hydrangea paniculata in early summer

Well hello there! On my drive home from work this week I was thinking about my blog.  I was thinking about how I really do miss writing posts.  I could blame it on a dozen different things, and they’d all be very good excuses.  But that doesn’t get me closer to getting back into blogging.  What I need is a plan on how I’m going to get back into the game.  And this is what I thought of: a plant highlight, on Fridays, called “Fabulous Flower Friday”.   What do you think?

Here we go!

hydrangea paniculata early in the season (with a lavender flower)

Hydrangea paniculata. Let’s start with “panicle”, straight from dictionary.com: any loose, diversely branching flower cluster.   That was easy.  Next?

hydrangea paniculata full bloom

It is a medium sized shrub which loses its leaves at the end of the season (deciduous). The flowers bloom in late summer to early fall, are elongated and turn from a creamy white to pink as they mature.

hydrangea paniculata turning pinky

This hydrangea prefers moist, well-drained soil in sun to partial shade, and is tolerant of frost.

When to prune? Cut back to a few buds in spring to encourage larger flowers (but it is not necessary to prune).

The flowers are also good for drying.

hydrangea paniculata full shrub

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you’ve enjoyed my first “Fabulous Flower Friday”. 🙂

In Peace,
Dana

The front gate garden bed in full view