Blooms, blooms and more blooms - the more the better, is my motto! Hydrangeas have become one of my absolute favorites...when we moved to our new place back in Aug 2005, I started to dream of big, beautiful hydrangeas. That year, I planted a few, albeit not in the best location for them...a little too much afternoon sun...live & learn. They've never flourished so I finally got around to moving them this year, but I digress! Then the next year, I planted 5 more on the side of our house...they grew a little, but not a whole lot...not many blooms. Then last year, we had a late cold snap (freeze) in April, and it never even occurred to me to cover my beloved hydrangeas. They all got zapped - one so badly that it didn't make it. The others were okay, but blooms were few and far between. However, this year...they are making my heart sing for joy! I have always wanted big beautiful hydrangeas, just like these, but never dreamed I would have them this quickly. So exciting. Just last weekend, we finally put a timer-based drip-soaker hose on them, so even though they get a good bit of sun too, with a little bit of water love, they're handling it beautifully.
But here's the main thing I love - these are "Endless Summer" Hydrangeas - that means they don't just bloom on old growth (as traditional hydrangeas do), but on new growth too! They cost a little bit more initially, but to me, they're well worth the extra outlay of $$. I'd rather pay a little more in the beginning and then get a much bigger enjoyment pay-off!
Hydrangeas color can also be manipulated based on the pH of your soil. Our soil produces pink blooms, but I LOVE blue, so I've been steadily covering the soil around my beauties with peat moss. This year, I can begin to see the pay-off. Some of the blooms area beautiful, pale pink, while others are a pinky-purpley-bluish combination. Hydrangeas also make excellent cut flowers (they dry well too) - and with so many blooms on a bush and the knowledge that they'll keep on blooming, cutting them isn't quite so sad! LOVE it!
What things do you love? Head on over to The Diaper Diaries to check out some other "loves" and feel free to add yours too! :)
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12 comments:
So jealous of your hydrangeas! I've always wanted to have some but understand they can be higher maintenance than some and wasn't sure I was up for it! The one I did plant (Endless Summer) never made it and I was so disappointed.
Maybe I'll try again. Thanks for sharing!
My MIL is starting some hydrangeas for me - I'm so excited!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful blooms! And thanks for visiting my blog too!
I so want to plant some hydrangeas.
These are my most favorite flowers. I am a major black thumb though. Are they perinneals?
WOW! I hope you pick some and bring them inside for your centerpiece. Beautiful.
Those are amazing!! I need to get some - here's hoping they are hard to kill! LOL!
They certainly are beautiful...can't wait to see you in a few!
Jodi, we are two peas in a pod. I love my Endless Summer too. Our soil makes them blue, and I'm pretty sure that it would take huge amounts of additives to turn ours pink. Our soil is extremely acidic. I would like to have both. Your pink one is gorgeous!
DiaperDiaries - You can do it! They're easy and, yes, they are perennials.
One of my favorites, too! Isn't God good - He's given us so much to enjoy!!
It was great to have you over last night....enjoyed the Chinese and the swimming but just enjoyed seeing all of you! Love!
So pretty! I'm jealous! I can barely, barely keep marigolds alive. ;0)
Those are beautiful and yes, I am jealous! lol I have one red rose growing in my backyard, but beyond that all I have are some pansies I bought growing in a plastic flower pot. I'm doing good just keeping those blooming!
Those are gorgeous! I have one hydrangea, but I definitely need to get more.
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