Wednesday, September 12, 2018

18 Hydrangeas September 2018


The photos here are the complete inventory of hydrangeas that have been planted in summer of 2017 and 2018.  A total of 18 hydrangeas all around the property.
These were all bought at young stages and are happily surviving. I haven't lost any.
They really do reward the gardener with lots of beautiful blossoms and little work, aside from keeping them watered.

This first photo is Little Quick Fire paniculata which was planted this summer.


It is a match for the same type that was planted last summer. They are both in the front bed right next to the house. The latest one has more blossoms and they are turning pink quicker than the other one.


This is Little Bobo planted last summer. I despaired of it this winter as it got knocked about and there only seemed to be three sticks on it. But it has put on growth really well and its little body is covered with big pink blossoms.  It is only about 18" high at this point and won't get all that much bigger, but I think it is lovely. A great choice of hydrangea for a small bed.


This is a hydrangea called Jack Cataraqui and it has also surprised me with its growth and array of blooms. I was told by the nursery owner that I could train this into a tree if I wished but I am hesitant to do that; I think I will let it go and see what it becomes. This is in the bed beside the driveway next to our new neighbour and it gets lots of morning sun.


These are three LimeLight hydrangeas planted this summer. Their leaves turned yellow and were dropping off, but they have recovered after I amended the soil PH and added some fertilizer. They are just beginning to turn pink.


This is Quick Fire hydrangea. Last year it had a number of blossoms, but this year only two. However it has put on a ton of new growth and looks very healthy. I will see what happens next year, it may not be getting enough sunlight in this location.


This is another Bobo hydrangea that was planted last year in the front side shade garden. I moved it further down the bed, and although it has grown lots of new stems and leaves, it has no blossoms. Again, it may be a sunlight issue.


This one is Wedding Gown, and it has flowers that are lacecap and pink. However I thought I had lost it this winter, it was very very slow in coming back and even now, after three months, it is only about 6" high. But the growth is thick and healthy and I will wait and see what it does next year. I think it will need some heavy mulching before winter.


This is a Little Limelight hydrangea planted last year. It is doing well and the blossoms are just beginning to turn pink. I love when that happens.


This is a new hydrangea planted this morning, it is called Sweet Summer PeeGee. It will grow to about 4 feet tall and I planted it between a Limelight and a Little Limelight hydrangea. I am hoping that the three will form an informal hedge.


This is a LimeLight hydrangea planted about a month ago. The blossoms are heavy and need some support on this one. But it is doing well too even though a vole seems to be nesting right in the same spot.


This is Annabelle, the old fashioned hydrangea with the big pompom flowers. It was planted last summer and had a severe nibbling by deer, which didn't seem to affect it in the slightest. It has 14 huge blossoms on it.


This one is Strawberry Sundae, planted this summer. It is kind of sad-looking but I bet it will pick up next year, just like the Bobo in the front did.  Don't underestimate a hydrangea.


This is another Little Quick Fire in the back yard. It is kind of lop-sided but next spring, I will prune it into a more pleasing shape. This one puts out pink blossoms right away that quickly turn crimson red.


This is another Bobo that got off to a slow start this year. It was planted last summer and was lovely with loads of blossoms. This year, only one is beginning to form which is very late. And even the foliage wasn't looking good until the past couple of weeks. Then it began to put on lots of new leaves and it seems to have turned a corner.


And lastly, a climbing hydrangea. I lost two of these this past winter and this one was planted in the back yard next to the deck where it will be more protected from the severe weather. It has put on new growth, but it takes several years before it begins to blossom. I had one in Halifax and it took five years before it blossomed. This hydrangea requires patience.