Shades of Pink

One of my favourite shrubs is the hydrangea which has such delicate heads of flowers in different shades of colour.

They may be pink, as this Lacecap variety gracing the front of our house, or they could be white or blue and as we move into autumn they are more than likely to change colour again.

I first came to appreciate the impact of the shrub on frequent trips across the Channel to France a few years back. It seemed in some towns and villages of Normandy, that almost every house boasted a magnificent display of floral decoration, often from a single shrub.

Back home we were eager to emulate this and were quick to plant a hydrangea in the back garden where we felt we would most benefit from its display by being in a position we would look out upon it most.

Then last year we decided to back this up by planting two more at the front, and while our hanging baskets provide colour, they by no means match the glory of the hydrangea.

The Lacecap variety are recognised to give the garden a more delicate look. Instead of producing a one big rounded cluster of showy florets, they form a flower head composed of a ring of colorful florets surrounding a lacy cluster of small florets.

But it is well known for its ability to change colour, according to the soil.

But then, later this month, may well lose its vibrant pink and fade to a combination of green and pink.