HYDRANGEA PRIMER

I love Hydrangea.

They give perhaps more blooms

Than any other flowers

In my garden.

But the last few years

Have not been great Hydrangea years.

Warm early springs

Followed by late cold snaps

Have limited the blooms for the last three or so years.

It’s one of the most disappointing things I know

Frozen Hydrangea buds!

This year the Hydrangea Gods aligned

Blessing us with an abundance of blooms.

All over town.

My friend Karen who was about to dig up her Hydrangea

Gleefully texted a picture in June

Announcing “They’re blooming!”

Abundant blooms equals abundant questions

Because people want to add them to their gardens.

So here’s a little primer of what I know about Hydrangea.

Old fashioned Macrophyllia or Mophead Hydrangea bloom on “old wood”.

These are the most susceptible to those late spring freezes.

Yet they are spectacular plants

So don’t cast them out.

Just provide them with a little more northern protection

If possible.

The newer are sold under the commercial brand of “Endless Summer.”

They bloom on new and old wood,

So your chances of getting lots of blooms are greatly increased.

I’ve made room for plenty of both in my garden.

I’ll never confess just how many I have.

Hydrangea are happiest with morning sun

And afternoon shade in warmer zones like mine.

My front bed started in the shade

But became full sun with the death of a pine tree’

The results is that the blooms don’t last as long.

They fry a little

Actually a lot some years.

Like this year.

I spent a couple of evenings this week

Cutting off the crispy blooms

And taking them to their final resting place.

The compost pile.

 

They will have a second – lesser bloom cycle

Later in the summer.

Meanwhile those living in the shade

Of the back yard cedar trees

Continue to bloom and bloom.

Lucky me.

Then there’s my new friend, Annabelle.

It’s an old variety

That I discovered a few years ago.

Mine are all planted in mostly shade.

Their white bloom begins in June

Over the next month they turn to

This wonderful green.

It’s a color I love in the garden

And it’s not easy to get

So I get a little excited when they bloom.

Nature is such an artist.

As the spring pink hydrangeas

Take on a dusty late summer hue

They compliment the purple coneflower

Dahlias and other late summer stars.

I pull them all together

To make wonderful arrangements.

And if you plant enough Hydrangea

You’ll have blooms

Till it freezes.

So that’s what I know.

Hydrangeas give and give

And they play well with others.

We can all take a lesson from them.

Stay cool and enjoy the week.

Gail