A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up July: Let the Blooms Continue!

Welcome to my Long Island zone 7b garden. It’s mid-summer and Hydrangea and Coneflower are the stars for this month! With a rather mild past winter, a cool spring and temperatures rising into the mid to upper 80’s for July with plenty of rain so far, the blooms are more robust than ever. Now with a sudden burst of higher temperatures and humidity, some of the blooms are even earlier than usual. Join me for a tour! 

Hello Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’!

The two previous winters before the 2024 season brought temperatures in the teens to single digits to the northeast for several nights in a row, virtually destroying any buds that the hydrangea had formed. Fellow gardeners were experiencing the same hardship, a lack of blooms and the old fashioned hydrangea, especially ‘Nikko Blue’, were hit the hardest since they bloom on the previous years growth. This is the year of the hydrangea we have been waiting for, as the conditions were perfect and the blooms are magnificent! 

Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’

Here along with ‘Nikko Blue’ Hydrangea is Hydrangea ‘Tokyo Delight’ with its delicate lace cap blooms in shades of pink, while and blue. The foliage of evergreen Juniper ‘Gold Lace’ adds some contrast  against the blooms of hydrangea and within the next few days to a couple of weeks, the Crape Myrtle and Dwarf Butterfly Bush in the same planting bed will display their blooms. Stay tuned!

Echinacea ’Cheyenne Spirit’ (Coneflower)

The other pride and joy in the garden this year is Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ in the pool border. This hybrid with its blooms of multiple colors on the same plant is more robust than ever! 

Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’’

Another variety of Coneflower is Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’ growing in the patio border and accompanied by columnar Japanese Maple ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’, Juniper ‘Blue Star’, Spirea ‘Candy Corn’, Lamb’s Ear and Hemerocallis (Daylily) ‘Parden Me’.

Pool Border

In another view along the pool border is  Astilbe ‘Sprite’ with its delicate light pink blooms that appear later in summer, along with groundcover Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Angelina’) and another view of Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’.

Echinacea Pow Wow ‘Wild Berry’

I just cannot get enough of these Echinacea blooms, so here’s another close up view!

Calluna ‘Firefly’ (Heather)

This Calluna ‘Firefly’ is a new addition of Heather that I added to the back walkway area this summer. It is one of the most colorful Heathers I have encountered with pretty magenta blooms, which are just starting to appear now in mid-summer. This plant is evergreen with changing colorful foliage that deepens to bronze in winter and grows to just 18-20 inches tall by wide. 

Hydrangea Let’s Dance ‘Loveable’

Here is Hydrangea Let’s Dance ‘Loveable’ (hardy in USDA zones 5-9) from Proven Winners and yes…it is loveable! I have been growing this re-blooming beauty in a planter for two years now on my patio and it has thrived throughout the winter months and produces beautiful deep pink blooms that persist throughout summer.

Daylily ‘Pardon Me’

While Hydrangea and Coneflower are having a banner year, daylilies are holding their own too. Here is Daylily ‘Pardon Me’ with its colorful blooms.

Southern Pool Border

In the southern pool border, Allium ‘Millenium’ is starting its blooms along with evergreens Golden Japanese Yew and Rhododendron, spring/early summer blooming Spirea ‘Goldmound’ and Astilbe ‘Visions’ and Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’.

Another View!

In this view is Variegated Boxwood and a closer look at the Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’, which has been blooming all summer.

Back Island Bed: Hydrangea ‘Limelight Prime’

Another hydrangea is starting its bloom. It is Hydrangea ‘Limelight Prime’, which produces greenish white blooms that mature to white then fade to pink. It is accompanied by evergreens Hinoki Cypress ‘Compacta’ (left), Dwarf Mugo Pine (right) and ‘Palace Purple’ Coral Bells.

Salvia ‘Blue by You’

Here is Salvia ‘Blue by You’! It is a new cultivar of sage which has just hit the nurseries within the last couple of years. I find it starts its blooms earlier in the season, blooms longer and is more robust.

Ornamental Onion ‘Millennium’

Circling back around to the pool border, here is Allium ‘Millenium’ close up with its rosy-purple blooms. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and prefers sun to part sun…

Lilium ‘Stargazer’

and check this out! My ‘Stargazer’ Lilies are blooming two weeks earlier than usual!

Dipladenia

This Dipladenia was a gift and I get to enjoy it everyday on my patio. I have always loved these plants! Helpful Tip:  Mandevilla and Dipadenia look very similar and are hard to distinguish apart when small. Mandevilla is more of a climbing plant and will need a trellis to grown on while Dipladenia has a more compact, clumping habit.

Fig Tree!

Here is a fun story. My husband bought this fig tree online and when it arrived it was a tiny little cutting about four inches tall. After three months and two pot upgrades, look at it now! 

Herb and Tomato Planter

This herb/vegetable planter is also new this year and has proven to be a good purchase. The basil, parsley and tomatoes are growing like crazy and producing great crops! Spearmint and Chives join the mix in their separate containers.

Heuchera (Coral Bells) for the Patio

Last, but not least, I am trying something new. I have a client who grows Heuchera (Coral Bells) in wooden planters and they have overwintered for years. I just did the same with these Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ to add some color and interest to the patio area. I am hoping to have the same success.

Thanks for Visiting!