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karen.h.soto@gmail.com's avatar

When my mother passed just this May, we had the funeral on May 11, the day after Mother's day. I live in Delaware, she lives in SE PA. We both love blue hydrangeas. Every florist I called for the funeral arrangements were like good luck, it's Mother's Day, you cannot get a bunch of blue hydrangeas. Luckily I ran into a new variety at Lowes of all places (mine is terrible to plants never water them) but fresh off the truck. They went 3 hrs to PA in my trunk, to the funeral home, to the church, to the graveside, to my mother's home for the wake, then 3 hours back to Delaware with me. And they are still blooming like crazy. So check these out - if I find them again they are a definite buy! Hydrangea Horizon Blue...https://www.monrovia.com/hitm-horizon-blue-hydrangea-48199.html. And Mom had her blue hydrangeas...

Stephen Orr's avatar

Thank you for the story! Yes they’re really beautiful. I’m moving mine to an afternoon shade place

Helen Yoest's avatar

I, too, love hydrangeas, but keep the oakleaf species. Why? Mainly because I life the fall color as much as the bloom.

Penny Barthel's avatar

So pretty. CA has such great plant choices, but lush hydrangeas take work here. Love having plants to see when I travel.

karen.h.soto@gmail.com's avatar

PS Stephen I miss your intro essays at the start of each BHG magazine. Congrats on your retirement, and glad I found you writing again her on substack!

Stephen Orr's avatar

Thank you Karen!

Erin Weinger's avatar

Ordering this book for my husband, who has been working very hard to keep a small pot of our wedding hydrangeas alive after the L.A. fires. He’a doing an amazing job and also needs allll the knowledge.

Stephen Orr's avatar

The mopheads are challenging for me too to keep irrigated