Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up January: The Inner Beauty of Winter!

[Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening]

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Welcome!​

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Happy New Year and welcome to my January zone 7b Long Island garden! After the snowiest December in years with two snowfalls, one of seven inches on the 14th, followed by another four inches a week later, the start of January came in chilly with another coating of snow earlier in the month. Now the temperatures have risen into the upper 40's, making it feel downright balmy outside, so I have been spending time in the garden, gently anticipating spring. Join me for a tour as we appreciate the inner of beauty of winter.​

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Garden Gal!​

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As we start the tour of the garden, here is the infamous "Garden Gal" statue, which I have had for as long as I can remember, as she carries her basket of dormant Creeping Jenny (

Lysimachia nummularia). This hardy, creeping groundcover has been doing rather well contained in a planter, as long as the winters are not too harsh.​

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Nellie Steven's Holly​

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As we wander towards the backyard, this Nellie Steven's Holly is a regular stop on our monthly tour, but one cannot walk pass it by without admiring its bright red berries, which are prominent this time of year.

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Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'​

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Here is the winter bark of Crape Myrtle 'Sioux'. This late summer blooming tree has an exfoliating bark in which the color is more prominent when the tree is actively growing, but it does add a nice touch to the landscape in the wintertime. The bark shows interesting patterns which can be seen while close up.​

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Mugo Pine​

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One of the many garden interests of winter that catch the eye are the seed cones of pine. Here is a close up view of Mugo Pine with its dark brown, egg-shaped clusters of seeds. Each cone is only 1.5 to 2 inches in size.​

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Happy Visitors!​

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I feed the visiting birds regularly during the cold winter months when food sources are more scarce, and they eagerly await my arrival with their daily meals. As I approach the feeder they sit in the nearby tree, and the second I replenish their food they are all over it and happy as can be. I am convinced that they are thanking me as I am greeted with an abundance of chirping!​

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Rhododendron Buds!​

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Here in the back pool surround, the buds of Rhododendron are starting to show as the tree prepares for its blooms in spring...​

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Weeping Norway Spruce​

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while Weeping Norway Spruce gracefully borders the pool patio.​

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Spruce Seeds Up Close​

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The seeds of spruce are another example of the inner beauty of winter. Here they are up close.​

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Evergreen Mix​

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Here along the northern pool border is a combination of Leucothoe 'Axillaris', Upright 'Sky Pencil' Holly, Golden Variegated Sedge, and Dwarf Spreading Yew 'Repandens' (far right), all which are evergreen throughout the year.​

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Leucothoe 'Axillaris'​

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One thing I enjoy about broadleaved evergreens is their ability to change to an array of colors, depending on the temperatures and seasons. Here the foliage of Leucothoe 'Axillaris' turns a bronzy color in the colder temperatures of winter. As the plant slows in producing chlorophyll, it produces pigments called a

nthocyanins, ​

which protect its leaves from the intense winter sun when chlorophyll is lacking, a phenomenon

known as photoprotection.​

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Winter Interest​

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Here is another view of the Leucothoe with a closer look at the contrasting foliage of Dwarf Spreading Yew. One of my favorite things to do while designing is combining different textures.​

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Driveway Border​

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Along the driveway border is Weeping Norway Spruce and Dwarf Norway Spruce with Spirea alongside them in winter mode...

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Driveway Border-Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce​

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and Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce as it towers towards the sky.​

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Golden Skyland's Oriental Spruce Up Close!​

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I admire its beautiful foliage every moment of the year and even more so in wintertime. Purplish seed cones form in the upper branches in springtime, which I always look forward to.​

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All-Season Patio Planter​

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Along the gate entrance is an all-season planter consisting of Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Blue Juniper and Variegated Golden Boxwood...​

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A reminder of Snow​

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and along the front walkway is a last shimmer of snow.​

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Winter Blooms!-Hellebore 'Shooting Star'​

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As winter continues, Hellebore buds form, which will very soon open into beautiful blooms, reminding us that there can be beauty and blooms all throughout winter.​

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Indoor Collection​

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As the hours of daylight slowly increase and while awaiting the winter to pass, the indoor garden continues to thrive with colorful foliage, accompanied by the blooms of African Violet and Thanksgiving Cactus.​

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Indoor Collection​

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For a moment each morning, I just gaze out the window and dream.​

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Thanks for Visiting!​

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I hope you enjoyed your visit to my January 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.​

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Other Places to Find Me ​

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!
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Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2026. All rights reserved. ​