Hydrangea

I've had tumultuous relationship with hydrangeas. I love them. I love how big and poufy they get. I love the colors. Hydrangeas seem to do really well in our area. I've seen monster sized ones in our neighborhod.

For the first few years in our first house I planted them every spring and every summer they died a dramatic death. Finally Aaron got me a big hardy one and it took off. That fall we moved. Now we drive by the old house and I can see giant blooms that I never got to enjoy.

He took pity on me and got me three more for this house this spring and I have been watering and hovering and pleading with them to live. Success! I would have liked to cut this one and taken it inside but I don't want to do anything to disturb the status quo.

Hydrangeas come in variations of pinks, blues and white. Did you know you can change the color of a hydrangea? Well not the white ones but the pinks can be make blue and vice versa.

The color of a hydrangea depends on the pH level of the soil. Alkaline resullts in pink, acidity leads to blue. If you want blue hydrangeas add coffee grounds, egg shells or orange peels. If you want pink add garden lime. It's like magic!