I think it's the way some suppliers are pruning the Vanilla Strawberry plants. I saw one with branches all the way to the bottom and it flopped. However, the new ones I got at Lowes are pruned to make a more narrow shape with less branches at the bottom. This does seem to keep them from flopping. I was able to pick these out from many plants. The issue is this plant produces blooms on practically every single branch. I think that's great but it only causes problems if you leave too many young, thin branches on it. Knowing all of this, you can plan for it and prune it to allow the stems to mature more. I kept my Pinky Winky. I am planting a row of these. I put three Vanilla Strawberries on each side of my Pinky Winky. I don't love the blooms on it but I don't hate it. The blooms are less showy on Pinky Winky. I also got a Great Star to add in at the other set of 3 Vanilla Strawberries. I just wanted to mix it up a little. I just think Vanilla Strawberry is awesome. The photo shown is a comparison of Pinky Winky vs. Vanilla Strawberry blooms. The Vanilla Strawberry has more petals because it has many more sterile flowers. That's why the blooms are so full. This post was edited by echinaceamaniac on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 21:14

You can try those two hydrangeas in full sun but, in full sun in the summer, be ready to provide much more water in the summer months. With afternoon shade in the summer, you will probably end up using less water. http://gardeningcarolina.com/shrubs/hydrangea.html From Gardening Carolina's Master Gardener Volunteers: Hydrangea arborescens and paniculata can grow well in full sun and may become leggy if grown in dense shade. However, both use large quantities of water when grown in full sun and should not be allowed to wilt. As a result, some growers produce these plants in light shade or in areas where plants will receive natural afternoon shade.

I have had a response to this posting, but I cannot contact you. Please contact me again with an email address. Thanks, Ibartoo

You should use enough water to get the soil moist down to a depth of around 8". If you water the plant, wait a while for the water to drain and then feel that the soil is still dry at a depth of 8", you did not use enough water. On the other hand, if you test the soil and it feels wet or soggy then you used too much water. Another test: put some soil in between two fingers and press: if you see water droplets forming, you may be over-watering. If the blooms are prematurely going brown, the plant is heat stressed: temperatures are too high, the soil lacks enough moisture, it is too windy, it gets too much sunlight or the plant is too young and has a limited/small root system. If young, it may perform better in future years. In my extreme summers with nearly 100F daily temperatures, the blooms turn brown early. VS was developed in Gorron, a town in Mayenne, France with mild winters and mild summers. That is in the NW corner of the country; close to the English Channel and Great Britain.