First flowers. Image: Su Leslie 2020
About this time last year, the Big T and returned from a road trip to Whanganui, carrying a hydrangea bush, gifted by my step-mother from her garden.
“How to travel with a hydrangea”. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Somehow, it survived two nights in a motel bathroom, a 350km car ride, and twelve months in my care.
Zimmerbitch 
congrats on keeping this baby alive! is it in a container or in the ground (just curious because when i used to grow white they seemed to prefer to be potted)
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It is in a big pot, mainly because we didn’t have a good spot in our (then) garden layout for it. Now we do, but I’m not sure about moving it.
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hmmm – well please keep us posted! and Su, seeing this bloom post reminded me about another thing I like about blogging – we tag along with readers on some of their adventures – and I did smile when I imagined you the caretaker of the traveling hydrangea last year – ahhhhh for the love of beauty and love of plants –
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I will. You’re right about sharing in each other’s adventures; I love that about blogging too
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😊🌺🌺🌺🌺
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It’s lovely!
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Thanks; I think so too
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Great gift. Good job keeping it alive. 🙂
janet
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Thanks Janet. It was a lovely, impromptu gift.
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The best sort.
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And that glorious set of blooms at the top is one of its contemporary flowers ??
I’ve never seen anything remotrly like that colour, Su !!
You must have green ten green digits. 🙂
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Hm; you wouldn’t say that if you saw the tray of jalapeño seedlings I forgot about when I went on holiday 😬
Totally agree about the colour; that’s what made me mention my hydrangea envy to my step-mother and set of the whole travelling-with-a-plant-in-a-bucket thing.
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Stunning, it is !!
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It’s such a beautiful colour
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I love it too: quite different to most of the hydrangea in my neighbourhood
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That is a beautiful hydrangea bush. Lovely maroon tones. It does sound like it traveled a lot to make it home. Maybe it feels right at home where you are. Maybe it will live another twelve months 🙂
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Thank you. I do live in a very good climate for growing things. I hope it does continue to thrive
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And it is such a gorgeous colour. A reminder to me to buy a deep red and a purple one this year.
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Isn’t it. 😀
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Does your stepmother know the name of it?
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I can ask, but Dad’s just out of hospital after another fall, so I’ll wait til she’s a bit less stressed.
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No rush. Sorry to hear about your dad, such a worry.
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Thanks Jude. It’s happening more and more often ☹️
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Happened with my dad too, he was in and out of hospital and ended up in a home as he lived alone and I couldn’t take him in as I worked full time. I felt terribly guilty though. He actually died on this day, in 2001, and Christmas has been tinged with sadness ever since. Saying that he lived to be 88yrs and most of the time it was a good life.
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I’m so sorry to hear that Jude.
I think many of us experience guilt as our parents become more frail, and distance and circumstance make it difficult for us to help them.
My dad’s remarkably cheerful for all he’s gone through. Both his parents died young and I suspect he’s seen every day as a blessing for a few years now.
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Well let’s hope he has a few more years in him yet!
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Thanks.
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Wow, it’s really thrived! Good for you, and good for it!
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Thanks Amy. I think in Auckland’s climate, things just want to grow.
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that’s amazing! good work –
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Thank you 🙏
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yay! You (and the plant) did so well, Su! It’s a beauty.
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Thanks Lois 😀
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What a beautiful flower — I remember your trip & posts — well done you!!
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Thanks Del. Possibly more good luck than good management 😉
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They’re lovely Su.
Leslie xoxo
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Thanks Leslie
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Oh, I remember that journey! I’m glad it survived.
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So am I; and more than a little surprised 😬
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Yay for the Hydrangea. A tale of a plants journey which has had a happy ending 😀
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Don’t worry Su, it usually takes quite a bit of effort to kill a hydrangea. I remember once using hydrangea prunings to mark rows in the vege garden and they all grew. 🙂
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Thanks Wendy. Although I have to confess I have managed to kill two biggish plants, and not one of my cuttings has ever taken.
I’m seriously impressed by your hydrangea success.
Wishing you and the whanau a Meri Kirihimete
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Same to you and yours Su.
I have a gardener gene so can’t take too much credit for my successes. Despite my worst efforts, most things still thrive. Good growing conditions don’t hurt either (-:
All the best for 2021.
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Thanks Wendy.
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So happy to see that your hydrangea is thriving!!
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Thank you. After all the adventures it had — so am I!!
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