I have a few very large mature specimens of 'All Summer Beauty' that I would like to trade only for something on my want list. These are now just starting to break dormancy and I need to move them soon, so either I will trade them or move them to another spot in my landscape. Tempt me now while the opportunity knocks. ;o) As they are large plants I will not mail them but will meet another trader at a midway point between us. For those not familiar with this variety, it is the only H. macrophylla which blooms on NEW wood. A very reliable bloomer for those of us in the colder zones, possibly even zone 4! Please include the link to your trade list for ease in reference as it is very time consuming (of which mine, like many others I'm sure, is limited) to run a search to find it. Thanks so much! -Lily

ASB is not intensely pigmented and is known for being a lighter blue/pink. My ES are a very deep blue/violet. It's not just the plant alone, but rather a combination of the plant's natural pigmentation and the soil ph that make for the final color outcome. I was told by Wilkerson Mills nursery that the more heavily pigmented the plant (ie Enziandom) the less likely it is to repeat-bloom. ASB is also not one of the larger hydrangeas at about 3.5 x 3.5 (ish).....yg

Jim, If it makes you feel any better only 1 out of 5 of my new hydrangeas are blooming or even showing buds. 3 were planted last year and two this year, one of these two is in bloom. The hydrangea 'experts' around here told me exactly what gardengal48 said and to not expect much the first 'full' year or two they are in the ground, by the third look out :-) I also bought them all in small 1 gal pots. I have a feeling it will surprise you, just not right now. SCG

Hello, Princess. It's good to see you again. Have you been busy? My Endless Summers were winners for me and bloomed from the crown even though I made a point of not mulching them at all going into the winter. I wanted to put them to a real test and they passed. It wasn't a lot of blooms, but any blooms at all was more than I've ever gotten from my Nikkos, All Summer Beautys, and Dooleys. This fall I've cut them back pretty hard, figuring that I was going to be losing the top growth anyhow and mulched the crowns pretty heavily. Next year I would hope that I'll get even more blooms. Do you have any news for us? Glad to see you. Hay.