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Japanese Maples Fall Color

'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back.  'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini

Hydrangea "Twist and Shout"



The hydrangeas are beautiful this year and I've been photographing them this week. Instead of posting one long post with a million photos, I thought I would feature one hydrangea at a time. Since we have around 40, this might take a while but I doubt that I will get all of them on here.

First up is a new hydrangea that was just planted last year. It is touted as the first lacecap hydrangea that reblooms all summer long. The first hydrangea of this type was "Endless Summer" which I almost shovel-pruned because of lackluster performance. However, in its third year, it really took off and bloomed its head off. This year is no exception. Therefore, I was surprised when its cousin, "Twist and Shout", started blooming like mad in the second year.

Developed by Michael Dirr, "T&S" has impressive parentage ("Lady in Red" & "Penny Mac") which gives it a strong hardiness factor (zone 4) as well as lots of blooms. The "Lady in Red" characteristics can also be seen in the leaves - red stems and red leaf color in the fall. Flower color depends on your soil type - alkaline soils give you pink flowers and more acid soils display periwinkle blue blooms. As you can see, our soil tends to be more acid.

Stay tuned for more hydrangeas!




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. I love hydrangeas...Great photo.

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  2. Ooh, the hydrangea is indeed wonderful, but it's that gorgeous pot that really stand out for me. I didn't realize it was red on the bottom. Cool!

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  3. I know you can change the color of the Mopheads and I know it's almost impossible to change the color of a white one, didn't know about changing the color of a Lacecap..Mine are doing fab this year as well.

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  4. Every Twist-n-Shout that I have seen tends to be a little on the gangly side, not that I mind that.

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  5. This must be the year for hydrangeas. My hydrangeas have the most blooms ever. I attribute this to no late frost. Wow, 40 different types of hydrangea?? Is that what you meant?? You will have blog fodder for some time. That is good. I am ready to read about them. I only have 5 different types of hydrangeas. I will look foward to seeing each of yours.

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  6. That's a really pretty hydrangea! A great vignette with the pottery.

    I had to leave all of my hydrangeas at a former home. I tucked one away here, but it didn't bloom. So, I moved it up to the fragrance garden next to the house this spring...it has bloomed the first time and the deer haven't found it (so far)

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  7. Good thing you didn't give up on the Endless Summer.

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  8. *That* is why someone should grow hydrangeas! And your choice of an urn really makes the picture... you are an artist.

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  9. Very cool! I have Lady in Red. This might be another good one to add to the garden.

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  10. It's beautiful. I look forward to seeing more of your hydrangeas.

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  11. Beautiful delicate blue color on those hydrangea flowers.

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  12. Phillip, it looks so much like 'Lady in Red' that I'm wondering what is different. Bigger blooms maybe? I would love to have that blue look but that would take too much work on my part. :-)

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  13. Genrally I think Hydrangeas are ugly. My neighbor has one planted at the start of his drive, and it looks awful. Your's doesn't look too bad. It's not a snow ball hydrangea. I love that vase, though!!
    ~Randy

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  14. Stunning urn!! Beautiful photo. 40 different hydrangeas...

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  15. What a coincidence, I just posted a photo of my Twist-n-Shout today too. (It hasn't started blooming yet.) Of course when mine blooms, it's much, much pinker than that. I have acid soil envy.

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  16. Lacecaps invite closer inspection. I look forward to seeing the rest of your collection.

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  17. Phillip, I was just looking at this beauty this afternoon....It was sitting next to a white mophead and put it to shame! Love it and your plan to share one at a time! gail

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  18. Oh wow. Great pics! I love see blues in the garden.

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  19. Nice hydrangea. The varieties in the Endless Summer Collection are a great addition to the landscape.

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