Yesterday DH and I took a drive up to Prairie Gardens in Champaign. I have been coveting the lovely Hydrangeas for as long as I can remember and now I finally have some! I first saw the cultivar "Pinky winky" at one of our seminars. I think it must have been the Proven Winners rep who came... I knew that one was going on my list of "must haves"! I picked up 3 in six inch pots and a "Quick Fire" in the 12 inch pot.
I really wanted these for the east side of the house near the front porch. I have visions of sitting there in my Adirondack chair, the cool breeze rustling the leaves of the fifty year old sugar maples that shade the house, the air filled with the sounds of birds happily singing and twittering all around ...and the Hydrangeas covered with those fabulous panicled blossom heads.
First thing this morning I got up to monitor the amount of sun that shines down on the spot that I had in mind. There are those maples, but I knew that there was some morning sun, as we are awakened on the sleepin' in days by the sun baking us through our bedroom window on the east. As it turns out, the border will get between one and a half to two hours of sunlight in the morning and a little more sun in the afternoon. Hmmm... both labels that came on the shrubs say 'Exposure: full sun to partial shade'. If that's the case, will they get enough sun for the magnificent floral display of my dreams???
Finally, I went to Hort Answers on the UIUC Extension website and this is what I found: full sun, partial sun/shade for Hydrangea paniculata. It doesn't really specify if that means full sun for some Hydrangea paniculata and partial sun/shade for others or if that range applies to all of the paniculata species. So I decided to give it a shot. I realllllly want them here by the porch! I hope they find great happiness here, but in a few years I may be sorry that I did not place rhodies here in the first place. Time will tell.
I really wanted these for the east side of the house near the front porch. I have visions of sitting there in my Adirondack chair, the cool breeze rustling the leaves of the fifty year old sugar maples that shade the house, the air filled with the sounds of birds happily singing and twittering all around ...and the Hydrangeas covered with those fabulous panicled blossom heads.
First thing this morning I got up to monitor the amount of sun that shines down on the spot that I had in mind. There are those maples, but I knew that there was some morning sun, as we are awakened on the sleepin' in days by the sun baking us through our bedroom window on the east. As it turns out, the border will get between one and a half to two hours of sunlight in the morning and a little more sun in the afternoon. Hmmm... both labels that came on the shrubs say 'Exposure: full sun to partial shade'. If that's the case, will they get enough sun for the magnificent floral display of my dreams???
Finally, I went to Hort Answers on the UIUC Extension website and this is what I found: full sun, partial sun/shade for Hydrangea paniculata. It doesn't really specify if that means full sun for some Hydrangea paniculata and partial sun/shade for others or if that range applies to all of the paniculata species. So I decided to give it a shot. I realllllly want them here by the porch! I hope they find great happiness here, but in a few years I may be sorry that I did not place rhodies here in the first place. Time will tell.
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Update, 12 Dec 08--
Update, 12 Dec 08--
More info on 'Quick Fire' and Pinky Winky'. One thing I have noticed so far is that the 'Pinky Winky' was much more tolerant of less water. All three 'Pinky Winky' flourished without any supplemental watering, but the 'Quick Fire' was much more sensitive. It would begin to droop and look pretty sad if I did not keep it well watered. Both varieties did bloom well this first season here in the partial sun. One thing that I want to remember of these two varieties is that they both bloom on new wood, so they can be pruned in spring or fall. The flower color is not effected by soil pH, which if I am not mistaken, would only apply to H. macrophylla. But don't quote me on that!
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