After seeing Roper's Harlequin Glory Bower tree I was tempted to get one, even with the sucker issue, but recently read somewhere else that it needs afternoon shade so I think that's off the list. Right now I have the Sikes, Salvia coccinea (thanks to Pfmastin's pic with the hummer), and White Bomb chrysanthemum. I'm going to order for spring delivery. Don't want to move the abutilon until then. We'll start getting winter hummers in another month or two and that always puts on a big flower feast through the winter months. I'm still going to look locally, but if I can't find a dwarf oakleaf here I'll probably order from Lazy S's.

I planted them in early February, so I'd hardly consider them "shrubs" this early on...LOL They're small, MAYBE 2 feet in height, healthy, but I'm having a difficult time visualizing how they will expand into the beautiful masses I've coveted in others' landscaping. What a stunning plant. How many years until they "fill in", typically? I have two of them spaced about 24-36" apart (whatever the recommended spacing was), and a plastic border in front of that to be sure they don't move onto my neighbors property. With regard to the lilac, I had the same luck with my Pieris I purchased this year. I was told full sun was ok, but my Pieris did not agree, and after doing more research on the internet, not only should it not have full sun, but it can usually handle only early morning sun. And depending on where you look, they are only hardy to zone 6, not 5. Shame because it would have looked stunning in my back yard. I planted another in a shadier area of my yard, and so far so good. Only time will tell. Luis, do you fertilize your Annabelles? Do you recommend fertilizing after they're established, or just for the first growing season? -Kim

I'm sorry my wants list is so long,,I couldnt make up my mind which I would like more ..I'm really not that picky ..Make me an offer... I do LOVE anything that will attract butterflies & humming birds including feeders for them ..I do love vinnes,herbs,anyhting that smells good.. My have's 1 Norflok Pine ... 2ft tall Bromelaids .. 4 green 1 red Yellow Hibiscus ... 6 yellow Red Hibiscus .......4 red Orange Turks Cap ..5 Red Castor Bean ...7 Vitex cuttings 10-15 Confederate Rose cuttings "pink & white flowers" 8 Orange Canna "Tall" 4 Obedient plant ... 12 Umbrella Grass ....4 Climbing rose cuttings "old lite pink" ( 10-15 ) Bulbine "orange with yellow center" ( 4 ) Society garlic ( 2 ) Alligator plant " small cuttings " trying to get them rooted before the swap" ( 4 ) White Orchid tree " 2 ft tall " ( 1 ) Cassia Alata ( 1 ) Yellow Butterfly weed cuttings "trying to get them rooted" ( 6 ) orange Butterfly weed cuttings "trying to get them rooted " ( 6 ) Red bleeding heart vine cuttings Shrimp plants "rooted" 4 Palo Verde tree "i planted it from seed " 3 ft tall( 1 ) Squill ( 4 ) African Milk Euphorium cuttings ( 2 ) My want's rose ..Joseph's coat "I would LOVE a yellow rose Pampas grass Phlox 'for my mom" Anthurium "flamingo flower" Bird of paradise bougainvillea Night blooming cereus chenille plant Cup of gold ,golden cup ( Solandra nitida ) Ginger "any & all " Heliconia Turks cap "any but orange" Ixora Jade vine Orchids Pagoda FLower Datura "any" Jacaranda Pride of barbados Sugar cane tulips,crocus,dahlia,amaryllis,lily, Trees flowering cherry,magnolia,any fruit tree especially citrus ,Silk oak,gardenia,flowering almond,willow,avacado,fig,Spiraea,any fast growing tree for my 80 yr old neighbor .. Please email me @ Lookingforinfo20@aol.com if you would like to trade ..

Well, they do need their water, especially in Texas. Hydrangeas, in general, require more water than other part-shade plants. And Oakleaf Hydrangeas are probably the most drought tolerant of all hydrangeas. Which may be the reason why you have had difficulty with Macs while the Oakleaf hydrangeas are doing great. I use drip irrigation with all the hydrangeas but, during the worst part of the summer, that is not enough. I have to hand water once a week. A location that "protects" them from losing moisture during our months-long 100+ degree summers helps (think of a place with no wind or very little drying summer winds). And of course, 3-4" of mulch also helps. I let the mulch extend past the drip line. A location that provides shade starting at 11am to 12pm is preferred by all hydrangeas in my area. Of course, after doing all that, yes, there will still be days when they droop; can't blame them with all these 100+ degree temps that we get. Luckily, they usually recover on their own at night provided they are well watered. I have used organic compost and fertilizers like cottonseed meal in Spring. A 1/2 cup to 1 cup works for a hydrangeas that has been purchased recently. More on larger shrubs. Then during the growing season, I use coffee grounds, liquid seaweed, liquid fish, etc but, do stop all fertilizers by the end of June so the plants go dormant at the proper time. I also apply soil amendments to acidify my alkaline soil in Spring and July-September. If you need to acidify where you live, you could apply the amendments now (instead of during Spring) because, now, there are no leaves to speak of on the shrubs and you can see what you are doing and how much amendments are falling and where... although I suspect a tiny number of your Oakleafs Hydrangeas may still have green leaves (I have had this happen in some years). As for music, well, I have not tried that. Dogs barking is the closest I have tried. But feel free to give it a try and post the results so we know how that worked for you. ;o) Luis