Our Garden Favorites and How We Grow More Each Year.
For many people, summer is a time when we spend more time outdoors tending to our yard. With the arrival of warmer weather, we emerge from our winter hibernation eager to enjoy the comfortable temperatures and soak in the sunshine. For us, this season means taking on spring cleaning, gardening, and outdoor home projects. We are fortunate enough to have a yard that is big enough to grow flowers, ornamental plants, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden. All of these areas require attention this time of year. Although there is always more work to be done, it’s also hydrangea season, which means our favorite plants take center stage in our yard.
Over the years, we have added several varieties of hydrangeas to our garden, and this year we planted a stunning new addition—a stunning white Endless Summer variety called Dream Cloud. It’s soft, elegant, and incredibly versatile, blending beautifully with everything else in the garden. The crisp white blooms feel especially fresh this time of year and have quickly become a favorite.
Many of the plants around our home have been propagated from cuttings. Over the years we have used two different methods to propagate our hydrangeas. The following method is foolproof.
This technique is one of the easiest and most rewarding methods, especially in late summer and early fall. Simply take a low-lying branch and gently bury a portion of it in the soil, securing it with a rock to hold it in place. Over time, the branch will naturally root itself while still attached to the “mother” plant. Once established, it can be cut and transplanted (preferably in the spring). It’s a wonderfully simple way to expand your garden with very little effort.
If you are in the Charlotte area and looking to add new varieties of hydrangeas to your garden without propagating, here are a few resources for purchasing them locally:
Dearness Gardens
Pike Nursery
Lowes Home Improvement
Home Depot
We thoroughly enjoy seeing hydrangeas blooming in our yard. As an added bonus, take advantage of cool mornings to cut flowers and use them to brighten the inside of your home or share bouquets with friends. We love using a simple set of clear cylinder vases to showcase the blooms.
It’s hydrangea season, so whether you are growing your own or picking some up at a florist or local farmers market, enjoy them now!
