    1. Thank you Rebecca! I think you are correct about the Mandevilla. It looks like Mandevilla 'Ginger', so I changed the caption. The plant had no tag on it and is a new one for me. It is considered tropical here, so I will have to bring it in for the winter. If you have any suggestions, please do share!

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  6. I was impressed with the giant elephant ear. It is really HUGE!

    Jeannie @ GetMeToTheCountry.Blogspot.com

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    1. You have so many lovely blooms Jeannie and I also enjoyed your little garden helper Scooter! Funny you should mention the Elephant Ear. My husband and friends all want to know how big it is going to get, since it seems to grow every day!

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  7. Your posts are always a delight, filled with light and color! I'm surprised that you've never grown mandevilla before, it has become mandatory for me. The non-stop blooms are hard to resist.

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  8. Your late summer garden looks like mid-summer one so many blooms Lee. I love Balloon Flower and one year they flowered here but the winters get worse and they had gone. I also liked the statue of children, very nice!

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    1. Thank you Nadezda. I enjoyed your beautiful photos of the wildflower meadow...so lovely!

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  9. Hi Lee, thank you for sharing these awesome photos. A marvelous variety of flowers, love all the different kinds and colors, and that little girl and boy garden sculpture is precious.

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting and hosting Denise. Have a great week!

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  10. Your beautiful garden photos make me long for my garden to awaken!

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  11. They are again predicting rain here and my garden really needs it. Thank you for sharing your lovely garden.

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    1. I am glad you enjoyed the garden captures Denise and I hope you get your rain!

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  12. So pretty - great photos!!!! I adore flowers...
    I hope we see you at the current Reader Tip Tuesday Party: http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/08/22/reader-tip-tuesday-party-crafts-recipes/
    It's open all week & growing.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting Jodie! Have a great weekend!

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  13. Another wonderful tour of your stunning garden, Lee. I would love one of those dwarf butterfly bushes if I could find the space for it. P. x

    PS At last I reviewed both your books on my blog today -- I'll copy the reviews to Amazon.

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    1. Thank you so much Pam for your kind words and the review of my two books. I also admire you for all that you do, from your beautiful gardens to all your accomplishments. As far as the dwarf butterfly bushes go...they are wonderful and only grow to about 2-3 feet in height and width! Happy Gardening!

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  14. Hi Lee, your August garden looks fresh and vibrant, well-loved and beautiful! I like the combination of the balloon flower and the Echinacea Pow Wow 'WIld Berry.' Also, I love the weeping evergreen of the left in your long view of the pool gardens. What is it?

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    1. Thank you Deb! The weeping evergreen on the left is a Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula'). It is mostly hardy in USDA zones 3-8.

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  15. Nothing like the flower show that the Northwest puts on! I live in Atlanta now though currently living in germany for the year and Atlanta has nothing in comparison to the northwest. I think it is all the iron in our soil.

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  16. Wow! I feel like I have taken a personal guided-tour of your garden. What a treat!

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!