By the front porch steps of my childhood home, there was a huge hydrangea bush, whose blooms were the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. (Perhaps that was the beginning of my love for that color.) Looking back, I smile at the memory of my Mom always calling them ‘high geraniums’.
Through the years, I’ve planted a few hydrangeas, but they always bloom pink. Doing some research, I’ve learned that you can use certain products to change the acidity of the soil, which in turn, should result in obtaining the color blooms you’d prefer. But I’ve never attempted that.
Over the weekend, Motor Man and I took a little detour down a nearby country road. I spotted this beautiful blue hydrangea in someone’s yard, and asked him to stop, so I could snap a picture.
Just as I was taking the picture, an older gentleman came out the front door. I explained why we were stopped, and mentioned my Mom’s hydrangea. He said that this one had belonged to his mother. Motor Man asked if I could possibly cut one bloom. And the gentleman told me to help myself.
(A little side story, which I shared here on the blog many years ago: when I was a young girl, our church had a very active junior choir. During the summer, we’d often attend ‘hymn sings’ at nearby churches on Sunday evenings. I recall one evening (no air conditioning back then), it was SO hot. One of the ladies at this particular church had brought a huge bouquet of beautiful blue hydrangeas for the altar table. I just stared at those blooms and thought how “cool” they looked. And I couldn’t imagine any color being more refreshing. )
Meanwhile, my pink hydrangea has never had as many blooms as it does right now. Although it may not be my favorite color, I’m happy that it’s doing so well.
Along with the (two) blue ones we were allowed to cut, they make quite a pretty arrangement.
And I’m giving serious thought about attempting to alter our soil….
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
One of my favorites
I’ve always loved hydrangeas – plants that produce big bountiful blooms have always been a favorite of mine. I love rhododendrons for that reason as well. Nice of that kind man to let you take a couple of his “blues” – plant people are always SO NICE!
Pam
What a beautiful post, evoking our wonderful childhood summers growing up.
Wonderfully done.
Happy Memorial Day to you and family.
Very pretty! I love hydrangeas too and we have one bush which always has blue blooms on it.
It is an amazing blue …. I’m surprised you didn’t mention the ones at Bacon’s Castle that had 2 different colors on the same plant … visitors would say it was the lime from the old mortar in the brick courses in the wall right behind them … ?
Hydrangeas bloom here. In one corner of my garden I have a couple of blue plants one pale blue and one deep blue and in the same corner I have a pink plant. I know that it’s the pH in the soil that determines the colour of the hydrangeas but I have never done anything to change the pH and still get these different Coloured plants altogether
Oh how beautiful! Yes, the change in pH in the soil does determine the color. Ours – when they decide to bloom – are blue. We just have a hard time getting them to bloom. Now if only we could figure out the answer to that question. Maybe not enough sun, too much sun, not sun at the right time of day……………..Love your Mom’s name for them.
This has been a favorite of mine and many others. I also love the fact that it’s spreads.