Did anyone mention to cut your floss in shorter lengths? Helps keep the floss nice when you have to change colors a lot. And, for heaven's sake, don't worry about the back. Love to look at hydrangeas but can't grow them.

Same here, got two and they look pitiful. I have a beautiful water color of them in my spare room. That'll have to do. Too hot and sunny here.

they are one of my favorite shrubs I have about 12 different ones. they are beautiful. I am fron GA

lanaparadise1: I'm originally from (not born) Georgia. My mother has hydrageas and they are beautiful. I want to try to plant one in North Carolina. When is planting season for them?

According to the internet, the best time to plant new Hydrangeas or transplant young Hydrangeas is in the Spring as the ground is beginning to soften from the winter freeze. The plants like morning sun and afternoon shade

Thank you. I will get a 5 gallon bucket of it in the spring.

I first began developing an interest in them when I lived in Louisiana. Just about everybody had several huge specimens in their yards. So beautiful. Several years ago Southern Living featured a garden with blue ones. The lady had her entire fence line planted with hydrangeas. I considered it but decided against it. I lived in San Antonio and had full sun all day. I also love peonies and many other flowers that I can't grow here. I have zero interest in cacti.

Lanasparadise1, do you know of a species that will grow in the TX heat. I totally agree with Bermuda but even the one that is planted close to the conditions she describes does not do well.

I guess we have to stitch our favorite flowers.

Now Ladies just remember PLANTS DON'T READ BOOKS. In the warmer climates try pee gee or anabelle with just a tiny bit of afternoon shade, maybe your house for example they might survive and Hydrangeas need water. Take a gallon plastic jug put a few holes in the bottom and let the water seep into the ground slowly. Hey try it, you might be surprised.. I am a Master Gardener who is not physically able to do what I would like to outside. GOOD LUCK
Lana

Thanks, for the tip, lana. I'll try those varieties. Right now I have a Penny Mac. It is supposed to bloom on old and new wood. This year it did not bloom at all. I have morning shade and afternoon sun and the leaves actually burn. By midsummer it looks awful. Now it's coming back but winter is approaching. The other one my daughter bought for me at the local Farmer's market, it's supposed to be TX grown. I have a tiny spot by the fence where I thought it would be shady enough but it too looks awful. Grass does not grow in this corner, we have Bermuda and it needs full sun, so I had high hopes, alas....
Wish you were my neighbor. Oh, that's another thing, I just can't garden like I used to so I am trying to find shrubs and plants that are low maintenance. Many are advertised as dwarf variety, etc yet once I have them in the ground they grow fast and furiously - nothing dwarfish about them. I don't particularly care for pruning them into shapes. I like the graceful, natural look. So what to do? Planting close to the foundation is supposed to be a no no. Our pest control guy is constantly scaring me about drawing termites if I put mulch in the beds. If the HOA allowed it, I would pull it all out and plant grass up to the house. I did that once in CA and it actually looked very nice.

I love plants, but the only thing that will grow for me is petunias. I have gigantic pots on my front porch and the petunias grow like weeds in them. My sons used to tell any plants I brought home to "die now before mom puts you out of your misery". LOL