Dear Hydrangea enthusiasts,

Welcome to the November & December 2009 newsletter for Hydrangea Plus�.  We wish you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season.  Thank you for a wonderful 2009 season and we hope you allow us to continue growing beautiful hydrangeas for you.

 

What�s Happening�

We hope that you are having a wonderful fall, if not winter already like we are.  It looks like I missed the November newsletter so this will include that information as well.  I really did write most of it but lost track of November.  What a crazy holiday season!  I�m still not done shopping and the tree isn�t even cut down yet.

 

Weather seems to be cooperating with hydrangeas around the country with the few exceptions of early hard frosts and some snow furries here and there.  We are down into the 20s already here in Oregon with a slight chance of snow this weekend.  But we had a glorious fall here in the Willamette Valley.  It�s been perfect planting weather in between the sheets of rain. 

 

The hydrangeas are almost dormant and the colors are spectacular.  Visit our facebook page and see the pictures of the leaves are turning red and yellow and blooms are getting redder or greener, depending on the variety.  http://facebook.com/hydrangeasplus.

 

We�ve been busy here at the nursery.  Plastic is on the shade houses for a bit of added winter protections, hydrangeas are pruned.  I got the pruning video on YouTube (my user name is HydrangeaLady, just in case you missed it but don�t prune now, it�s too late).  I�ve update inventory for the rest of the year and now I�m off to finish those 1 year plants (that should be ready for April shipping).  We are looking forward to 2010!

 

Hydrangeas Plus Catalog (X)

I�ve begun the task of 2010 catalog but I haven�t gotten very far.  We will most likely be charging for catalogs again next year so if you want a printed version, just order online.  I don�t have the cover finished yet so the  image for the 2010 catalog is blank. But, there will be a catalog. I�ll upload that soonest.

 

Shipping and office schedule

In case you didn�t notice, we didn�t ship the week of Thanksgiving but we hope you all had a happy Turkey Day.  We had a great one here in Oregon and had so many things to give thanks for in our lives.

 

Our 2009 season will come to an end on December 15th and that will be our last shipping date for 2009.  But, we�ll be back in 2010 and begin shipping as soon as the fingers can stay defrosted enough to wrap the plants.  I usually brave the weather by the end of January.

 

For you last minute shoppers, I will continue to process gift certificates up to December 23rd and can email the certificate to you so you can print it out. Certificates make great stocking stuffers and every gardener loves hydrangeas!

 

Office hours will be sporadic this month but I will check messages every few days.  I will diligently check emails so email me if you have a question ([email protected]). 

 

Winter Tips

Stay warm! Okay, that�s a given but I wanted to mention that.  When the temperatures start dropping, the leaves will begin to drop and that�s totally expected.  Most of these cultivars are supposed to do that.  They will still need some water, but much, much less.  In warmer climates, the leaves may not totally drop off but be patient.  New leaves will push those off next spring.  Even some of the Oakleaf hydrangeas here don�t completely lose their leaves in winter.  I love it!  More fall color to look at.

 

Back to the staying warm comment, some areas where temperatures drop below 10 degrees, it is a good idea to cover those hydrangeas that bloom on old wood.  The European macrophylla hybrids are particularly sensitive to drastic changes in temperatures (from cold to warm and warm to cold).  Protect these cultivars with a thermal blanket (waterproof or water resistant).  Tightly woven burlap is also good protection. Wrap the burlap around a sturdy tomato cage and fill with clean fallen leaves.  That will give your plant some added protection from the elements.

 

In most areas, Arborescens, Oakleaf, Petiolaris and the Paniculata families will not need protection.  These are hardy to zone 4.

 

For new plantings, it is also a good idea to mulch after leaf drop.  This will give you a few extra weeks to help the roots get established before the ground gets cold and/or frozen.

For container plants, be sure that you move them inside or insulate the containers when temperatures drop below 20 degrees.  If you bring them inside, they will still need to be watered once or twice per week.  The soil should stay just moist (not wet).

2010 New offerings

Okay, I finally tossed the coin and came up with these selections (it was so hard to decide)

Arborescens Hayes� Starburst - Found by Alabama County Extension agent Jackson Hayes on his property, a sport of Arborescens. Starburst like florets explode on this interesting new variety.

Aspera Kawakamii -  Late summer bloomer with leaves resembling the Villosa group of hydrangeas.  Brilliant purple fertile florets and fuzzy gray green leaves are stunning

Serrata Amagi Amacha - Here is a rare white serrata.  It is closely related to the ShiroFuji serrata but with single petal blooms.  Long tapered leaves are sun tolerant and give a stunning show.

Paniculata Greenspire - Luscious white sterile and fertile florets fill the bloom in summer.  The Greenspire will bloom a little earlier than the other Paniculata.


Happy Holidays!


Sincerely,

Kristin VanHoose

Hydrangeas Plus�

http://www.hydrangeasplus.com

 

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