Happy Monday GPODers!
Today we’re in the garden of regular Garden Photo of the Day contributor Carla Zambelli Mudry of Malvern, Pennsylvania (here are just a few of Carla’s previous entries for you to check out: Celebrating Spring with Carla, Perfect Match: Lilies and Hydrangeas, July in Carla’s Garden, and Carla’s Garden Tour). This time, we’re taking a look at Carla’s impressive collection of hydrangeas:
And just like that, hydrangea season was back in full force, almost rivaling the first wave of roses that bloom just before the hydrangeas. This garden definitely had a lot of hydrangeas, and that was 100% intentional, because I fell in love with them in the gardens of the Hamptons in New York. They’re an incredibly hardy shrub, and when I noticed them one summer while visiting my sister, I just thought they were so beautiful that I wanted that feeling in my garden, too.
I have so many different types of hydrangeas, including Japanese and Korean mountain hydrangeas, that I’ve lost count. I love them so much, and I also use them as anchors in large pots so they come back after the winter with no problem. Not all the hydrangeas have bloomed yet, this week the deer and I had a word as they ate some Limelight plants (Hydrangea ‘Spotlight’, Regions 4–8) Bloom. Have fun gardening!
The color of bigleaf and mountain hydrangeas can vary greatly, depending on the soil composition in which they are grown. To learn more about that, check out this article that addresses some common misconceptions about hydrangea color: How to Change Hydrangea Color: pH Isn’t the Only Factor. When Carla sent over some gorgeous blue blooms, I could only assume she had acidic soil with a lot of aluminum to produce those vibrant blues.
Hydrangeas’ incredible ability to change color makes them particularly difficult to identify. Is this a pale purple hydrangea with a hint of pink? Or is it a pale pink hydrangea that has turned blue after being planted in Carla’s garden? Maybe Carla will let us know in the comments below.
One of the beautiful mountain hydrangeas that Carla mentioned, has another beautiful shade of green.
And Carla still treated us to some impressive combinations. The large green leaves in the back are the perfect combination with this variegated red branched dogwood (White horn ‘Elegantissima’, Zones 2–8).
And from another angle, the variegated red dogwood branches are the perfect backdrop for those gorgeous blue flowers!
Close-up of brilliant blue beauty under the sun. Carla’s hydrangea collection could easily fool me into thinking that blue isn’t one of the hardest colors to find in the plant world.
A variety of pink mountain flowers is showing signs of gradually changing to blue flowers.
But pink and blue aren’t the only wonders in the world of hydrangeas! Several shades of purple are also wonderful, including this particularly vibrant variety.
And white is amazing, too—especially when combined with gorgeous, big-leaved hostas and ferns. White large leaf and mountain varieties will never turn pink or blue, they do not have any pigmentation and will always retain that classic white color.
Finally, a variety so distinct that I finally feel confident in giving it an ID. With its iconic bloom color and foliage, it couldn’t be more different than the largeleaf hydrangea ‘Miss Saori’ (hydrangeas ‘Miss Saori’, Areas 5–9).
Thanks for sharing your collection, Carla! It’s always fun to get updates from your garden.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have pictures to share? We’d love to see your garden, a collection of specific plants you love, or a wonderful garden you get a chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the photo and where you took the photo. We’d love to know where you are, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you’re proud of, failures you’ve learned, hopes for the future, favorite plants or funny stories from your garden.
Have a cell phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Have you received your GPOD via email? Register here.
