Hail & Hydrangeas

We had hail last night along with a thunderstorm.  My heart always sinks a bit knowing the damage hail can do to my garden.  I had softball sized hail a couple years ago and every plant in my garden was damaged in early spring.  I said a little prayer that the hail would stop soon and that it wouldn't get any bigger than the marble size that was falling.

My prayer was answered!

This morning as I took my morning garden walk I was relieved to see only minimal damage and my hydrangeas were fine.  They are at peak bloom right now and remain looking beautiful until the 100 heat arrives..which I hope won't be until July!

  This lacecap is so beautiful with it's 

variegated leaves.   I planted this as a one gallon several years ago and it 

has grown to just over 3 feet. 

This is one of my tried and true Nikko blues...in this part of my garden it is pink...needs more acid to keep it blue....but actually 

I enjoy the pink color in this spot!

This more sun tolerant variety is still setting blooms which is great as it will bloom throughout the hotter part of the summer.  Wish I could remember the name of this one!   The leaves are thicker and it is a much more drought tolerant variety than my Nikko blues. 

Nikko blue mixed in with lavender and roses.

My hydrangea border is the shade 

on the east side of our home. 

This border has been enriched with lots of peat moss, pecan and cocoa hulls.   They need acidic soil to stay blue and I add pecan hulls for mulch to help keep the ph acidic.   I also have azaleas in this bed along with a dogwood tree that I planted this spring.  Grouping plants together with the same 

needs makes maintenance easier. 

One of these mopheads can fill a vase

 and lasts for over a week.  

A few white blooms on my oakleaf hydrangea..this one didn't have as many blooms this year.  I did have to prune it back last fall to keep it in bounds so I'm sure that had something to do with it.  

Most hydrangeas bloom on old wood so you have to be careful not to prune in early spring or you will be cutting off the blooms.

The endless blooming varieties or rebloomers can bloom on new wood and that is why they continue off and on during the season.   I have one endless bloomer and it does in fact live up to it's name!

I've saved my favorite for last...this 'Frau Reiko'

is so beautiful...

This lacecap is drought tolerant and has the most beautiful white edging around each flower.  I have also propagated this one from a cutting and it is now blooming in the garden.  

If you can find this one ..buy it!  

You will love it and it will not disappoint!

Thanks for joining me on my garden walk...hope you have a wonderful week.


I'm joining Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays
Tootsie's Fertilzer Friday
Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Anniversary
and
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday