Hello Hydrangea!

Late June early July always welcomes one of my most favorite flowers, the hydrangea. Found on big leafy bushes all around town they have the most wonderful spherical blooms that come in a variety of colors that are just a sheer delight!

 

I may sound a little over the top about these flowers but somehow they just are pleasing to look at and perhaps because they usher in my favorite time of year, summer. I recall as a child my grandmother had the white global flowers that bloomed in her yard and she referred to them as snowball flowers.

  

The hydrangea macrophylla, the most popular variety also know as the Big Leaf, French, Garden, Florist’s or Mop Head Hydrangea, is originally a native from Japan. (Not sure then why it may be referred to as the “French” hydrangea, “mais pourquoi?”)

 

Other varieties of this garden favorite are:

 

• Lace cap Hydrangea
• Mountain Hydrangea
• Panicle Hydrangea
• Oak leaf Hydrangea
• Smooth Hydrangea

 

The hydrangea is a flower where you can change the outcome of its color. In order to promote the blue pigment flowers you must have a high acid content, which would indicate aluminum in the soil. To get the varying shades of pink the soil must yield a more alkaline soil or a higher pH (less aluminum). I planted a blue hydrangea bush a few years back next to a pink flowering bush and over the years it has changed to 50 glorious shades of purple.

 

As the summer progresses the blooms loose their brightness and they fade out to a dusty rose or muted tones of violet-blue. Once these flowers have dried on the plant you can cut them and make wonderful dry floral arrangements with them.

 

I have been walking around town with my camera taking photos of different hydrangeas in people’s yards.  I will probably end up getting arrested for suspicious behavior since it appears I may be casing a house for breaking and entering. I can see it happening now…. “Honest officer, I was just taking a picture of their hydrangeas!” “Sure that’s what they all say! There has been a series of burglaries in this neighborhood and you’re coming down to headquarters with me” There I am in front of the judge, “Well what do you have to say for yourself?” “Your Honor, I just can’t help myself when it comes to my quest for admiring my favorite flower!” "Guilty as charged!"