The Blues

Hydrangea 1

Hydrangea 1

My ancient hydrangea usually produces lovely blue blooms, but occasionally it has the odd pink one too.

Hydrangea 2

Hydrangea 2

I thought it was supposed to be the type of soil that determined whether you got blue or pink, but it seems my old bush just does its own thing!

Hydrangea 3

Hydrangea 3

This little bush is decades old and was already here when we bought the house. It never seems to get any bigger, but just keeps on producing lovely blooms every year.

And to demonstrate how harsh the sun is and how quickly these poor flowers wither, even though the bush is in the shade for most of the day, here are two photos for comparison, taken a mere 11 days apart.

Hydrangea 4

Hydrangea 4

Hydrangea 5

Hydrangea 5

Sadly, with the severe water restrictions we have at the moment, I am not able to water my hydrangea as much as usual. However I’m sure, being a true survivor, it will weather this drought, as it has others in the past.

 

44 thoughts on “The Blues”

  2. ramblingratz

    It is supposed to be something to do with the pH of the soil, perhaps there is something underneth causing a very localised effect. It is having a good bloom while it can 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Sarah Ferguson and Choppy

    Oh, hydrangeas are one of my absolute favorite plants! I had beautiful hydrangeas at my old house. My landscaping guys would try to be helpful and cut them down to the ground in spring, which meant they only bloomed the couple years I managed to get outside and save them from their overzealousness. I planted the first of many last year at the new house – hopefully ours will be as productive as this little guy!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Oh dear! My mum-in-law had a gardener once, who pulled out all her new plants, and carefully tended the weeds! 🙂
      I’m sure your new hydrangeas will take off and produce many beautiful blooms. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Midwestern Plant Girl

    Beautiful! Mine here are pink, without adding acid to the soil.
    Yes, it matters about the pH of the soil. Alkaline = pink / acidic = blue. A pink one can pop-up for you when it does get some alkaline addition like well water, calcium, rain off a hard surface (cement house, walk or nearby rock?)
    I can get random blue ones when we get nasty acid rain. 😣

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Thank you 🙂 And Yes, there probably is something going on in the soil. I don’t know what, but I like the mixture of colours 🙂

      Like

  6. Genie

    I brought some hydrangea flowers into the house last summer and put them in a vase, they dried in the vase and made a lovely dried flower array. They didn’t wither in the house like they do on the vine.
    Merry Christmas, Scifi. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scifihammy Post author

      Luckily mine sort of do that while still on the bush and I don’t cut them off till I see new buds growing next spring. I guess it’s so dry they do it all by themselves! 🙂
      Wishing you a very Happy Christmas too Genie. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Garfield Hug

    Beautiful blooms indeed. It looks like a pom pom! Gorgeous indeed and the harsh sun will definitely ruin the blooms. Strive on and survive the drought..you beautiful blooms!!😊

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Amy

    Beautiful blooms! Hydrangea is a special plant. It’s so wonderful to wake up to a beautiful post with blue flowers in a cold, dark morning…
    Thank you, Scifi! 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  12. C. C. Cedras

    Wow! Gorgeous…I love hydrangeas. To get mine blue I have to add aluminum sulfate to the soil. Drought notwithstanding, you’re very lucky to have such a prolific bloomer! 💞

    Liked by 1 person

  14. pensitivity101

    It’s beautiful Sci, and I thought colour was down to soil type too. One of the properties on the Avenue has a huge bush, and I mean HUGE. It has the largest pure white pompom blooms I have ever seen, and is truly magnificent when at its prime. Great photos.

    Liked by 1 person

      4. scifihammy Post author

        My plant is at least 35 years old. I just think it’s stunted by lack of sun; which in our times of drought is perhaps a good thing, or it would have died out long ago. – Plus, I’m just not a very good gardener! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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