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Thursday, August 07, 2008

Changes

I am fascinated with the changes in my blue hydrangea. I have also enjoyed seeing other bloggers posting their ever changing hydrangeas. The first collage tracks the hydrangea during the early part of the season and the second one is the latter part of the blooming season which brings me to the present. You can click inside the collages to enlarge them.
I understand the process in theory although I'm confused by why my hydrangea in recent years makes this change during a single growing season without my doing anything to bring it about. The process is explained well on this hydrangea questions and answers page. In brief, acidic soil produces the blue blossoms on large leaf hydrangeas and neutral to alkaline soil produces pink blossoms. However, that doesn't explain why my blossoms change colors during the season without my doing anything to change the pH. I guess it may be one of life's mysteries but if anyone knows the answer, I would appreciate your sharing it with me.

11 comments:

ellen b. said...

hydrangeas are so darn cool. I love all the colors they pop up with...
Mine only had 3 blooms this year...

Michele said...

What fascinating blooms! Lovin' these photos you have here of the colors! Awesome.

Theresa said...

love the progression of change and how you put it all together for us to see.

Sorry can't help you on your question, I just enjoy the prettiness of flowers -

MaR said...

Love your hydrangea!! hope you find the answer you are looking for.
In the meantime just enjoy your beautiful plant/flower!!

Dee said...

My hydrangea is blue, also, but it stays blue. It started blooming last week and there are still a lot of stalks with only a few blooms with the rest buds that will bloom soon. I like those collages, too!

Carver said...

Thanks so much for visiting. Ellen I have a small hydrangea that didn't have but a few blooms this year. The ones these photographs are from is over 30 years old and very big. It had over a 100 blooms (guessing). The small one is actually an offshoot of the big one and last year I had blooms the first time since transplanting but this year didn't have as many. I am lucky with my big one.

jmb said...

Don't ask me. All mine are very blue, except one which is a miniature and remains pink, while another large pink reverted to blue almost immediately. I can't be bothered doing things to the soil so accept whatever happens.
Mine are not so floriferous this year for some reason.

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

Maybe the change in PH within the soil is due to natural elements :)
Whatever colors they are now, they're all beautiful :)

Colin Campbell said...

These are great. We struggle with Hydrangeas here. The summer sun burns them. The neighbout next door does daily shading. I don't have the energy for that.

Carver said...

Thanks to everyone for visiting. I think I'll just enjoy the different colors and not worry about the why.

Christy Woolum said...

These are facinating collages. They are amazing flowering shrubs. I don't know the answer to your question. I am just so glad I can keep them growing here!