The Hydrangeas

Apparently I'm a Hydrangea collector now.  I had no idea I had so many, until I came home with a new one and the kids decided to count them.

I have one in the driveway that was here when I bought the house.

My brother-in-law brought one to my housewarming party in the summer of 2002.  It's the blue one under the big tree out back.

My neighbor two doors down has given me two, on two separate occasions.  They were hand-me-downs from their yard.

I bought a pink one at Xera last year.

My PeeGee, of course.

My mom dug her white one this spring and gave half to my sister and half to me.

I have a cutting that I got this year from a blogger plant swap, with variegated leaves, but he's only got about six leaves, so I didn't take pictures of him.

And finally, I came home with a new one yesterday.  The most beautiful plant you ever did lay eyes on.

And that's sayin' something, comin' from the likes of me.

So did ya count?

That makes nine.

Nine hydrangeas in a tiny city yard.

I'll start in the driveway.

This sucker gets huge, and it's pretty much growing in a 1' x 2' crack.

It's a blue lacecap.

It's just starting to bloom, but is covered in buds.

Up next, one from my neighbors.

They gave me this one last year and I had no idea what it was going to look like.

I put him in out front.

It turned out to be another lacecap, but with pinkish-lavender and white variegation.

Very, very pretty.

Heading to the back, we have the big blue monster from my BIL.

This started out as a little grocery store plant.

He's all grown up now.

I love it.

My new baby from my mom this year is over under the sick Rhody.

It's beautious.

Next, the other one from the neighbors.

It's similar in color to the lacecap they gave me.

The pink one is only a year old, so it's still kinda small.
But it's comin' along.

And last, we have my new baby.

My fourth child.

I can't even put into words how much I love this plant.

Every time someone walks out back, I ask if they've seen my new hydrangea.

I get a lot of eye rolls.

The Kid told me today I'm treating the "dumb plant" like a person and how do I know it's a "girl."

Because there isn't a boy on earth this pretty.

She's still in a pot in these photos, but I got her in the ground this morning.

Meet, 'Ayesha.'

You just shed a tear, didn't you?

Look at those flowers!!!!!!!

I die.

You guys, seriously, have you ever seen anything more magnificent?

The flowers are like a lilac.

A LILAC!!!

Have you seen my header photo people?!

Let's look at her a little closer.

My photos aren't wonky, each head is a different shade of lavender and pink, with hints of blue.

Your eyes just rolled back into your head, didn't they?

You're dying right now too, aren't you?

Perfection people, perfection.