A hydrangea for Hannah

On a trip to a garden center over the weekend, my daughter spied a cluster of hydrangeas – most of them blooming. She was drawn to their bluish color and intrigued when I told her that they vary in color based on the composition of their soil. More acidic soil produces blooms that are blue (pH 5.5 and lower). A more alkaline soil produces blooms that are pink (pH 6.5 and higher). Soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 will produce flowers that are purplish. (Yes, I had to look that up in my old Master Gardener book!)

Growing up in Norfolk, my parents planted hydrangeas in a row between the house and the driveway. They made a glorious bluish-purple display along the driveway, where we enjoyed them while roller skating. And once the blooms were spent and the plants died back, my dad would use lopers and cut them nearly to the ground. His actions taught me not to be afraid to perform serious pruning. Those hydrangeas always came back with robust foliage at least four feet tall.

On Mother’s Day, we bought one hydrangea plant, hydrangea macrophylla “bailmer,” and planted it at one corner of the house. Hannah was eager to dig the hole and slip the plant into the ground. It will get sun and shade from this spot -- a good location since many hydrangeas need partial shade to thrive.

There are many types of hydrangeas – they can produce large, rounded blooms; smaller, pom-pom sized blooms; elongated “spikes” (called panicles) and range in color from green, to white, to pink, blue and purple. One of my favorites is this white "oakleaf" variety.

Hydrangeas are generally reliable in zones 4-9, making them a gorgeous addition to most gardens. A great resource for hydrangeas, including blooms, climate, diseases and more, is the United States National Arboretum.