The old ladies’ flower

[callmemadam]

That’s how a friend of mine once described hydrangeas, which, obviously, she doesn’t like. I disagree. They are fantastically useful shrubs and easy to look after: a little pruning in March or April and they reward you with months of bloom. In my old garden I had a couple of choice varieties. Here there are two, not planted by me, of the bog standard type. But just look at them! Every flower head shown is on the same plant on the same day. Fascinating.

Comments

[dozydormouse.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. I wish I had space for a hydrangea. Mum has never forgiven British Gas for killing hers.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

British Gas? B******s!

[dozydormouse.livejournal.com]

They were laying a new gas pipe an dexposed the roots and left them exposed overnight in January. It would have been all weekend but we covered them in soil as soon as we realised what they'd done but it was too late.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

What idiots.

[trixiebacon.livejournal.com]

They're lovely. There were hydrangeas at my early childhood home in London, and we have one here, which I'm told by Lillian next door is 40 years old. Not many blooms this year, but lots of new growth from the centre. (I think I pruned at the wrong time of year, but know better now. There was lots of dead wood in there when I did it.)

The person who first designed flowery swimming caps must have liked hydrangeas, I feel.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

flowery swimming caps

Ha ha, yes! I'd forgotten those.

[gwendraith.livejournal.com]

Oh, how lovely! The pink is similar to my fledgling bush which has been loaded with blooms each year I've had it (three).

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Thank you. They're such willing plants. Mine must be quite a few years old, I think.

The old ladies' flower

[(Anonymous)]

I've never been hugely keen on hydrangeas because I like dainty flowers, though their individual flowers are beautiful. Recently, however, on a gardening programme, John and I saw a climbing hydrangea which had the flowers blooming individually, if you see what I mean, and now we're on a quest to find one!

Lovely photos!

Penny

Re: The old ladies' flower

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Hydrangeas can have a rather heavy, blobby look, especially en masse. The ones that aren't mopheads are more airy-looking.

Is your wanted plant Hydrangea petiolaris? I used to have it on a shady wall with Clematis 'Nelly Moser' growing through it. Nice combo.

Glad you like the pics.

[joyeuce]

Old ladies' flower indeed! I have loved hydrangeas for as long as I can remember.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Good!

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

As soon as someone describes anything as 'old lady' I get all excited. Old lady perfume? I am SO there! (That's how things like Chanel no 5 and Mitsouko get described sometimes.) Old lady flowers? I love 'em. I can't wait to be an old lady, old ladies have the coolest stuff...

The colour changes in yours are fab, it must be like having an evolving bush in the garden.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Ha ha!

Yes, it's a chameleon bush.