I have an ongoing conversation with my garden. Nature speaks to me in a strange language- I see dressmaker details in flowers- I see faces in wisened old trees, I see fabrics- sheer, satin, velvet or nubby. When a stem or branch bends or twists, I see embroidery or applique. I see elves and nymphs hiding beneath tree roots; butterflies and hummingbirds are flowers in flight-busy bees remind me of happy cooks and homemakers. Let me say it this way…I try to use words to describe things when there are no photographs; for instance-if you couldn’t see these beautiful hydrangeas– how would I describe them to you?
- Blue Eyelet Bloomers?
- Blue Flowered Bubbles?
- Big Blue Pom Poms on a Green Chenille Bedspread?
- Blue Clouds over an Ocean of Green?
- Blue Lace Lollipops on Pale Green Sticks? or Pink Cotton Candy? or-
- Orbs overlaid with blue crochet?
Hydrangeas bring on summer with the pomp and circumstance of a parade- and stay around until autumn like pale parchments as if they hate to see the season go…
They are not fickle- though they do tend to surprise me…changing in spring from pale green to blue then brighter blue or decide that they might like to wear lilac instead…
Before new hybrids- old timers would say to ‘sweeten’ them up- with lime…to get pink blooms. Just look at this pink hybrid! Reliable bright cotton candy pink blooms shamelessly flamboyant in a friend’s garden!
And in the last few years, I’ve become enamored of these sweet lace cap hydrangeas!
A bevy of beauty whether in a bouquet or peeping through a fence- I have to admit I love hydrangeas!
I’m greedy, I always want more! So, as much as I enjoy describing hydrangeas with words-I have to share more- hoping you love them too!
Cultivating Hydrangeas is easy – great companion plants in a slightly damp, shady or dappled shade environments, under-planted with spring bulbs, hostas and Ferns…Try it!
Thanks for stopping by Camellia’s Cottage…remember if you sign up we will never ask-
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Love y’all, Camellia
Thank you to a fellow lover of hydrangeas and friend -Alyson, for the beautiful photos of your pink hydrangeas and the bouquet! Think you want to grow hydrangeas? Here are few resources from Amazon.com-
Hydrangeas! Hydrangeas
I agree I love them all. I have never seen any as vibrant as your neighbors pinks. What a vision and surprise that one picture was! Wonderful post.
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isn’t it amazing! vibrant- I worked at bham botanical gardens/leaf and petal shop- anyway, the new hybrids are amazing and this one never veers from that shade of pink!
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So this is a hybrid?
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yes it is- she told me this evening that it does fade a bit but blooms that bright pink every year- the new hybrids ‘hold’ color though I think her pink one is also close to that concrete wall, which has ‘lime’ in it- so that helps a lot- we had gift hydrangeas that were bright like the pink one- there are white ones also- and there is an electric blue- very bright
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🙂 Amazing beauty!
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I love hydrangeas! They are the face of summer time to me. These are so pretty!
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oh so well said! and I forgot to say these are ‘Mopheads’! except for the lace caps!
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Mum has a few of them 🙂
Always lovely when they’re blooming.
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Oh how wonderful ! Yes lovely…thanks for stopping by
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I love hydrangeas! But, you know I’m partial to the purple ones!, and I like the lovely lilac ones!
When you first started out, I was afraid you weren’t gonna have any pix! 😉
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Ha! no I wouldn’t do that to you! just something I do…try to describe to someone who cant see whatever it is i’m trying to describe!
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It was wonderful, now that I don’t have to fear doing without the pix!!
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I grew up with hydrangeas in Iowa, and I’ve always loved them. Here’s the proof! We never had such colors, though. Ours were pure white. Maybe they contributed to my love of white flowers.
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So beautiful! I absolutely love hydrangeas!
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Thank you! Me too!
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I absolutely love hydrangeas, I love gardens saturated in greenery and colorful blooms! Unfortunately, I am a lousy gardener. I purchased a hydrangea and after its 2 Beautiful flowers withered away I haven’t been able to make it bloom again 😔
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Aww don’t give up! An old gardener told me one time to try a plant you really love in 3 different spots in your garden with 3 different conditions and if they don’t work ? Then you can give up ! With hydrangeas- don’t buy ‘gift’ hydrangeas ..go to a nursery and buy the smallest size… Cheaper that way…and plant in the most moist area in your yard…thanks for stopping by!
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Great advise! Thank you so much for your advise! I will surely try it! – with Hydrangeas, when would you say is the best time to plant?
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almost any shrub or woody plant does better being planted in the fall or early spring (winter) when they are concentrating on putting down roots instead of putting on flowers or leaves…does that help? that’s an all purpose rule
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It does! Thanks so much!!! I will keep you posted on my skills 😉
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would love that!
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