Photographer: Lorelie Olson
Text – Lorelie Olson
Welcome to “High Summer” and multi-colored hydrangeas softening houses, bordering gardens and shading paths in parks. After the blush of April and the exuberance of May, hydrangeas with their soft green leaves, blue and pink colors and cloud shaped blooms invite us to choose a good book and relax in the shade.
Lorelie
MY HISTORY WITH HYDRANGEAS
My fascination with hydrangeas has a long history. It began with my Grandmother Sophia’s blue hydrangea on her Kingston farm. I was a child when I saw the hydrangea and my fascination continues to this day!
In my early thirties Tim and I moved to Richmond Beach and I was delighted that the same blue big leaf shrubs were planted in a row along the east side of the house and brought their cooling comfort to hot July days.
In my seventies, Tim and I moved to Everett into a neighborhood featuring many beautiful gardens. During our summer walks we noticed not just the blue, but also purple, pink, white and lime green big leaf hydrangeas! Inspired, I determined to include a variety of colors in our small garden. I planted in pots, on perennial borders, and rockeries. They add color, texture, and shape to all our garden areas!
Soil determines the color of the blooms. Acidic soils develop into blue blooms; neutral soils result in pink blooms.
The blooms are not true flowers but modified leaves. The almost invisible fertile portion is at the center.
Like many of us, bigleaf hydrangeas are well travelled! They came to America from France by way of Japan.
Hydrangeas flourish throughout America.
PAST AND PRESENT HYDRANGEAS
When I was in my twenties, Tim & I lived in Lake Forest Park with a garden featuring mature rhododendrons and hydrangeas. Especially notable was a stand of tall white “paniculata” (peegee) hydrangeas. These bloomed in late summer through fall, with clusters changing color to cream, then pale pink, and finally dusky rose.
In our Everett back garden we have two interesting hydrangeas. A tall “peegee” that is rapidly growing into a showy shrub, covered with clusters ranging from buds to full blooms and a special new smaller hydrangea, a serrata variety called “Shooting Star”. This type of hydrangea is very hardy and has large clusters witth two different textures and colors.
The “Shooting Star” displays a flower cluster of unique beauty well-suited to any landscape.
I am happy to share my lifetime interest and admiration for hydrangeas. I hope you enjoyed our lovely hydrangeas!
Perhaps next year I will add a plant that is purple . . . or lime . . . or will there be a yellow? . . . There must be room for just one more . . . Somewhere?
CREDITS:
Photographer: Lorelie Olson
Writer: Lorelie Olson
Graphic Designer: Tim Olson
Editor: Lorelie & Tim Olson
NESTER url: https://notesfromanester.com
To view Lorelie’s previous post,”LANDSCAPE ROSES: COLORFUL, HARDY, FRAGRANT, AND LOW-MAINTENANCE” – click here
