Underneath the Arches

Hydrangea 1

Galaxy 8

These are some of the biggest hydrangea blooms I’ve ever seen.

Hydrangea 2

It is hard to do them justice in a photo, but if you look in the shot below, you can get some indication of their size by checking out the archway to the right.

Hydrangea 3

My friend and I walked underneath the archway (without doing the limbo!) and though I might be a tad under average height, my friend is a respectable 5′ 9″.

 

This is the eighth in my series of Galaxy camera phone photos.

 

post script: For a trip down memory lane; or for you youngsters, a golden oldie; here’s “Underneath the Arches” sung by Flanagan and Allen.

 

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The Blues

Hydrangea 1

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

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

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 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.

 

Dead or Alive!

Dead or Alive 1

Both my ancient dog, Mr Spaghetti legs, and my ancient hydrangea, unnamed, might appear to be on their last legs, but they’re still here.

Dead or Alive 2

To paraphrase Mark Twain, “The report of their death has been greatly exaggerated.”

Dead or Alive 3

In the midst of death, life persists. – Mahatma Gandhi.

 

Mushy Peas

Mushy Peas

When I was a kid I lived in the North of England, in a house right opposite a fish and chip shop; and next door to not one, but two pubs! The fish and chips were excellent, and people would often order a serving of mushy peas. Now this is an acquired taste, not to everyone’s liking, but they were exactly as advertised; pea mush.

Peas on a Plant?

Not peas, and not so mushy!

Huh?

Beginning to look more flower-like.

Oh!

Finally, that’s more like it.

Hydrangea 4 – Final

Blue Hydrangea!

 

post script: To MidWestern Plant Girl – As promised, This is what my hydrangea looks like.