Taming the Hydrangea beast…

Yesterday was supposed to be just another rainy day here in Portland; but instead we had sun. Glorious mood lifting sun! Isn’t it amazing how the plants and the dog all line up to take advantage of the warming rays coming in the front door? It didn’t take long for me to pull on my gardening clothes and head outside. You see not only was it a sunny day but it was my first opportunity to walk out into my garden and actually do something! Yes I’ve been cleared to toss the crutches aside and use my right leg! It’s not exactly a smooth gait, and my range of motion is somewhat limited but I can certainly stand and cut back the Hydrangea bush, one of those garden tasks that needs to be done at the right time, or you loose your blooms for the upcoming season.

Here is the “before” picture…look at all those dried up blooms!

Before I show you the “after” picture I want to share a few discoveries I made along the way. For instance don’t you just love the moss covering the old branches?

And isn’t the pealing bark interesting? I don’t know if this is healthy for a Hydrangea but it’s only happening on the oldest branches. Speaking of I have no idea how old this bush is but there are a few seriously thick and craggily branches at the base.

A couple years back, when I was tired of looking at a big mass of bare sticks in the early spring, I decided to plant a few Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift' below the Hydrangea and let them weave their way through the shrub. The first year there were plenty of beautiful and fragrant blooms but last year, nothing. Am I wrong or do these look like flower buds?

Pruning away I found myself sandwiched in between the garage and the Hydrangea and realized this position affords a view of the patio not often seen. It’s so empty now, but in my minds eye I can see the table and chairs, countless potted plants and friends that will bring it to life in just a couple months!

Ok here are the after shots. A seriously smaller Hydrangea!

Sorry about the haze in these pictures, the sun wasn't cooperating with my shot, not that I'm complaining. Isn't it odd that someone planted this shrub right in front of the only window in the garage?

There is another benefit to cutting back the Hydrangea, I end up cutting off a few "new" canes, ones that didn’t have a bloom last year and instead have leaves forming on the tip. Since I am always on the lookout for something new to put in a vase and bring in the house these are perfect!

In the following weeks the leaves will open and we may even have blooms, I love bringing spring inside the house.

What a fabulous day! The invigorating smell of the sun warming the earth, the blue sky, the birds singing and the absolutely divine feeling of being outside working in the garden on a warm (55 degrees) sunny day! I am one extremely happy gardener!