In a world where new hydrangeas are seemingly introduced every third week, ‘Tardiva’ (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’, above) is a dinosaur. While new, and arguably improved panicled hydrangeas (‘Limelight’, ‘Fire and Ice’, and ‘Little Lime’, below) have been relegated to the far reaches of the garden, ‘Tardiva’ was planted before these newcomers were seedlings in a…
Tag: hydrangeas
Not ready for winter
Somehow, this year has passed too quickly. When cold persisted too long into spring, the internal clocks of many plants became muddled, and mine also so that it seems only a short while ago I was nursing too many shrubs through their winter injuries. I was jolted, along with the garden’s hydrangeas, by fifteen degree…
What a difference a night makes
A freeze was inevitable sooner than later, only I didn’t suspect there would be one the night I opened my big mouth to say that beginning the second week of November it was unusual not to have had one. So, temperatures dipped below freezing, and in the week ahead they are forecast to drop into…
Almost recovered
Only recently have I moved beyond disappointment over damage done in the garden by the winter past, and already I’m distressed that autumn is close around the bend (with winter inevitably to follow). Though the garden has recovered substantially, constant reminders loom so long as I delay removing two evergreen magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) that have died…
Bears and hydrangeas
Weeds seem more robust at the start of this summer than I can recall in some time. I’ve been know to ignore weeds a bit too long so that they’re allowed to go to seed (to multiply one into hundreds), and I suspect this is catching up to me. Now, the incessant weed pulling is…
New and better?
A benefit of traveling to visit nurseries growing next year’s plants is the opportunity to evaluate new introductions and others that are a few years off from being ready for market. Sometimes these are old plants that have been reintroduced, but others are hybrids or sports (mutations) that are new and different (though not always…
Unintended pruning
A few weeks ago I noticed the toad lilies (Tricyrtis, flowering in September, below) were getting a bit taller than I prefer, though they were not at all leggy. Some years I’ve pruned them to be shorter and more compact, and other times I’ve let them grow. If left unpruned they will bloom a few…
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 