Happiness is a Hydrangea or Two . . . or Nine

~ Summer Crush Hydrangea ~

One of my favorite garden moments has arrived.

After watching the buds form, watering when the temperatures were soaring and picking off yellowed leaves and dead wooden stems,  I am being rewarded with beautiful hydrangeas.

Oh Happy, Happy Day!!

~ Echo Mini Penny Hydrangea ~

Yesterday it rained

and rained

and rained.

All.Day.Long

After the lawn dried a bit this morning I went to check on the welfare of my beloved hydrangeas.

They responded very well to all of that rain.

Hip Hip Hooray!!

~ Little Lime Hydrangea ~

In my last garden I grew several of the Limelight variety.

I adore them, but they grow very BIG.  Way too big for this garden.

In order to still enjoy limelights we recently planted two of the Little Lime variety.  They are supposed to grow to a height of 3-5 feet which is much better suited to our current needs.  They are just starting to form little buds so I shall try to remain patient while waiting to welcome them into the world.

~ Annabelle Hydrangea ~

The Annabelle hydrangea is getting ready to put on it's spectacular show.  It never disappoints.  It is a bit large for it's location, but I don't mind one single bit as it sits right outside my office window.  It is such a beautiful sight to gaze at while doing my work.

We added five new hydrangeas to the garden this year.

Now nine of these beauties mingle with the existing hollies to make a pretty hedge along the side of the house.

With our hot summers, most hydrangeas prefer morning sun with a chance to cool off during the afternoon (sounds a bit like me).

They should be very content in their new home.

There are so many reasons that I love them.

One of my favorite is that it only takes a few blossoms to make a pretty bouquet.  Cut, strip the leaves and plop in the vase.  

My kind of flower arranging.

Do you grow hydrangeas too?

                                                                                

Patio Time

Hello from the Patio

Late last year we had part of the patio screened in.

Now it feels like another room  of the house.

Our old table had seen better days and was on the small side when guests are over.  We've got a new one on order.  It has already been delayed until June.  While waiting for it's arrival I've been moving things around and sprucing up a bit.

I've moved some of my houseplants out here for a little vacation.

I'm planning to follow those PATIO RULES to a tee.

I've already tested out that RELAX suggestion.

After sprucing I went into RELAX mode.

The sky is so blue and our weather has been absolutely delightful.

As I sat gazing at the BBQ grill it occurred to me that maybe Brett would like to join me in working on the PATIO RULES.  I think I'll suggest that he start with GRILL EVERYTHING while I work on

TAKE A NAP

;-)

See any rules you'd like to try out this season?