"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Monday, August 31, 2009

Aging gracefully.

Do you ever notice that some flowers look prettier the longer they are in bloom?  Some flowers really only look good as they first bloom and some on their one and only day in bloom.   Then there are the flowers that look better as they age.  I love how the poppy heads look as much as I like their actual bloom.   But, in my garden the flowers that age the most gracefully are the hydrangeas.  As the flowers stay on the shrub for weeks their fresh petals dry and deepen in color, while the leaves stay bright and shiny in the background.  I have quite a few varieties in my garden, unfortunately several didn't bloom this year because of the late freezes we had.
Luckily there are still many that did bloom and are the aging beauties in the background. 

Unknown florist Hydrangea

Hydrangea 'Preziosa'

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' behind Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki'.

'Nikko Blue'

'Nikko Blue'

Unknown Lacecap Hydrangea

 There's something to be said for aging naturally and finding the beauty in it.   
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40 comments:

  1. Preziosa has always been a favorite of mine, but your combination of Nikko Blue and the Japanese maple is just exquisite!

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  2. The Japanese Maple is gorgeous paired with 'Nikko Blue'. I'll say it again, gorgeous.

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  3. You have a lot of hydrangeas. They are one of my favorites. I love their huge, lilac-like blossoms and the colors are so inviting! I hope you can sqeeze every ounce of color out of your hydrangeas. They are beautiful.

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  4. I wish I would age that gracefully for sure:) Hydrangeas are a beautiful flower and thanks for sharing them all.

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  5. Yes, hydrangeas age so gracefully. Your flowers are so lovely. Hydrangeas will start to bloom here now, as the days become shorter and less bright.

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  6. Your hydrangeas are amazing. Most of mine didn't bloom this year. My oakleaf hydrangeas did bloom - profusely. They have been wonderful.

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  7. Such a pretty variety of hydrangeas. I don't have any luck growing these. One of the prettiest Christmas trees I've seen was at one of the local historical houses. They dried hydrangea blooms from the garden and decorated the tree.

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  8. I think Hydrangeas are the best for aging gracefully. I have Oak-Leaved Hydrangeas and they age gracefully too.

    Lovely pictures!

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  9. Wow, such lovely flowers. You're garden is gorgeous! You can tell you take care of it so well. Thanks for the post.

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  10. Catherine, What a lovely collection of hydrangeas! I purchased my first two last Fall as little fellows. They are growing very nicely this year (thanks to the wonderfully cool, rainy summer we've had!). I hope to be posting soon.

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  11. Beautiful Catherine, just beautiful!

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  12. I really like that Japanese Maple- what great colors. I like how the hydrangeas change color as they age on the bush.

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  13. Your hydrangeas are beautiful. I especially love the lace-capped. My Nikko Blue has done quite well this year, getting more sun since the neighbor removed their large willow tree. Just yesterday I picked a few of the blooms to dry. They have changed color from blue, to pink, to a green/pink. If you haven't tried it, dry some of your blooms!

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  14. I'll be so happy when my hydrangeas a get large. Your are lovely.
    donna

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  15. Your aging Hydrangea 'Preziosa'is really precious. I absolutely loved this post.

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  16. OMG!!!! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....JEALOUS!!!!

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  17. Aging gracefully? There's something I'd like to bottle. Your hydrangeas look wonderful..is the first on a Mophead?

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  18. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!
    I hope I age as gloriously as your hydrangeas! :)

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  19. You have a good collection of hydrangeas Catherine! I love when they get purplish "vintage" look.

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  20. There's something to be said for aging naturally and finding the beauty in it. - if only this could be applied to people as well.

    But, I agree regarding your Hydrangeas. They are, and remain, beautiful.

    Catherine, you asked if the water scene on my page was from my pond - Yes. I don't really know what to do about the pond. That's why I always like to see yours. You do such a great job with it. Mine is about 6 feet wide and 50 feet long - and I always struggle with keeping the water free of algae. I'd also like to add more plants, but it's such a big job that I always seem to put it off.

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  21. Catherine, that florist hydrangea is different! Was it pink? I love them for dried arrangements. You've been tagged for a Meme...come over when you have a minute. Couldn't find in your archives if you'd done one before...
    Lynn

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  22. Very nice flowers, and these aging flowers taught us something, about going through the process gracefully....
    ~bangchik

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  23. I am going to use my 'aged' hydrangeas in a wreath. You are right in that many flowers look fantastic as the age.

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  24. Those hydrangeas are beautiful. I love tthe blue lacecap. I really love the Japenese Maple!

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  25. Thanks everyone for visiting! My Oakleaves are looking great too, but didn't make it into the post for some reason :)

    Darla - I think it must be. It was one of those types that you buy all ready in bloom in a colored pot. I think most people throw them away, but I decided to try planting it outside.

    Lynn- It was a pinky-purple color and has gotten more purple with age.
    I will work on the meme. It may take a bit to come up with that many interesting things :)

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  26. Is the last hydrangea perhaps a blue, "lady in red?"

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  27. Hi Catherine~~ Well, yes hydrangeas can and do age gracefully as long as they're not overly exposed to the extremes of record-breaking heat wave. My 'Buttons and Bows' is unfortunately, not aging so well... But my 'Preziosa' is looking mighty fine. Aren't they just fabulous plants?

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  28. I love your deep blue hydrangeas, we can only grow pink and white here. I was looking at the pink today and wondering if they were going to colour well this year they are still a bit faded at present.

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  29. Seeing all of your beautiful blooming hydrangea's makes me so sad mine did not bloom this summer. I think the lace cap one is just so pretty. Wow, I love the variegated leaves on your Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki'Never saw such pretty leaves.

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  30. Mine bloomed but then I only have three. None are as nice though as your's.

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  31. Hi Catherine, now those hydrangeas are good role models for some of us that are aging. Some of us never age. HA Beautiful captures! :-)
    Frances

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  32. Aging Hydrangeas are my favorites. Mine are almost ready to cut back, I should've posted about them earlier. I love your Japanese Maple, very special.....wish they did well down here...

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  33. That maple is gorgeous. Lovely hydrangeas, as well. My poor hydrangea is still recovering from last years move. It got all of five flower heads on it! But I finally found my Oakleaf hydrangea. Very excited!

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  34. very very nice pictures..!

    http://theurbanbalcony.blogspot.com/

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  35. I had seen many hydranges but none like how you have captured them in your pictures...

    They are so beautiful and just as what you had mentioned - they age so well.. Infact,its called (3 month flower) in my place.

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  36. Well, plastic surgeons would make a lot less money if humans aged as beautifully as hydrangeas do! I love your true blue Nikko - I have to really fight with the soil pH to get true blue hydrangeas in my garden. I didn't get around to it this year, so the blooms are pink or purple.

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  37. What a spectacular blog! the pictures are terrific. My wife and I are thinking about taking up heirloom gardening and I will definitely bookmark your page.

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  38. Beautiful photos of your hydrangeas! Isn't it sad that I only know the name of one of my hydrangeas?! That one was purchased at a local nursery and the rest came from friends and rescue digs. But no matter what the name, you've nailed it, they age ever so gracefully!

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  39. Wonderful pics of hydrangeas. I fell in love with Nikko Blue. Looks so cool. And this is one of plants not grown in our city. Already added in my seeds-to-buy list. I think they will grow only as annuals in my 10b.

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