Nadine, Susan and I have French lessons on Tuesday morning, but Nadine is leaving next week to visit her family in France for 6 weeks. So we went out to lunch. We went to a very nice little French cafe - good food - beautiful decor - very fun to have social time with my instructor and classmate. It was noisy and difficult to hear each other, so we conversed in English for the most part. (Susan and I breathed a huge sigh of relief on that one!!) (I must start remembering to take my camera with me!)
This past weekend I took photos of everything blooming in the gardens, and today I thought I would show you how the hydrangea are doing.
"All Summer Beauty" - I adore this hydrangea when it starts turning this dark rose color in the fall.
"Annabelle" is mostly lime green right now. I used to hate this color change, but I guess I'm mellowing in my old age, because now I'm quite enjoying it.
"Annabelle" again. It was simply loaded with big blooms this year.
There are a couple newer, still white blooms on Annabelle too.
And some turning brown already.
A bigger view with "Autumn Joy" sedum next to it. And look at that brunnera - it has simply gone crazy this year. This photo is a little weird - our yard was very shady - our neighbor's was very sunny - plus they had their sprinklers turned on - so lots of stuff happening to affect the lighting.
20 comments:
Hydrangeas remind me of so many good things. I just love your photos because all those good things come flooding into my mind. Thank you so very much! Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
I love all the different colors of your hydrangeas. I brought some of mine inside and have let them dry naturally. They've been gradually changing colors too.
French lessons sound interesting. We have had two different French exchange students stay with us.
xo
Kris~ Your hydrangea are so pretty. I wish I had room for one. In my next house :)
Susie - I've been taking French lessons from Nadine FOREVER - I'm not sure I ever get any better at it! :)
I love hydrangeas. I have two meager bushes. I have been wanting to take French lessons and I am so jealous that you have private lessons. Will Nadine come to Delaware?
Violetlady - would that be fun, or what?? Nadine is a gem - she shares so much with Susan and me about the culture of France - as well as the correct pronunciation and usage, of course! - that it is really fun.
As you probably know I love hydrangeas too and I have several sorts in my garden. The changes of colour of these plants is fascinating. I also cut some blooms for decoration use in winter, they keep very well. You are learning French? So we can soon write in French then?? I've grown up in a German and French speaking part of Switzerland and I did some school years in a French speaking high school.
You are the most amazing gardener! I just love coming to look at your plants. I have a hydrangea that is doing really great too. It looks similar to your "annabelle".
Thanks for taking my tour. It was fun - and definitly come to visit Idaho someday!
Hi Barbara - that would be so fun to practice my French with you!! Lucky you to be fluent - maybe I need to spend some time in Switzerland immersed in the language??!!
Like you and Susie (and countless others!!), I use these gorgeous blooms for winter decorations - on wreaths, our tree, and in arrangements. They are just very fun year round.
If I could, I would have a hydrangea hedge the whole way around my house. I add a few each year, here and there. You must have the perfect environment for them. They all seem to thrive! Absolutely lovely.
Like you my curly hair gets "big" in humidity...lol!!
My first ever lunch with Lady Rose Red was in a French Bistro...I'd never had French food and it was good!
Good for you learning a new language!!
Love the flowers...I always called them "hi strangers" myself ;)
Lovely photos! Two of my garden friends gave me a gift of an 'Annabelle' hydrangea this year, as I had mentioned I thought I 'needed' one because that is my little Granddaughter's name. It is still in the pot, but I plan to rip out a Nikko Blue that gets nipped by frost every year and replace it with Annabelle. Yours looks great next to the Autumn Joy sedum.
Hydrangeas are my favorite bush ever!!! Well maybe tied with a rose.. I collect them..
BTW I tagged you over at Green Thumb Chronicles..
My one neighbor to the left of me has a lot of hydrangeas growing in his backyard.
Hydrangeas are always so pretty~ they are one of my favorite flowers!
Thanks for sharing.
Love all your hydrangea! I only have one and the bushwas huge but very few small blooms. I cut it back pretty good the other day to see if that would help. I didn't know there were so many kinds.
Hi There The hydrangeas are just beautiful. Sounds like you had a good French Outing!!!!! I will never forget the day we took you down to register at the University and you had to take a test to try to get into the Honors French Class----you moaned all the way home saying all the other kids who took the test had been taking French forever, and you would NEVER get in!!!!!BUT YOU DID!!!!! I always figured that started your love affair with Paris, and the rest of France......the pictures are wonderful.
Awww - thanks Mom!! I had to work my butt off in that class! Most of the instructors were grad students who had lived in France for a year or two - and I thought that sounded so wonderful. Still do as a matter of fact!!
I have planted spiderwort this year. I heard that they can be intrusive. Have you found that?
Hi Beth - yeah, they spread pretty easily in the gardens. But I don't think of them as thugs - they're easy to control. I like having several plants together for the impact - and they work in different light conditions, so I use the babies to fill in other gardens too. I love that when I cut them back after they bloom, they bloom again. I forgive a lot if I get two nice blooms from any of my perennials.
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