Fun Facts

HYDRANGEAS

Cape Cod is known for the hydrangea plants and this year has been a glorious year for the hydrangea blooms. Last year there was hardly a bloom all summer for in February 2023 there was a killing frost which was the demise of most if not all of the flower buds, while the winter of 2024 was exceptional warm allowing the buds to set up perfectly.

Hydrangeas arrived in North America about 50 million years ago with their name of “Hydro” meaning water and “angos” meaning a vessel to hold water both having a Greek origin (Yian Florist). Hydrangeas come in four colors blue, purple, white and pink all determined by the pH levels in the soil, and each color has a different meaning. Blue= apology, gratitude, understanding, purple= pride, royalty, understanding , white= vanity, purity, grace and pink=romance, true feelings, sincere emotions (House Beautiful). 

The color petals are not petals at all but sepals which protect the flower bud and turn from green to the various colors with age. The sepals absorb water so after picking a flower put it headfirst into a basin of cold water swish it around then remove and put it into a vase (Britannica). 

If you put the flowers into a vase with a little bit of water and let the water dry up the flowers will dry up as well and can last up to a year in the dry condition. Pruning is a must for removing dead wood is required in order for the plant to bloom the following year. In the fall the hydrangeas will give us a sign of upcoming fall by the flowers turning green due to the diminished amount of sunlight (USDA).