Hydrangea Heaven

When I moved into my house 7 years ago, the bushes and flowers had been woefully neglected.  Buried between 2 huge evergreens was a spindly hydrangea, hanging on for dear life.  I always feel bad pruning bushes and can hear them screaming as I approach with the clippers.  So I put earplugs in and mercilessly pruned this poor hydrangea each year.  It's taken ages for it to gain strength enough to be showy, but this year it's a beauty.

I caught these pictures right after a summer shower, and all the blooms looked washed and so fresh.  The bush is surrounded by a beautiful lacy collar of blooming sedum.  The amazing thing about this bush is the variety of shapes, colors and textures in the blossoms, from big, round balls of blossoms, to delicate, flatter blooms.  

And then there was this oddball bloom, standing tall and proud, up against the house...

I think this bush has finally claimed its rightful place, adorning the front of my house!


Happy Summer,


Deborah