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Welcome to my March Long Island garden and as the title states...what a difference a month makes! Here in zone 7b, the temperatures went from below freezing for weeks, to a record breaking blizzard on the 22nd-23rd of February to temperatures reaching into in the balmy 60’s in the beginning of March, it has been a rollercoaster ride of a winter. After three days of a spring tease, temperatures have settled more into the norm for March, but there are signs of spring. Join me for a tour!

As we start by the back patio border, Nandina ‘Obsession’ is looking unusually bright as we near the end of winter, with its orangey-red foliage that contrasts nicely against the deep green needles of the Weeping Norway Spruce, which stands beside it.

In the same bed there are signs of spring as rosettes of Sedum emerge from their winter’s sleep.

In the back island bed, Crape Myrtle ‘Sioux’ displays its branches proudly against the golden foliage of Gold Lace Juniper. Weeping White Pine, Mugo Pine and Dwarf Blue Globe Spruce can also be seen in the background.

I especially enjoy the foliage of Leucothoe ‘Axillaris’ this time of year as it displays different hues of burgundy and orangey-red. Fact: Did you know that the red coloring is actually from pigments called anthocyanins, a natural protection against cold and intense sun? The plant develops its own natural sunscreen when photosynthesis slows during wintertime.

In the same bed, the perfectly rounded, compact shape of Variegated Boxwood can be seen along with the broader cascading foliage of the Leucothoe. Berries from Nellie Steven’s Holly continue to shine red in the distance.

Now that the heavy snow has vanished from the plants along the back waterfall, I can finally see the upright Variegated Boxwood that were hidden by the branches of Green Giant Arborvitae. Everything seems to be finally getting back to normal, and thankfully unharmed.

Golden Hinoki Cypress ‘Verdoni’ along the back gate entry seems to have faired the winter well and the Boxwood have too, with only a few noted browning leaves. Once spring temperatures arrive, I will look forward to a flush of new growth.

I am so happy to be able to share with you the blooms of Hellebore ‘Shooting Star’ as they have been buried beneath a blanket of snow all winter long. It is a little late to see them, since they formed buds back in January, but I say better late than never, and it was worth the wait to see their amazing blooms!

Also budding out now is Hellebore ‘Merlin’ with its pink blooms, and Hellebore ‘Champion’ will follow by the end of this month, so stay tuned!

Here is a new addition which I planted along the front street median from our home. I always love seeing the vibrant red branches of Red Twig Dogwood during wintertime, so I can now admire them right from my front door.

There are other signs of spring, as the bright yellow-orange seed pods of Norway Spruce become more noticeable...and the first signs of crocus appear, as they make their way above the surface!

Along with crocus, the Hyacinths can be seen once again, and I saw my first Robin today!

The temperatures dropped again and we had another light dusting of snow just two days ago, but I am feeling optimistic as the landscape slowly comes back to life. For now, happy almost spring and I think I will try to get some gardening done on the not-so-cold days of March!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my March garden. Feel free to share this post!

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Welcome to This Month in the Garden! During the days before, the temperatures had finally started to rise after several weeks. The snow had almost completely melted from the previous storm and signs of spring were evident, as the lawn was once again visible and hyacinths could be seen emerging from their winter’s sleep. There was a possible light coating of snow in the forecast, but nothing to worry about, and it would melt by the next day. Suddenly, forecasts of a major storm started escalating. Words like historic, paralyzing, and record-breaking began circulating across every news channel. During the afternoon of February 22, 2026, the snow gently started to come down over the landscape.

Overnight, the storm advanced. Snow bands stalled and strengthened, feeding on Atlantic moisture and cold Arctic air locked in place. Winds escalated and the snow got heavier with accumulations of up to 2-4 inches per hour. As it intensified, the storm was officially upgraded to what is referred to as a “Bomb Cyclone”, with bands of heavy snow and wind gusts exceeding 50 mph overnight. Along our far east coastal shorelines here on Long Island, winds reached upwards of 70–80 mph.

Meteorologists described this event as among the most intense winter storms in years, as I could hear the winds throughout the night, and even experienced the first “thunder snow” as lighting shot across the sky in the early hours of the morning. Non-essential travel was banned across New York and neighboring states during the worst of the storm due to dangerous blizzard conditions, and power outages affected hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the region. Fortunately, we were sparred.

By the morning of February 23rd, neighborhoods across the northeastern United States were buried. Roads disappeared, cars became rounded mounds and masses of snow hung from the rooftop. In places like Long Island and across much of New York and New England, the final measurement stunned even veteran meteorologists, with a record 29.1 inches of snow. It surpassed totals from the legendary Blizzard of 1978 and the massive 2013 storm that many had assumed would remain the benchmark for a generation.

For longtime residents, the Blizzard of 1978 had been remembered for its ferocious winds and immobilized highways. I remember it well, as my parents had bought me a car for my college graduation, which was due to pick up the day after that storm. My parents drove me there and my dad drove the car home until we got a couple of blocks away, then safely let me drive the rest of the way. The 2013 storm was known for breathtaking totals and coastal flooding. After a decade, the Blizzard of 2026 has made weather history.

By late afternoon on the 23rd, the storm finally began to loosen its grip. Snow tapered to flurries, the winds softened and there was a strange beauty among the landscape. Streets were impassable, but untouched. The world felt paused, cocooned. Evergreens that typically stand proud in winter were bent to the ground. Garden beds disappeared beneath sculpted drifts that reshaped entire yards. For gardeners across the region, especially those already dreaming of spring planting plans, it was a humbling reminder that “mother nature’ is the one who sets the schedule. With that, the sound of plows were heard in the distance.

On the morning of the 24th, the sky emerged in brilliant, uninterrupted blue, the kind that only appears after a major winter storm and light struck the fresh snow, showing shadows. Icicles hanging from the roof sparked like glass in the sunlight. The storm, so dominant just hours before, suddenly seemed distant. Neighbors stepped outside cautiously, boots crunching through nearly two and a half feet of a wet, dense snow. The labor began, shoveling out to resume life. For many, they had not seen anything like this before.

The morning following blue skies, the snow had arrived once again for just a short time, gracing the landscape with 3.1 additional inches of snowfall. Gazing through the window, a feeling of peace and silence came upon me, as I could see the sun gently making its way through the clouds. Records had been made. Airports and businesses have been reopened, and delivery trucks have reappeared. Life resumes, although carefully. Beneath those 29.1 inches plus of snowfall, gardens rest.

Feel free to share this post! How did you weather the storm?

March Garden Tour, The Blizzard of 2026 & Spring Gardening Tips and Maintenance

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