notes and musings from a perennial gardener
step by step articles
It’s November, and the hydrangeas I pruned in July and August are still looking great. Got lots of mopheads and panicle types blooming in your yard too? If they’re holding their color and aren’t too desiccated yet, cut some now to make a quick and easy fall wreath.
If you have access to an evergreen magnolia such as Teddybear or Kay Parris, so much the better. But magnolia leaves are not a necessity. Any lustrous evergreen material that dries reasonably well will work.
Few shrubs provide as much seasonal interest as hydrangeas, regardless of cultivar. Starting in early summer, they bloom abundantly and with longevity, persevering right through the hottest days and the worst downpours of summer. The flower heads are composed of hardy structures more akin to paper than petals, called bracts. Mophead varieties are mostly dense clusters of bracts. Lacecap forms have an outer layer of larger bracts that encircle tiny, fertile florets nestled in the center. Because bracts are so sturdy, the blooms last all summer. Drying them for arrangements can extend the season of enjoymenr even longer.
If you enjoy hummingbirds, you no doubt already have a hummingbird feeder or two. Did you know you can make your own sugar water for them? I’ve been making hummer food for years. It’s very easy and of course, cheaper. Besides, the red coloring in the commercial stuff is not good for the hummingbirds, and totally unnecessary. They will come without it.
I know they sell clear commercial solutions containing vitamins and minerals “for better egg laying”. But whenever I’ve tried it, the birds aren’t interested at all and it spoils. So I stick with homemade sugar water and trust the hummers will get enough nutrition from insects.
Here’s how to make your own.