Hydrangea Trees Gone Wrong!

 

Above are some of the Hydrangea trees(standards) that I've been training for around 1 1/2 yr.s. I have alot more in the works. I'm specializing in Hydrangeas, as you all know, and tree forms are a big part of that. They have such a classic, beautiful look about them in pots and in the ground. Underplanted with petunias, Ivy and other things really sets them off! Flank an entrance,  line your driveway, or use as a specimen! 

Yesterday I saw some Hydrangea trees at Lowes. All but maybe three of them were in a sad and sorry state. And on top of it, they were $95 each, and not marked down! 

Here's how they looked:

Now I'm not hating on Lowes, I've gotten many plants there, but guys....this is pitiful! 

The flowers and limbs were flopped down, almost breaking off, and some were burned up and dead looking. There was only 2-3 that looked "ok" but still not $95 worth of OK. Those were quick fire and pinky winky, which both have strong stems and more open airy blooms. I produce Tardiva which also has those qualities.  I guess my point is to consider your local, small growers and nurseries. Most likely, the plants will be in a much better state, and grown stronger and healthier! I should have some available next year, and I'd never offer anything in the sad state you see above! 

Cheryl

Nursery YouTube Video

 

How to purchase plants...

 You may contact me with questions or to place an order at: sissy_1973@yahoo.com

Check out the Plant Availability page for info and prices to build your order. I will then prepare your order, and send you an invoice including shipping charges. 

If you prefer, you can also check on what I have listed over on eBay, and purchase that way!

Click Here-My ebay

Depending on the season, I have several things available to include; rooted cuttings from this year, liners that are a year or two old, unrooted cuttings, bareroot trees and shrubs during winter when dormant, topiaries and more. 

Thanks so much for considering my plants! 

Cheryl

Hydrangeas And Pollinators

 

This is a "Flare" hydrangea, a perfect example of the larger outer infertile florets, and the tiny inner fertile flowers. Alot of the more dense hydrangea blooms have little to no fertile flowers, which also means no fragrance and no visits from pollinators.

These lacecap blooms hold less water, and droop less because of it. This hydrangea has an amazingly sweet fragrance, and it's covered every day with butterflies, bees and many other pollinators. Isn't the contrast of baby girl pink and creamy white so pretty?! Tardiva also has a lacecape bloom and very light fragrance. 

What is a liner?

 

In the nursery world, the plants that eventually make it to your Lowe's, Walmart, and retail nurseries, begin life as a seed or tiny cutting. There are some huge nurseries that propagate millions of tiny plants, which then sell to growers as a liner that will be "lined out" or grown out for anywhere from months to years before they are ready to go to retailers! Some are grown in pots all of their young lives till sold. Others are lined out in fields and grown till sell-ready size. They are then machine dug and either have their roots wrapped in burlap, or they are popped into pots and sold to retailers and landscapers. 

So, a liner can be a tiny cutting that has roots, or a one or two year old starter plant or tree. I propagate, then sell all of those sizes. I will mainly be selling all of my plants as plugs, or as 1-2 year old produced and grown-out liners/starter plants. They are sold as either bareroot and dormant in winter, or as actively growing with foliage, roots wrapped and kept moist during shipping. I have had 2 gallon plants available locally, and most likely still will, but in smaller numbers. Eventually those will mostly all be hydrangeas in either shrub form, or trained as small trees. 

I'm focusing on propagating, selling online, and shipping smaller plants at this time. My nursery is literally our backyard! I have sand beds for propagating and as a place to move newly propagated trays to. Some things are propagated under mist in the growing season, and others as hardwood cuttings started in late winter. I have a small greenhouse, a growing area under shade cloth, and a covered hoophouse type area to protect the things that need it a little more than others. I'm in my second growing year. (2023)

I appreciate all of you who have purchased plants from me as a small business owner/grower! So many things have stopped being produced here in the U.S...we need to help and support each other as American producers of every sort! 

Cut Flowers - Hydrangeas

 

It looks like I'm getting wedding flowers ready to go around here! 😊

We're smack dab in the middle of Hydrangea season, and oh my goodness you all, beautiful just doesn't cover it. I planned to wait a little longer to cut some of these, but the weather has other ideas. It's rained and stormed a lot, and is yet again today. We're still expecting several days of rain on top of it. So, some of the limbs are really bowing under the weight of these massive blooms, which are full of water and are very heavy. Strong winds made the situation worse. I staked some because I want to give them more time to get their pink tones this fall. If you want to cut and dry some of these beauties for yourselves, it's very easy to do! You can put them in a vase of water as you normally would to enjoy them as cut Flowers for a bit. But when you want to dry them, only add enough water to the vase so that the stems are touching around 1 1/2-2" of water. Just let them dry like this until the water is gone, and the florets are totally dry. As dried flowers, the possibilities are endless as far as what you can do with them! Make a wreath, spray paint them colors to match Fall or Christmas decor, put them in a pretty antique vase or whatever your heart desires. They can last for several years! 

Enjoy,

Cheryl