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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day October 2012 Fall Garden

Its Fall on Long Island and the colors are beautiful this year. The average daytime temperatures have dropped down into the 60s and there is a cool blustery wind. The seasons seem to be changing a lot quicker in 2012 and are a few weeks ahead of schedule as the trend continues. Predictions are for a cold and snowy winter which may prove to be true as seen by the quickly changing conditions and abundant production of pine cones. The changing colors of the fall garden are all around me. Welcome to another Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Walk with me as we venture through my October garden.

Backyard Perennial Garden

The colors almost turned overnight this year with a plummet in temperatures from the mid seventies one day into the fifties the next and then a little frost just the other morning. Astilbe, Daylily and Lambs Ear have gone into Fall mode and Juniper Blue Star is alongside them for some winter color along the backyard entrance.

Blue Star Juniper, Dwarf Fountain Grass and Weeping Norway Spruce

In the side garden, Dwarf Fountain Grass Hameln, is showing off its wispy plumes next to the blue of the Juniper and burgundy of Heuchera Palace Purple. A birdbath nestled in the garden invites local birds to stop and visit.

Spirea Gold Flame and Dwarf Fountain Grass Hameln

Walking along...the Spirea Gold Flame is showing hues of burgundy and orange and is turning into a rainbow of color.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, Barberry Rosy Glow, Dwarf Butterfly Bush, Gold Mop Cypress and Heuchera Caramel

The Barberry Rosy Glow takes on a fiery burgundy-red appearance next to the blue of the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and gold of the Gold Mop Cypress (Chamaecyparis Gold Mop). The dwarf Buddleia Lo & Behold Blue Chip is still producing bright purple blooms. I will still see an occasional butterfly and just the other day I caught a glimpse of a rare hummingbird as it stopped by my lantana tree (now inside), hovered by the butterfly bush then flew off!

Liriope Variegata

I am enjoying my Liriope which is an old stable in the garden and producing its striking purple blooms followed by deep purple-black berries for winter. This plant is very hardy in zone 7 and goes nicely with just about anything. It stays at about ten to twelve inches tall.

Montgomery Blue Spruce

As we stroll along we pass the patio garden...

Hinoki Cypress Aurea

and now around to the pool. Here is Hinoki Cypress Aurea along with Yaku Jima Maiden Grass in the background and Montgomery Blue Spruce in the foreground.

Blue Atlas Cedar Cones

Notice the abundant production of cones on my Blue Atlas Cedar. Is this a sign of a harsh winter to come?

Barberry Rosy Glow Fall

Here is a close up of the Barberry Rosy Glow along with Gold Mop Cypress and a backdrop of Western Arborvitae Virescens and Emerald Green.

Knock Out Rose

The blooms on my Knock Out Roses are not ready to quit and continue to supply color in the garden. I am glad to have added them two summers ago since they have given me so much joy.

Coral Bark Maple (Sangu Kaku)

In the front yard the Coral Bark Maple (Sangu Kaku) is starting to display its Fall colors. It will turn a bright golden-yellow as the weeks go on. I love the show this tree puts on.

Stachys (Lambs Ear) and Astilbe Fanal

Keep the Fall color coming!

Perennial and Evergreen Garden

Here is a little more October color showing my perennial and evergreen garden...

Dwarf Maiden Grass Yaku JIma

and now a close up of Dwarf Maiden Grass Yaku Jima. This type of Maiden Grass grows to about five to six feet and stays more compact than most. Its large elongated plumes are so wispy!

Mugo Pine and Sedum Brilliant

Here is a combination of Dwarf Mugo Pine and Sedum Brilliant in the front yard.

Backyard Patio Garden

And here is another view of the backyard showing the evergreens in the backdrop and the gardens in the foreground. The gardens wrap around the patio and then lead out to the pool area gardens which we visited earlier.

Blue Atlas Cedar, Mugo Pine and Sedum

Here is another view of the Dwarf Mugo Pine and Sedum along with the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar in the backdrop.

Pinus strobus Globosa

And here is my newest addition...a Globe White Pine. Its needles are delicate and soft and it grows to only about two to three feet in diameter maximum. I am making sure it gets plenty of care as we head towards winter.

Fountain Grass

And as we head out towards the driveway here is my Weeping Norway Spruce (in the backdrop) along with Fountain Grasses as they display graceful plumes and bring in the Fall. It is unknown what the winter will bring but for now I am enjoying the crispness in the air, the beautiful days and changing colors around me.

Thank you for strolling along with me in my zone 7 Long Island autumn garden. I am so glad you could visit and please do visit our Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hostess Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Please leave a comment so that I know you dropped by and I will be sure to visit you as well!

As Always...Happy Gardening and Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2012. All rights reserved

An Overwhelming Tribeca Terrace Is Comfortably and Cleanly Toned Down

One of the biggest challenges of this project was breaking down the trees and planter boxes and safely removing them from the site. Carting 100 bags of debris through a clients apartment and the remaining building can be tricky and requires patience and focused attention.

The Buxus Green Mountain hedge and Miscanthus sinensis grasses were chosen for their hardiness, low maintenance and structural integrity.

Before

After

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Front Yard Landscaping Tips For Year Round Beauty

There are many benefits to having a low maintenance front yard landscaping design. An easy to care for front yard landscape will save you time, money and enhance your propertys curb appeal. You can hire professionals or do the work yourself with a little investment of time and money.

A low maintenance front yard landscaping design can be very personal and decorative as well saving you significant time and effort in regular upkeep. With the efforts to save energy you can help save water with less grass and this type of landscaping can solve your problems if you live in an area prone to drought conditions.

Keeping the amount of grass in your yard to a minimum will save you a lot of time, energy and watering. You will not need to worry about keeping weeds out or fertilizing the grass. You could keep a smaller area of grass and choose from many alternatives for the rest of the lawn.

1. There are a variety of grasses and vines that serve a variety of purposes. These ground covers grow quickly and do well in a variety of conditions. Clover in particular can be an attractive ground cover with its small colorful flowers and it serves as a bug repellant.

2. You can expand your parking area from a single driveway to a double parking area with concrete or gravel.

3. Plant a variety of bushes or trees and use mulch to keep down on the amount of weeds and watering.

4. Planting small flower beds will give your lawn color and you can change the plants with the seasons. There is a variety of bulbs to plant in the fall to bloom in the spring, when these flowers begin to wither, plant flowers that grow well in the spring and summer. There are also a variety of plants and flowers that will do well in the later spring and early fall.

5. A water feature like a large outdoor fountain will attract a variety of birds and provide an attractive element in your design.

6. Be sure to include the front entrance into your design. The best looking lawn in the neighborhood will not be attractive if the front of the house is neglected. Scrape and paint as well as replace any broken glass or torn window screens.

7. Have a professional install an automatic hidden sprinkler system.

8. Be sure to consider buried lines and any building permits you might need.

One of the easiest ways to increase the curb appeal and apparent value of your home is with a good front yard landscaping design. When planning your design keep in mind the style of home, area where you live and the local climate. Carefully planning the front yard landscape of your home will keep it looking attractive any time of year.

Belinda Nelson is a free lance copywriter who enjoys writing on a variety of subjects. Each article is carefully researched and put together for the benefit of the reader. Get more ideas and information about easy front yard landscaping by visiting: http://www.hiddentreasuresdirect.com/ Be sure to sign up for your free gift!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Belinda_Nelson
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Billy Bollard

I’ve been mildly obsessed with ‘Billy Bollard’, ever since I heard that Marshalls had produced an impact-resistant, plastic post, shaped like a small child. We actually tried to order one as a sample in our office, and I was bitterly disappointed when it never turned up (did they think we were taking the piss?). Suffice to say that Ive been hoping to come across one on my travels.

Hence it was pleasant surprise, when I spotted some on a detour to work last week. A whole bunch of Billy and Belinda Bollards have been installed outside Avenue Road School in Clarendon Park, Leicester. In reality, theyre even more bizarre than I expected. Being so much smaller than real children is a little bit jarring - I found myself wondering if Id accidentally eaten some sort of psychotropic plant!

The idea (and I can nearly see what theyre getting at), is that drivers see the "school children" and unconsciously slow down and drive more carefully. Supposedly thinking, "Id better watch out for those children at the edge of the road." Unfortunately, I think its more likely that drivers will think think theyve inadvertently fallen asleep at the wheel, and are now having a macabre nightmare.

Dont look in the eyes! Theyll turn you into Ferrocast, imitation cast-iron!!!

They just look sinister to me. I found myself imaging an evil partnership between the Childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Dr. Gunther Von Hagens; enticing under-sized orphans off the street and into their caravan with offers of Sunny Delight and Haribos, before whisking them off to their factory to turn them into shrunken, plasticised half-child/half-bollard hybrids.

"My friend Gunther will give you all the candy you ever need! Ha ha ha!!!"

Or maybe its like an episode of Doctor Who; the Billy Bollards are quietly positioning themselves around our cities, before they eventually rise up and conquor the world!

"You talkin to me? You talkin to me?"

I like how theyve done an asian version of Billy Bollard, seeing as how were in Leicester (Billy being the original boy and Belinder the girl that followed). How about Billvinder?!?

Id be interested to hear what other people think of Billy Bollard.

5 more Great Gifts for Gardeners

This is Part 2 of my list to Santa - this selection is tending towards my love for gadgets. I hope youre checking my list Santa!

Tree Trainer For Bent Trees

Ive often been irritated to have plants delivered to site, and finding that some of the trees that have been supplied are slightly bent. I didnt even know that a tool like this even existed, but I have to have one...

Droplet Mower

How cool is this lawn mower! Not only does it look like something youd use in outer space, but its also electric. So no more dependence on fossil fuels... I think if we kit our garden service out with these, my staff will have to wear space suits to fit in with what theyre using to cut the grass.

Nature Zap Electric Weed Killer

Im always looking for environmentally friendly ways of doing what I do, and I hate using chemicals to deal with the problems in my gardens, so if this works, it will be a great tool to add to the garden shed.

Electronic Soil Analyzer

This is a tool which every gardener should have - It not only measures the fertility and pH of the soil, but it also shows the moisture content and gives a light reading too! Gone are the days of using those irritating, cumbersome pH kits.

High-Tech Plant Glasses

These glasses seem too good to be true. Theyve apparently been developed by NASA, and will help you spot stressed plants just by looking at them. This really does seem like a scam, but if they work, Ill be first in line to buy a pair.