A GUIDE TO NORTHEASTERN GARDENING: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up October: Autumnal Blooms & Views

Welcome!

Welcome to Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day (and Foliage Follow-Up) for October! Autumn like temperatures have arrived suddenly as daytime temperatures turned from 80 degrees one day for the last hooray, now moderating into the steady 60’s  The skies are mostly clear with a slight chill in the air, which makes one feel alive, and the surrounding landscape is transitioning into what soon will be an array of changing colors. Join me in my Long Island garden for some autumnal blooms and views!

Seasonal Planter

The first view is of a planter that I had to own once I had passed it at the local farm stand. It just called to me…if you know what I mean! The combination of ornamental grasses and Rudbeckia should hopefully last for some time!

Montauk Daisy

Along the back walkway are Montauk Daisies, which bloom every October. I had always admired them from across the street and decided to add some to my own garden a number of years back. It was one of my neighbor’s favorite plants and they remind me of him whenever I look at them. He was like a family member to me as I had known him my entire life.

Hydrangea ‘Limelight Prime’

This Hydrangea ‘Limelight Prime’ joined the garden three years ago and has been a wonderful addition for summer and fall interest. Its’ greenish-white blooms turn to a deep pink as the temperatures cool.

Kousa Japanese Dogwood

Along the northern side of the property is the bright red fruit of Japanese Kousa Dogwood which highlights the tree in autumn. Although the fruit has a bitter taste, the birds love to eat it and it can be sweetened into a tasty jelly.

Kousa Dogwood Fruit

Here is the interesting pattern on the fruit close up!

Allium ‘Millenium’ Seed Head

New to the garden this year is Allium ‘Millenium’. Besides its purple blooms in later summer, I am loving its flowers dried!

Dried Peony Seed Head

In the perennial border, this seed head of Peony ‘Bartzella’ just exploded wide open, making for an excellent autumn display! I love to admire nature’s artwork, especially during this time of year.

Perennial Border Autumn-Lamb’s Ear and Astilbe

In the perennial border is the soft fuzzy white foliage of Lamb’s Ear with the dried flower stalks of Astilbe Pumila…

Dwarf Maiden Grass ‘Yaku Jima’ Autumn

while along the pool border, Dwarf Maiden Grass ‘Yaku Jima’ is displaying its plumes against the greenery of Weeping White Pine.

Sedum ‘Brilliant’ Autumn

Here are the dried flower heads of Sedum ‘Brilliant’ once the pink blooms fade following a late summer bloom.

Patio Border

I am happy to share the latest new addition to the patio border! It was time for the Weeping Pussy Willow to go after many years of enjoyment, but trees do have their life span. It gave me the opportunity to revamp the space, which we all know is one of my favorite things to do. After much thought, I decided on a Rhode Island Red Dwarf Japanese Maple, which I had my sights on after including one in a design at one of my client’s properties. This specimen tree has slightly larger burgundy leaves and maintains a more rounded compact shape, reaching a mature height and width of just 6 feet tall by wide over many years, making it very low maintenance.

New Addition-Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple

I am in the process of including additional dwarf evergreens, transitioning this space into a dwarf conifer-specimen garden.

Double Red Knock Out Rose

Now onto some blooms. Double Red Knock Out Rose is a stable in the perimeter garden as it continues to bloom throughout summer into the first frost of autumn… 

Dwarf Rudbeckia ‘Little Goldstar’

and Rudbeckia ‘Little Goldstar’ still hangs on as it refuses to stop blooming, for now anyway!

Dwarf Butterfly Bush ‘Pugster Blue’

Dwarf Butterfly Bush ‘Pugster Blue’ never ceases to amaze me as it too does not want to give up blooming. Just when I think it is done for the season, it sports another pop of color to admire!

‘Stella D Oro’ Daylily

‘Stella D Oro’ Daylily is another candidate that never disappoints. I deadhead and rejuvenate it in late summer and it comes back strong into fall while producing more blooms…

Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’

and along the back walkway, Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’ has been blooming since last month with its delicate trumpet-like flowers. 

Weeping White Pine Seed Cone

Other fall interest in the garden are the seed cones of various evergreens. The Weeping White Pine is producing an abundance of them this year. I am wondering if this is the tree’s way of preparing for a rough winter.

Mugo Pine Seed Cone

The pine cones on Mugo Pine are interesting as well and there seems to be quite a few of them.

Spirea ‘Limemound’ and Weeping Norway Spruce

Some foliage combinations for fall include the yellow-green foliage of Spirea ‘Limemound’ against the deeper green foliage of Weeping Norway Spruce… 

Front Walkway with Weeping Eastern Redbud

and the large heart-shaped leaves of Weeping Eastern Redbud ‘Lavender twist’ against the foliage of Weeping White Pine, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and Coral Bark Maple (far left), which should soon be putting on a colorful show!

Thanks for Stopping By!