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Hydrangeas are a favorite flowering shrub of many of our customers as well as the staff here at Bemis Farms Nursery. So much so that we've devoted an entire day to celebrate them! On Saturday September 27, we will be offering lectures and workshops featuring this unique plant. See inside for more details. But just in case you can't make it (heaven forbid) here's a little bit on the latest news in Hydrangeas, as well as some tips on choosing and caring for Blue Hydrangeas.

The Bigleaf Hydrangea is usually considered the showiest of all Hydrangeas. Huge clusters of blue or pink flowers bring back memories of beach trips to Rhode Island or Cape Cod. These are the Hydrangeas that act as "living Litmus paper", turning blue in acid soils, and pink in alkaline soils. The flower clusters adorn the plant on and off from mid-summer to early fall. Probably the most exciting thing to happen to Bigleaf Hydrangea in years is the introduction this coming spring of ‘Endless Summer.' This variety is much more cold tolerant than anything previously available. We got a few "early release" specimens to try out (one of very few nurseries to be so lucky). We were completely thrilled. The plant is vigorous, the flower buds are winter hardy, the duration of bloom is outstanding, and the color is amazing!

Up until the introduction of ‘Endless Summer’ the variety ‘Nikko Blue’ has probably been the standard. It has similar beautiful flowers but it, and most all other varieties, has tender flower buds. This means they need to be protected over the winter. And protected in a big way. While the plant is totally hardy, the flower buds are held on the branches and exposed to our harsh Central Massachusetts winters. It is this cold that damages them, greatly reducing flowering the following summer. It is necessary to build a mound around them from mid November through mid March. It really doesn’t matter what you use, bark mulch, leaves, soil, peat moss. It will all work. It is important though to remove it in the early spring. Another important key to success is to be sure NOT to prune it back at all. We often have people come in disappointed that their Hydrangea did not bloom. Our first question is "Did you cut it back?" If the answer is yes, then you probably
cut off all the flower buds that the plant had worked so hard to make.

You wouldn’t expect to pay the same price if these were tiny eggs and super jumbo eggs. The same is true for bulbs. Bemis Farms Nursery daffodils are on the left, and some of the same variety from a national home supply store are on the right. What is important is that larger bulbs mean larger and more plentiful flowers. The flower buds are actually already formed inside a bulb when you buy it. You can cut it open and see it in there (you have to have good eyes though!) You will pay a little more for a bulb with more flowers, but you will get much more from it. If a bulb doesn’t bloom, what is the point? Bulb foliage isn’t very attractive without flowers to go with it.

Daffodils will provide years and years of beauty, color and enjoyment to your yard. Daffodils are a great plant that keeps getting better and better each year. Daffodils – they aren’t just yellow anymore. White, golden, bicolors, pinkish, and more. A daffodil for every taste.

Tulips are considered by many to be the most beautiful and elegant of bulbs. A rainbow of colors and even different forms, provide intense spring enjoyment. Tulips are not as permanent as Daffodils. It is best to plant them on an ongoing basis. Plant about one third of what you want each year.

Crocus are like tiny little angels, coming to us each spring when we have had it with winter, spreading their wings as if to say "Stay tuned spring is here!" Plant crocus where you will be able to appreciate them, by a door or walkway. Don’t be afraid to plant a lot of crocus. They are small and need numbers to make an impact. 50 to 100 is not too many!

Hyacinths are the queen of fragrance. They are what give the spring flower shows their characteristic spring aroma. A few or a lot, they will wake up your winter nose.

Our Dutch bulbs are due in soon. Stop in and see.

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