Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May: Rainy Days and a Bounty of Blooms!

Welcome!

Welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden! May is a busy month for blooms as the temperatures gradually warm up into the 70's by day, with frequent rain in the forecast, which now has us pretty much caught up from the lack of rain and drought conditions from last summer. Every day there is something new to explore in the garden, which makes May one of my favorite months for gardening and dreaming of what future blooms are in store. Join me for a tour!

Patio Border

As we pass by the patio border, new candles of growth can be seen on the Japanese Red Pine, along with the bright red new foliage on Rhode Island Red Japanese Maple. Juniper 'Gold Strike' is in the foreground and Osmanthus 'Goshiki' can be seen in the backdrop.

Perimeter Garden

In the perimeter garden, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar is joined by Heuchera (Coral Bells) 'Caramel'...

Pool Border

and on the shadier side of the pool border is Golden Sweet Flag, Sky Pencil Holly and Leucothoe 'Axillaris'. Added just last summer is a new dwarf form of Nepeta called the 'Cat's Meow'.

Pool Border-Dwarf Nepeta 'Cat's Meow'

This variety has striking, long-lasting blooms and grows to seventeen to twenty inches tall, which is a little more compact when compared to other forms of catmint.

Backyard Island Berm

Along the back island berm, Hinoki Cypress 'Compacta' is joined by Mugo Pine, Hydrangea 'Limelight Prime' and  Weigela 'My Monet', which is now blooming.

Back yard Island Berm-Weigela 'My Monet'

Weigela 'My Monet' is a dwarf  form of Weigela growing to just one in a half to two feet tall by two and half feet wide with beautiful variegated foliage and pinkish-purple trumpet-shaped blooms in spring. This plant is beautiful for both its foliage and blooms. 

Patio Border

Upright Japanese Maple Twombly's Red Sentinel is going on its third season along the patio border and is joined by Spirea 'Candy Corn' and Stachys (Lamb's Ear).

Patio Border-Spirea 'Candy Corn' and Stachys (Lamb's Ear)

Here is the Spirea and Lamb's Ear up close!

Island Berm-Heuchera 'Caramel and Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'

Here 'Caramel' Coral Bells are joined by Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow'... 

Pool Border-Encore Azalea

and Encore Azalea is blooming away!

Back "Secret Garden"

If you follow along a path behind the pool, you will find what I refer to as the "secret" garden. It is hidden around the bend and is a place where Azalea are in full bloom this time of year, along with the white blooms of Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'.

Back Shade Garden-Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake'

Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' is a more compact form of Viburnum which displays star-like white blooms in spring followed by a rebloom in late summer. 

Back Pool Border-Shade Garden

Also around the bend in the "secret garden" is this statue of two children playing a game of piggyback.

Allium 'Globemaster'

Here is Allium 'Globemaster' along the pool border, which will be in full bloom by June with flowers up to five inches in diameter...

Pool Border-Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken'

while Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' produces its spring blooms.

Shade Garden-Jacob's Ladder ‘Golden Feathers’

In the shade border on the northwestern side of the property is Jacob’s Ladder ‘Golden Feathers’ with its golden variegated foliage and lavender blooms. I am enjoying this new addition from last summer.

Shade Garden-Pulmonaria 'Leopard'

Along with Jacob’s Ladder is Pulmonaria (Lungwort) with its leaves speckled in while and bluish-purple blooms that appear during the end of April and through the month of May.

Hellebore 'Champion'

Even the Hellebores are still chiming in. Although their peak time is over, their colorful bracts still add a touch to a shady spot beneath the Weeping White Pine. 

Front Main Lawn

As we approach the end of our tour for this month, here is a view of the front lawn with Weeping Japanese Maple ‘Viridis’ and Blue Atlas Cedar in the background…

Driveway Border

with Coral Bark Maple with Boxwood and Hinoki Cypress along the driveway border. 

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my May garden. I so appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have growing in your garden. Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday, Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. 

IN THE NEWS! Celebrating four months since The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants came to be! If you are into houseplants, this may be the book for you! I cover over 120 plant selections with full color photographs of each one and detailed descriptions on care and maintenance.

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You can visit my Author Page to learn about and Purchase My Books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration and more. And also be sure to check out my newest publication, The Houseplant Guide, to guide you on your houseplant journey!

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved. 

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up May: Long Island Garden in Springtime!

Welcome to my Garden!

It's the month of May, a time in the garden when more blooms are appearing everyday. With temperatures now moderating into the 70's and low 80's and with some nighttime rains, the garden is coming alive with color. Join me for a stroll in my zone 7a Long Island garden!

Allium 'Globemaster' Making its Appearance!

The first stop along the way is the pool garden, where Allium 'Globemaster' is blooming among the foliage of Daylily 'Stella D Oro', which will bloom in June. A mature weeping Norway Spruce is in the backdrop.

Allium 'Globemaster'

The blooms of this Allium are magnificent and will reach up to four to five inches in diameter when fully open.

Pulmonaria and Heuchera 'Caramel'

In the back shade area, Pulmonaria has been blooming for months and is now joined by the newly formed vibrant foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel'.

Pulmonaria

Here are the Pulmonaria blooms up close.

Perennial Border

The Perennial Border also comes alive this time of year with blooms of Salvia, accompanied by Lamb's Ear, Astilbe, Coneflower and Echibeckia blooms to follow as the season progresses. 

Salvia 'May Night'

The blooms of Salvia 'May Night' are a vibrant deep purple in springtime.

Weeping Norway Spruce, Spirea 'Limemound' and Allium 'Globemaster'

Circling back around to the pool garden is the bright lime colored foliage of Spirea 'Limemound' against the darker green foliage of Weeping Norway Spruce, with Allium 'Globemaster to the left.

Weigela 'My Monet'

The pink blooms of Weigela 'My Monet' are abundant this time of year.

Weeping Norway Spruce, Nandina 'Obsession' and Ajuga

Along the patio garden is a younger Weeping Norway Spruce with the colorful foliage of Nandina 'Obsession' and blooms of Ajuga 'Black Scallop'.

Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

Here is a closer view of the purple blooms of the Ajuga.

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry Laurel )

In the shade garden, Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' is having a banner year as far as blooms!

A Little Garden Whimsy

Along the stroll is a little garden whimsy tucked in among the shrubs and blooms.

Peony 'Bartzella' Buds!

Peony 'Bartzella' is full of buds and ready to bloom within the next two weeks. This hybrid Peony stands upright and produces bright yellow blooms at the end of May.

Peony 'Bartzella' Getting Ready to Bloom!

Strolling around to the back of the pool area is another semi-shade garden with blooms of Azalea, along with Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra). 

Azalea 'Girards Fuschia' and Japanese Forest Grass

The Japanese Forest Grass does well nestled under the partial shade of the Azalea.

Azalea Girard's Rose

In the same garden are a variety of  evergreen Azalea, including this Girard's Rose.

'Summer Snowflake' Viburnum

Here is Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' with the first of its white blooms, which resemble snowflakes. This variety of Viburnum produces blooms on and off throughout summer and into fall.

Hosta 'Patriot'

Foliage is important too! Here is the attractive green and creamy-white foliage of Hosta 'Patriot'...

Driveway Border

and in the driveway border is the golden foliage of Skyland's Oriental Spruce and Hinoki Cypress 'Verdoni', along with Mugo Pine, Weigela Spilled Wine (getting ready to bloom) and the bluish-purple blooms of  Nepeta 'Walker's Low'.

Picea orientalis Skyland's ('Skyland's' Oriental Spruce)

The Skyland's Spruce is loaded with baby seed cones this time of year.

Leucothoe 'Axillaris'

There is new foliage and blooms everywhere, including the new red foliage and white bell-shaped blooms on Leucothoe 'Axillaris'.

Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' (False Indigo)

Along the patio garden are the blooms of Baptisia Lemon Meringue, otherwise known as False Indigo...

Japanese Iris

and the Japanese Iris are blooming too!

Driveway Border

As we venture along to the left driveway border, Weeping Norway Spruce is accompanied by Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Blue Star Juniper and Variegated Iris.

Driveway Border

The foliage of Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is striking, especially in springtime, with pink blooms to follow.

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed the stroll through my May garden. I appreciate you being here, look forward to your comments and enjoy seeing what you have blooming where you live! Special thanks go out to our hostess 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. Also, special thanks to Pam Penick at Digging who had hosted Foliage Follow-Up, a meme I will continue to honor. I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Floral Friday Fotos, Friday Bliss at Floral Passions, Macro Monday 2, Mosaic Monday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf, Nature Notes at Rambling Woods, Image-in-ing weekly photo share every Tuesday with NC Sue and Gardens Galore Link Up Party every other Monday with Everyday Living. I am also happy to join the Weekly Photo Link-Up at My Corner of the World on Wednesdays and Garden Affair at Jaipur Garden. Wishing all a wonderful spring with gardens that thrive!

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"As Always...Happy Gardening!" 

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2023. All rights reserved.