The Hydrangea Edition

Early blooms of a Cityline Venice Hydrangea. For some reason the blooms are not full mopheads this year. It still has great vivid color.

Oakleaf Hydrangea Alice with a large bloom.  The leaves on this plant are HUGE this season. We have several planted behind the patio so in a few years they will cover the fence and create quite a dramatic setting.

Classic Nikko Blue Hydrangea just on the edge of full maturity. I love how blue stands out against green leaves.

The dainty bloom of Lady in Red Lacecap Hydrangea. You cant really see it in this image but the stems are red.

Old fashioned Annabelle Hydrangea flopped over after a heavy rain storm.  This is the reason it gets a bad reputation. The stems cant support the weight of the blooms so its beautiful until a heavy downpour flattens it. They never really recover. For this reason I'll be replacing it in the fall. 

This is an unknown Lacecap variety that we found in the castaway section of an Amish garden center. It has large full blooms and very strong stems. The lesson is, don't overlook ugly plants (perennial) at the nursery. You can get a great deal and nurse it back to health.

This is a new stand of Penny Mac Hydrangeas named after Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society. They have a few unusual traits. It blooms on old and new wood, is a repeat bloomer in the same season and has both large and small mopheads on the same plant. Can wait until they reach full maturity (up to 6 feet) in a few years. I've added some natual sulphur (from Espoma) to turn them blue. Its safer than Aluminum Sulfate, is non-toxic and approved for organic gardening.

This is shot of Annabelle, Nikko and Endless Summer Hydrangeas together with  Liberty Hostas and a branch of Fallopia.