How do your flowers and bushes grow in August? Assess the outcome and you’ll be inspired for changes next year.
In a few weeks, summer will be all but a memory. For gardeners, this is the perfect time to take stock and plan ahead. It was one hot summer and one rainy spring, which, area green-thumb enthusiasts say, affected not only their blooms but also their vegetables. "My hydrangeas have never looked as good as they have in 2011, and, judging from other hydrangeas I've seen driving around town, I think everyone has enjoyed the same experience," said gardener Randy Engle of Troy. "A late, wet and cool spring allowed these sensitive plants to come out of hibernation and start their growth spurt before being zapped with too much heat. The wet June and the dappled-sunlight days of July created big mophead blooms. My hydrangeas are now so big and …
Homeowners and gardeners discuss their favorite colors and varieties, as well as tips for growing and why they adore the blooms.
"A dead hydrangea is as intricate and lovely as one in bloom." — Toni Morrison, from Tar Baby In front of Rachel Schechter Zimmerman's home in Huntington Woods, several hydrangeas abloom in pale green shades grace the entryway. “I love how long the blooms last and that they take up a lot of space,” said Zimmerman, a busy mother of three. The art director especially notices their shapes and hues. Her favorite tone is that “yellow-y, whitish green,” she said. “And I like that they’re in mass.” Her artistic eye enjoys soaking up their color “against all that green foliage. It’s stunning … clean and classic.” Speaking of art, artist Alice Frank of West Bloomfield also adores hydrangeas. “When I observe them, they make me happy,” she said of …
42.517671
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30979 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI
Bordine's in Royal Oak
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42.5455
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748 Forest Ave, Birmingham, MI
Duncan Fuller Interiors
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42.48958
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YMCA
1016 W 11 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI
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Megan Swoyer
10:11 pm on Saturday, August 27, 2011
Garden expert Cathy Rosenhaus says: Dear Sid, > The hydrangea in the photo is Endless Summer and is a wonderful, easy to grow > plant. > Cathy more ›