Hydrangea Season

We are on the very cusp of hydrangea season in eastern New England and I need to boast about a tiny hydrangea I planted back in 2016. There was a sale at our local nursery, so I hopped in my then very small car (pre-SUV days), picked out two comically large Endless Summers, and Tetris’d them into the car among two car seats and all of the beach stuff, just as the skies opened up. I came home soggy, but thrilled. I had to wait a couple days to plant the hydrangeas, but this was my first real contribution to our Cape house (and I’d always dreamed of having a row of fluffy blue hydrangeas out front) and I was positively giddy as I attempted to dig a hole large enough to accommodate the plants… I can’t remember if I had a proper shovel or like, a hand tool. (The photos below are of our properly planted backyard hydrangeas.)

Regardless, within seconds of me getting the plants into the ground, a neighbor appeared, eager to tell me it was both the wrong time and the wrong place to be planting hydrangeas. And, I probably didn’t know this, but the previous owners had tried the same thing… and all of the plants died. Very cool news. Also it’s been fully 5 years and I am still holding an Endless Summer-sized grudge — but this neighbor is actually quite decent. And he was right. For 4 years, at least. One plant died effectively immediately, shrinking from a lush shrub to a sad pile of dead twigs right before my eyes… and the eyes of said neighbor. The second has held on for dear life, sprouting a handful of green leaves, but playing dead less than halfway through August each year.

But this year. This year… it’s back, baby. No flowers to show, yet, but it is budding and filling out, and just plain alive. Granted, this is largely in part to the fact that we lost all 40 (yes, 40) of our trees during the tornado in 2019 and the aftermath (the trees that didn’t come down immediately were dangerously close to the house and power lines)– with no shade out front, the little thing is free to soak up 12 hours worth of sun.

It’s probably too soon to brag… but isn’t it nice when things take a turn for the better? ::Starts weeping because I’m talking about the little hydrangea that could, but also I’m perpetually over-tired and starting to feel hopeful about the state of the world…::

Anyway… if you’re like me and starting to see the calendar fill up again, little by little… a few hydrangea season-inspired gifts. Perfect for nosy-but-helpful neighbors, graduates, birthday babes, housewarmings, etc etc.

Commissionable Links:

• Pair of hydrangea wall prints (save 25% with code WOWWALLS)
• Hydrangea stemless wine glass with lid (I love these for coffee and tea)
• Hydrangea blanket (may need to add this one to our growing collection — these blankets are surprisingly worth the hype)
• Sara Fitz blank note cards
• Coffee table book (would make a great gift if you’re staying with family or friends on the Cape… speaking of which, come on down!)
• Faux arrangement (currently on sale for just under $100…. and it won’t die)

Happy Planting/Shopping!

Also On Tap for Today:

• Trying to wrap up end-of-the-year gifts and Grace’s class video before the last possible second (aka trying to grow as a person)
• This season’s outdoor almanac (I always learn something new from these)
• 10 Simple Things to Make You Happier at Home via Apartment Therapy

What little (or big) wins are you celebrating this week?