'ANNABELLE'

(H. arborescens)

(Found originally in Anna, Illinois, and introduced into Great Britain in 1907)

~ Traditional Home (May 1997)

Gardener's Note: 'Annabelle' (an American native hydrangea) represents the quintessential picture of a mophead or snowball hardy hydrangea. Performing well, its flower green buds mature to white and then back to green. Large globular symmetrical bloom heads can reach 12 inches across, a bit too massive to hold up when wet, needing support to keep her upright. If pruned to the ground in spring, plant will be smaller and flowers larger, an advantage in tight quarters. (Hardy for zones 4-9)

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Posted by joey Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-08-29, 06:21:01

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Gray clouds, gray moods, gray hair... not much I'm enamored with there... though I've come to appreciate at my age that my gray head of hair is at least preferable to many of my friends' lack of hair of any hue (doesn't the old saying go: "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"). However one gray I do especially like is when the blue hydrangeas just pass over into that metallic gray stage. Every time I see one, I think I should be drying flowers.

reBlogged to hydrangea on Aug 13, 2008, 9:20AM

Posted by noreply@blogger.com (IBOY) Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-08-14, 07:51:47

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Anne emailed me about drying hydrangeas. ?What?s the best way to dry hydrangea flowers so the color will keep. I hope it?s not too late already. ...

reBlogged to flowers hydrangea on Jul 31, 2008, 4:48AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, hydrangea on 2008-08-01, 05:49:48

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Annabelle Hydrangea
"wherever humans garden magnificently..
there are magnificent heartbreaks."
Henry Mitchell

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Posted by Naturegirl Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-29, 06:52:06

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Last year I bought a Hydrangea plant for my garden. I think I bought it in August or September so it didn’t do anything last year except settle itself into it’s new home. I believe it’s an Endless Summer Hydrangea and it was definitely labeled as a *pink* hydrangea.

It started to bloom about two weeks ago, and much to my surprise it’s flower clusters are not pink, nor are they blue … they are bi-colored!

reBlogged to hydrangea on Jul 20, 2008, 4:26AM

Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-21, 05:19:08

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After complaining about the lack of bloom on my ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea last year, I thought I’d better put in a good word for this shrub now that it is living up to...

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Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-21, 05:15:00

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Well, another hot week with bad air quality. Still, in the midst of hazy, hot and humid, I managed to make time for a little pruning. Granted, this is after my juggling class (yes, I'm a dork) and in the twilight. I didn't do that great a job, and there are still branches and blooms invading the neighbor's yard. But it is a lot better than it was. And they aren't staring at the bare interior of the bush either! I brought all the flowers I pruned off inside. It's a big vase full of them. I'll try and get pictures tomorrow when the light is better.

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Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-19, 05:57:42

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Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, hydrangea on 2008-07-19, 05:55:29

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I did get out with my camera. I do like the fact that I've got the transitional pH soil going on with this hydrangea. I really need to fertilize it with the rhododendron fertilizer next time to push it back to blue. I definitely do not want it to go all pink. And yes, that's all one bush. Yikes! It likes being pruned.

>

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Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea, soil on 2008-07-12, 05:56:30

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This is hydrangea 'Ayesha' which finally decided to bloom for me. I've only been waiting about 4 years! I've always wanted this hydrangea because it looks so unique and different from other mophead hydrangeas. The clusters of flowers are densely packed with sepals that are spoon-shaped. It is also described as being fragrant, but I haven't detected a strong scent. I first had this hydrangea planted in the secret garden area and decided to move it because it would not bloom. I transplanted it last year, again with no blooms but this year she seems to be coming out of her shy spell. Not prolific yet, this is only the second bloom but isn't it gorgeous?

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Posted by Phillip Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-11, 06:24:29

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Sometimes it takes a rainy day to make one aware of some of the other ways a garden is viewed. A wet Saturday spent intermittantly gardening and finding refuge in the house from the occasional shower is what led to the view you see above of the Hydrangeas distorted through a sheet of old window glass. The hydrangeas, after sulking last year are spectacular this year and intensely blue. . . .

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Posted by The Occasional Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-07-07, 06:51:19

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Last year was a disappointment for hydrangea lovers when the late freeze nipped all the blooms. This year they are glorious. Michael is the hydrangea lover in this family and we probably wouldn't have as many if it wasn't for him. I have to admit though that I really love hydrangeas more than I used to. I really can't think of a more versatile shrub (they will perform well in various degrees of light situations) and they are colorful and dramatic in the landscape. All that, plus they are easy to care for.

We have hydrangeas all over our garden but the majority of them reside under a massive pecan tree.

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Posted by Phillip Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-06-09, 06:21:12

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Endless Summer Hydrangea: Dream Come True–or Nightmare? Hydrangea ‘Forever & Ever Double Pink’ stole my heart in 2006. This photo was taken September 7 of that...

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Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-06-02, 06:29:59

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Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-05-22, 06:38:39

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"A flowerless room is a soulless room, to my way of thinking ... "

- Vita Sackville-West

~ Hydrangea gracing sun porch

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Posted by joey Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-04-10, 06:52:16

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There are certain questions that bind us together as gardeners and “Why doesn’t my hydrangea bloom?” is in the top 5. Generally when hydrangea fail to bloom it either...

reBlogged to hydrangea on Apr 1, 2008, 9:01PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-04-03, 06:17:40

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Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-04-01, 06:49:10

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Some people pride themselves on being problem solvers, but I want to speak here about plants that are problem solvers, specifically, climbing hydrangeas. Let's face it: we can solve landscaping problems...

reBlogged to hydrangea on Mar 30, 2008, 1:39AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-04-01, 06:35:10

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It’s that time of the year when I go through all my notes and photographs and complete my evaluations on all the new plants we’re testing. Right now, I’m reviewing all of our potential Hydrangea macrophylla introductions. . ..

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Posted by Tim Wood Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-03-03, 00:35:06

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When we talk about hydrangea flowers which part of these extraordinary blooms are we referring to? Do we mean the large ball shaped flower seemingly suspended about a salutary bunch of offset leaves? Or, are we suggesting the individual colourful bracts that make up the whole?

Actually, hydrangea flowers are neither the massive dome-shaped bloom or the bracts that make it up. No. hydrangea flowers are the minutiae encased within the tonal bracts. But let's not be semantical!. . .

reBlogged to hydrangea on Feb 11, 2008, 5:15PM

Posted by scrobins@westnet.com.au (Stuart) Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-02-12, 07:08:25

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Do you like cutsie plant names? On the Garden Writers list-serve I belong to there's been a lively exchange about Pink Winky, the new hydrangea (shown left) that's being promoted heavily this season.

Pink Winky is a Pee Gee cultivar with big two-toned, white and pink flowers. According to Proven Winners, the plant has "strong upright red stems that hold the large, 12-16 inch blooms up so you never get the drooping Pee Gee Hydrangea look. The flower heads continue to grow throughout the season and as the older flowers turn dark pink the new flowers continue to emerge white. The effect is stunning.". . .

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Posted by Yvonne Cunnington Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-02-06, 06:40:17

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Dried Oak-leaf hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia.

It's the official state wildflower of Alabama. I'm not sure why we have official state plants, animals, and so forth. I'm almost positive that we don't really need an official state barbeque championship, or an official state horseshoe tournament. . .

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Posted by Rurality Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-01-21, 00:38:33

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How can I get pink or blue hydrangeas? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to hydrangea on Jan 16, 2008, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-01-17, 17:53:44

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I live in Minnesota, where the temperature was -4F when I left for work this morning. There is nothing blooming outside here. And since I don't do houseplants, there is nothing blooming for me indoors, either.

reBlogged to hydrangea on Jan 15, 2008, 11:56AM

Posted by Talbin Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-01-16, 05:57:12

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Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2008-01-05, 00:17:02

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Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-11-29, 01:01:07

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A

reBlogged to hydrangea weather on Nov 22, 2007, 7:38PM

Posted by sandy Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea, weather on 2007-11-25, 00:47:15

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This hydrangea is at the entrance to the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. It is an old trolley bridge that was made into a. . .

reBlogged to hydrangea on Sep 24, 2007, 9:27PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-09-26, 06:29:53

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There are few plants that create as much excitement as does Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) especially when seen in full bloom, lighting up the trunk of a tall oak tree. This is an outstanding plant that deserves greater use. Climbing Hydrangea is native to the woodlands of Japan and coastal China. The lacy, creamy-white blooms are 6 to 10" in diameter and appear in late June or early July. The blooms are actually comprised of numerous small flowers, some fertile and some sterile. The sterile flowers are larger and showier and encircle the smaller fertile flowers in the center of the bloom. . . .

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Posted by Tim Wood Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-09-20, 06:15:03

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So how did your Hydrangeas bloom this year?

One the most common questions I get, is "Why won't my Hydrangea bloom." Of course they're talking about the beautiful species called Hydrangea macrophylla (Big Leaf Hydrangea).

.... [Not sure what type of Hydrangea you have? Click here]

This plant is extremely popular because of it is the most colorful of all the species. . . .

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Posted by Tim Wood Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-09-15, 06:04:22

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reBlogged to hydrangea on Sep 2, 2007, 1:03PM

Posted by sandy Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-09-04, 00:35:48

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Posted by Beth Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-08-28, 18:15:01

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My hydranea is doing beautifully. Even with the late frost that burned some of the tips. The only problem is that I don't know if I can repeat this feat next year. Why?





Because it is a lovely mix of pink, purple and blue flowers. Now, I prefer the blue ones, they coordinate better with my house. I just adore the purpleness of the flowers. And the pink are pretty too. . . .

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Posted by millionbells Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-28, 01:32:16

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Hydrangea Serretta ' Spreading Beauty '

I just realized that I am obsessed with Hydrangeas. One advantage of working at the local garden center is that I get to see the new cultivars that come in. Such is the case of the above : Hydrangea Serretta , or Mountain Hydrangea, which, much to my surprise is hardy to Zone 4.
Zone 4 ! I can do that. . . .

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Posted by Carolyn gail Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-19, 06:52:07

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I failed to mention the hydrangeas yesterday when I posted what was in bloom. They've been at it for a few weeks now.

The very first hydrangea I ever had was a potted one that my mom gave me for Easter one year, which I later planted outside. It had beautiful blooms when she gave it to me, but it never bloomed in the years after that. It had gorgeous foliage, it just wouldn't bloom. . . .

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Posted by Kylee Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-18, 18:55:51

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Hydrangea Paniculata 'Limelight '

I planted Limelight Hydrangea in my garden several years ago and I've really become a fan. In late July or early August she starts her show of huge 10-12 inch panicles that are in bloom until October. . . .

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Posted by Carolyn gail Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-18, 06:36:35

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I wanted one The Original ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea. Photo © Endless Summer® I first learned about ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea four springs ago and decided instantaneously...

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Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-06, 06:02:20

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The hydrangeas here are blooming. With enough acidity in the soil, there are lots of blue ones, although some are blue with a little pink. I have not seen blue hydrangeas since I lived in DC.

I still have to pause when I see a laced cap hydrangea. What an thing of beauty and simple elegance.

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Posted by Don Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-07-05, 18:19:58

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I spotted this Hydrangea starting to bloom in a nursery. It looked like our other H. paniculatas, Limelight and Grandiflora so I thought it would be a good addition to our garden. Even more so because the tag said the flowers, actually panicles, start out white, then pink and finally red in the fall. The photo on the tag shows it in the red stage and it looks to be a beauty.

For some reason we have trouble growing Hydrangea macrophylla. We get all leaves and very few corymbs (flower heads) so I just stick with the H. paniculata which flourish and puts out a great show of flowers. The shrub grows quite large but we cut it back hard in the early spring and it regrows nicely.



Here's a photo of the tag, showing the red fall color.

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Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-06-28, 18:22:44

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I can't believe it! And I really need to crow about this. I finally have a bloom (at least the beginning of one) on my Endless Summer Hydrangea. I have spent practically the national debt trying to grow hydrangeas. I've seen them (not often) in my city and have tried everything and everyplace I could think of to grow them. I had finally decided that I would just have to buy a large plant every year and treat it as an annual. But still I'm challenged. This cute little darling is now appearing. It has been in this location (east-facing) for three... yes, that's 3 years and is finally showing signs of life. Last year it didn't bloom at all. Now it is about 10" tall. I have babied it, I have talked nicely to it, I have cussed it, and at last!!! I even planted a companion (coneflower) in front of it to block out the hot afternoon sun, and Sweet Woodruff around it's base to keep in in moisture and give it company. Guess I'll have to hold a shower tonight... heavy rains are expected. Last night (middle) we had a very strange lightning display to the north and east. The whole room kept exploding like flashbulbs. It was really kind of frightening. Some rain, but thank goodness no hail. Hope we are as lucky tonight.

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Posted by Bev Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-06-28, 18:15:42

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I have become infatuated with hydrangeas.  I have the staple Mophead Nikko Blue, but have been branching out.. I have Oakleaf, Lacecap and Varigated. I have yet to have blooms on the varigated, I really don't expect them until next year on its third year of growth. Ususally the mopheads coincide with my daylilies. Well because of the freeze I suspect they are about 3 weeks behind. I am just happy to have some blossoms this year..

reBlogged to hydrangea on Jun 16, 2007, 5:42PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to hydrangea on 2007-06-18, 18:43:39

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