Yes, we do grow them here, but not near as beautifully as they are grown there. I just loved the Cape, and Nantucket and the other Island. Yes, we traveled a lot, but traveling up there is a cinch. Everything is so close. It's nothing to drive up into Vermont and New Hampshire for the day. I loved Beantown. I loved Quincy Market, the Italian District on Sunday when all the vendors were out in the street marketing their wares, the swan boats in the park, just a beautiful, beautiful city. So much history. Went to Salem, drove the North Shore, and the South Shore, gorgeous in the fall and winter, it's just that winter never seems to end..... North Grafton is only 40 miles west of Boston - not that far. I used to drive to the South Shore every day to work until they moved our office to Westborough. I loved the way the roads were taken care of in the winter. Here, no one dares to drive when it snows. Nobody knows how to drive in it, and they certainly don't plow them like they do in Mass. I loved riding the subway. We just had a ball while we were there. Loved the people. I was prepared for everyone to be nasty and unkind. Not at all! Very friendly, and helpful. Much nicer than a lot of Oklahomans I've met. I was so impressed with the fact that there weren't any commercial road signs, and that they don't just mow down trees to build houses. I just can't tell you how much I loved it up there! We have the 4 seasons here, too, but winter is much shorter and the heat of summer is verrrrry long. Susan

Many of macrophyllas for sale usually get 5-6' in height. But, it usually takes abou 10 years or so to achieve their advertised height/width.... although in places with a long growing season (like here in TX), it may take less time. Just look at the plant label's height/width to make sure it will work for you. Many of the Endless Summer Series Hydrangeas and many of the Forever and Ever Series will work for you. And they are commonly sold here at Lowes, Walmart and others. No pruning, a stable water regimen and high nitrogen fertilizers (blood mdeal for examlpe) will also help accelerate grow. Just don't go overboard. Do not overwater as this can cause fungal diseases or root rot. And do not overfertilize as you can end with nice lush green leaves and no blooms. Sunlight will help produce bloomage based on "how much" sunlight the shrubs get so, lots of sun can yield lots of blooms and so forth. Too much sun here in TX and the blooms can brown out. Too much sun here and the leaves can suffer as well (especially in our awful summers). Bright shade will not produce the maximum bloomage but it still produces plenty. Dense shade is the one that can be a problem. Aim for 4-6 hours of sun and shade by 12pm (here) although less works too. If your shrubs are in bright shade, they will be ok. I have most of my hydrangeas on the north side of the house too and they bloom very well. I also periodically check the levels of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus regularly with one of those cheap soil testing kits, usually sold in Spring over here. If you still want something other than ES or if you want more hydrangeas, look at the plants offered for sale in April-May this year to see what strikes your fancy. They will be blooming so you can verify that you will like the shade of colors and the blooms. Note: Lowe's brings a limited number of hydrangeas to this area in March (maybe 1-2 varieties only) and then in April, it brings a whole bunch more. Annabelle (and its cousins) does well here. In bright shade, it will maintain its green color longer before it changes to white. Oakleaf hydrangeas also do very well here but read the labels; some of them grow to 10' tall so make sure the oakleaf hydrangea that you choose says it will be around 6' or so. Examples: Munchkin, Ruby Slippers, Pee Wee, Sikes Dwarf, Vaughn's Lillie and Jetstream. I have a Ruby Slippers under a Chinese Pistache Tree. Paniculatas are also another choice. But many also get large so just check the labels' height dimensions and look for 'dwarfs'. 'Dwarf' versions of paniculatas and oakleaf hydrangeas will get 3-6' in our long growing season. Luis

it's been a rainy week..took these just before the sun went down tonight..#1 Royal Standard..#2 probably Elegans, Halcyon, August Moon, Krossa Regal..varieties that I bought when I moved in..#3 Seducer?, Blue Mouse Ears, August Moon, Golden Tiara..#4 my Little Wonders are still cute..boxwood stump to be removed..#5 August Moon#6 Golden Tiara..the shade keeps my hostas greener longer than ones in more sun right?..

Utog, it is so nice to see your garden still full of color! Mine only has my declining Limelight Hydrangea, autumn joy sedum and burning bush. All the leaves are falling everywhere too. Today I cut back the few hostas remaining and dug out the pepper and tomato plants. Love the Carmillas you have......do the need full sun? Will we see your garden in November? debra