Tending to a lush flower garden is one of the top pleasures of summer, if we say so ourselves, and lately, we are taking inspiration from Martha Stewart and her stunning hydrangeas.
The expert gardener recently shared some photos of her fresh blooms, located next to her greenhouse, and they are truly magnificent.
'My hydrangeas are looking bold and beautiful this year,' Martha states in the caption. 'I have long grown hydrangeas in my gardens. Hydrangeas are one of the most popular ornamental garden plants because of their large spherical bloom heads that come in varying shades of pink, purple, blue, and white.'
Lucky for us, she went deep on her blog about which varieties of the flower she plants, as well as how she arranges them – and we are taking notes.
Shop the hydrangea edit
Named 'All Summer Beauty,' this Hydrangea is a compact, long-blooming mophead variety that produces big, bouncy flowers on 4 ft shrubs. It's the perfect way to bring an element of Stewart-approved charm into our gardens.
If you are serious about beautiful hydrangea blooms this summer, then this is well worth the investment. This water probe will reduce runoff and evaporation, and provide your hydrangeas with deep root hydration through the warmer months.
Hardy in zones 3-9, the 'Haas Halo' lace-cap hydrangea will add angelic radiance to your privacy hedges and screens. The deep green foliage looks amazing all season, too.
Martha's lush garden is so impactful in part due to the strategic landscaping.
'My hydrangea border is located down the carriage road from my hoop houses and across from my chicken coops,' she writes. 'It is home to a selection of colorful hydrangeas, including mature mopheads transplanted from my former Lily Pond home in East Hampton.'
She continues, 'I added more hydrangeas in this area last year, planting both white and dark pink varieties,' she explains in the blog.
'I also have hydrangeas growing around my tennis court, outside my goose and peafowl pens, behind my main greenhouse, and beneath the London plane and Cotinus trees in my middle field. Many of the newer plants are from the First Editions and Endless Summer Collections by Bailey Nurseries.'
However, she also notes that you should consider your surroundings and local wildlife when planting hydrangeas (for example, she has some peacocks on her property).
'It’s always important to do research before planting,' she says. 'Make sure to consider the plant’s mature size and light needs when selecting a space. And remember, perennials grow slowly the first year, faster the second year, and then usually reach full size in the third year.'
This is our cue to embrace 'bold and beautiful' blooms in our yard this summer, just as Martha intended.
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