Hi again George - I hesitated responding to these ?? you posted as I do not own ST nor MEM. However I have kept a closer, pictorial diary of this amazing BB (so far, my most photographed & very favorite of the Hortensias) I wish I knew how to post photos, for you to see her color progression.

I brought her home from the nursery in mid-Jul, in a 5gal Monrovia-pot with 1 maturing bloom cluster & tons of younger ones, in different stages of budding & opening. None were pure white ... the centers of each young florette were of the lightest of yellow-green & the outer ones had the hint of the gentlest, baby-blue as they opened up. In a matter of a few days as the cluster enlarges & matures (perhaps 5-7days) the centers, get the dusting of baby blue as well, as the edges starts getting the touch of powdery lavender (dusty-pink blending in) ... never really losing the hint of light sage which brightens the cluster & gives it a glow.

By mid-Aug & through Sept the clusters then progressed to pinks and so on, to the hues of merlot, that each cluster matures into ... but never stopped producing new baby-blue, clusters to the day she had to be encaged in Nov, around Thanksgiving time.

Another observation is the progression of her change of color as the days moved from Summer to Fall - the sun exposure & temp changes as well - but you are the experienced one in this. BTW she produced more buds after I set her in the ground (end of Aug).

She is an ES I'd recommend highly!!!

For whatever it's worth.
D

I have 2, purchased in 2006. One was planted in about 7-8 hours of morning sun, one remained in a pot, in total shade. An unusal thing(I think) happened to the one I planted. It had some pink overtones at the time, but within a week, the flowers became totally light pink. This persisted for some time and then slowly faded to a creamy- white. I was growing MEM & ST in total shade at the time and the flowers were pure white(or appeared so, to me). Much brighter than ES/BB. Although I have dozens of Hydrangeas in bloom now, neither of the ES/BB's have flushed yet.
The ST that I had, grew beautifully last year, lush green foliage, covered with large white flowers and then died over the winter! My third(and last!)attempt to grow this dud(for me), as the previous one's did exactly the same thing.
Rb

Thank you both, Ditas and Rb for your prompt replies.
You both confirmed my notion that BB is no way a color-substitute for ST or MEM and I have to start from the square one.
Here is what I'm trying to accomplish. Blue&White in a mass planting by using ES+BB (ES+ST in a picture taken in July'07)

However area is too exposed to elements in a winter in order for ST to bloom reliably, so I was thinking to use BB instead. PGs in the same bed could give me the desired white color, but unfortunately their bloom time doesn't coincide with ES's blue stage.
Here is what I got in August when PGs was in a prime color

Anyway, since I could get them on a cheapo from a local grower, I'll try to mix them together in another, less prominent bed and see how it works.

Rb, re ST. Out of three 3G ST planted in May'07 one is completely dead, one is alive to 10-12" off the ground and one is more or less OK and probably will produce some blooms this year. Considering that we had one of the mildest winters on record score is not so good :-(

George.....
I replaced the dead ST, with a new cultivar from the Dirr program, 'Queen of Pearls'. It was introduced last year, but for reasons known only to the grower, was not available in my area, until this spring.

'Queen of Pearls'

It is not a remontant type, but according to the hyperbole being circulated, it is supposed to be somewhat hardier than the typical mac.
The flowers are not as large as MEM & ST, but are on par with ES/BB and are more true white.

Have you considered 'Annabelle' for the location in question? They, along with ES, could make a nice BL/WH combination.
BTW, your ES appears to have a purple hue in the flowers, whereas mine are Lt. Blue. Diffenence in soil acidity, I suppose.(I have red clay, mostly unammended)
Happy gardening!
Rb

Lets try that QoP link again. For reasons unknown, the hyperlink does not work online.
Rb

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Queen of Pearls'

Rb, great minds think alike :-))))
Just yesterday I planted QoP inground from the overwintered 2G pot.
Last year I was truly happy with its performance, very tight compact habit, plenty of blooms on strong stems with very dark green leaves. Flower color was somewhat unusual, steel-greyish white, but pleasant nevertheless.
It overwintered much better than any other of my many overwintered pots and was first to bud in late April.
Now with 30+ buds on it it resides between two young Preziosas and NB as a background, but if it will work as promised I might have to find it in quantities to use it in my BL&WH project.

Re: Annabelle. Laughing :-) That is where idea of B&W originaly came from, but having about 10-12 Annabelles in different, mostly natural settings, I prefer not to use it again in this particular location.

Hi George -
Here are photos of my BB. This is a photo album. click on the image to see all of the pictures.
{{gwi:999557}}Blushing Bride

Hi Ditas (or Mercedes?),
You finally learn how to post pictures, WTG!
If in my acidic soil it will have colors that shown in a second picture I'll be happy with ES+BB combo.
I diluted today group of 5 planted last year ES by 3 freshly planted BB and will see how colors will work. Actualy it's not even a grouping, but rather 10-12'long 2-row hedge. If it work, mass planting project of 15-17 plants will be in order for the next spring.

Hi George -
"You finally learn how to post pictures, WTG"
No great big applause yet, please - I felt like a child learning how to ride without training wheels with my son's hand guiding me & 13 y/o grandson thought my analogy funny!!!

How tightly can you sink your ES+BB in 2 rows to achieve the desired hedge (taking into accout mature size)? I'm slowly trying to achieve, in my AM sun but otherwice shaded 40'lg x7-8'wd border bed (using shade tolerant Hs). I have started digging up larger Hostas & replacing with Quercifolias (2 so far Alice in '07 & SQ this May). Your posted photo, shows a deliciously, wonderful tight layering.

"Ditas (or Mercedes?)" ... (Actually Merceditas in the days of yore!!!)

Merceditas (may I call you MD in a future? :-)),

In a picture above ESs were planted fairly loose with about 5+' between the centers to allow to plant something (ST or MEM or BB) in between. PGs are in background about 6' back to give some room to grow for both type of plants.

However, the 10-12' long 2-row hedge I was talking about in a previous post originaly was planted like this:
ES---ES---ES
---ES---ES--(bench),
where --- was equal to about 4'

Now the planting scheme look like this
ES-BB-ES-BB-ES
---ES-BB-ES--(bench),
which make planting is very tight, but since I'm looking for a hedge effect that is fine with me.
Here is the picture of the area from the last year when only back line of the 3 ES was present (two shown and third which is on a left is not).

Wow George!!! After a stroll on your garden path, feasting on its beauty ... I can just imagine sitting on the bench with Sam Keen's "Sightings" (once your hedge has grown to expectations ... actually, even as is!) ... simply perfect!!!

I assume you had to remove what (looks like sedge, are they?) are in front of ES, to accommodate your more recent additions. Are those Pachysandra around the foot of your stately tree? Oh ... what blooms will I be looking to, sitting on the bench, nosey aren't I?

*An OASIS, Just Beyond the Gate* would be a good title!

(MD is fine ... will bring back memories of my grandma's containerized collection of roses & my mom's cacti)

Ego, What beautiful pics!! Hopefully my H will look that good one day.

MD,
Plants that are in a very front are variegated liriope muscari. I didn't remove them yet because they are evergreen here and will line up the pathway in a winter. Anyway I don't have immediate spot to relocate them, so I let them be. They are easy to trasplant and that could be done at any time of the year when/if proper place will be found.
Yes, it's pachysandra around huge mature maples. The only thing that could survive there.

Found old picture from July'06 when first ES-trio was planted. At that time they were 12-18" tall at most :-))

Thanks for another idea provoking photo!!! What were those 4 in-between ES & var. g-Hyacinth - that you must have lifted out of there, to open up for ES & BB?

Wow! ... a good view of your Pachysandra ... I love mine under my stately Gingko with their nondescript tiny white blooms - a bit late coming this year. I should perhaps allow them more real estate to the N as they seem to be so inclined! Oops, so sorry to detour from topic, again! :-(

Again, tipping my hat, George!

Hi George -
Would you still be interested to know how long BB's blossoms stay in the white stage? The 1st 2 larger clusters opened (jun 1) with the typical greenish cast slowly turning white ... am keeping tract & will let you know if you still are. Tons of others are in different stages of her floral show!

MD

Hi George (Ego45) -
BB has since opened up more of her buds and is a typical bride in WHITE (nearly a month now) ... an ever-so-slight ish of green makes her look so virginal!!! I like her this way since I know she will mature & change to many colorful, spunky outfits over this season (she will be multi-colored!!!) until the Autumn of her life, in deep purple!!!

I hope you still like to know -

MD

Hi George - I thought I'd bring this thread back up as I'm curious about the Blue & White mass planting you planned for this season ... did you decide on Blushing Bride for the whites? ... I'll settle for your description & wait for photo next season (as a condition of lost bet! LOL).

My Blush'g B flashed a week earlier this season ... gorgeous pure white & huge clusters (7 x 7.5" a few smaller) ... tho still forming buds, less, total clusters this year than last. It's been a month now smaller one underneath are starting to turn greenish - I assume the start of her famous change of outfit!

If you had decided on BB, I wonder how the deep burgundy would look with the eventual ES mature color in the senario you were creating?

I thought of your project as I was hammering stake supports for my BB - a quick, violent, unexpected storm, whipped thru this aft'n - caused BB to lay down her heavy blossoms ... no broken limbs tho!!! Â;)

TIA -
D

MD, hedge is doing fine, nice, big...and blooming.
The only disappointment (so far) is that BB that I planted in 2008 were (and still is) two years younger than original 3 ES planted in 2006. BB, while showing some white heads among the sea of blue, can't yet produce the desired effect -to dilute the blue. Hopefully by the next year BB will catch up with ES and I'll be able to show the picture (if I'm not going to be stupid enough to lose another bet to my wife).
Interesting thing about BB: in some areas of the garden it start and continue to be white, but in some areas flowers start baby blue and become white as season progresses. I'm sure it all has to do with the acidity of the soil because ES in the same area is much darker as well.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity ...'love that site in your piece of eden!

I love the white of my BB, tho the very slightest hint of blue to give the impression of even brighter white would be most welcome!

Can't wait for the '10 photo - a virtual walk in your serene oasis!!! I read your response to Ostrich ... I agree no more bets!!! (what were you thinking, putting you bottom penny on Barnie M'ox ... just kidding)! Gardening is more rewarding & we need your expertise ... heaven forbid you'd bet off ,posting in this forum - poor we, won't have a thing to drool over!!!

My hubby couldn't understand my obsession over 'bluefying' my Hs ... he calls me 'glut for pains' ... told him it's more the fascination for teasing nature with coffee ground & drinks & the excitement in finding the slightest, noticeable conversion on last season's corals & pinks! I have enough blues & deep purples (perennials of course) that I had to explain to walkers-by that I'm a grandfather member of "When I'm an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" ... you guys are too young to know about this!!! LOL

Ditas, let me tell you something funny.... my parents are visiting and staying with me. My mom saw my blue Endless Summer. Guess what she said to me? She said that I had "too much acid in the soil" so the hydrangeas are blue, rather than pink! She said that "I should have turned the soil more alkaline to make them pink" as pink, to her, is much prettier than blue - "who on earth would want blue flowers in their yard", my mom proclaimed!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course that did not go down too well with me, so I had to inform my mom that I loved blue flowers in my yard and people would do all sorts of things to turn their hydrangeas blue!!!!!!! Does that ring the bell, Ditas? ROTFLOL!

Funneeeee!!!! You should have shown your dear mom, what I posted to George!
She'll perhaps understand the quotation "When I'm old ....." tho I'm willing to bet that I'm already there, a long time ago (this is my 2nd time around)! LOL

I planted Blue Frost for hubby last year (blue for boy!) - I complained to my nursery guy ... the blooms turned out pink. Coffee grounds/sips & A.S.drinks needed - hubby told me to leave his BF alone, he liked it just as they were! Tell your mom she's not alone!!! Guess what, sneakily, went ahead with Starbucks & A.S. since May ... alas a multi-blue!!! Â;) & hubby amazed at results by this Father's Day - love his BF now!