Glorious Hydrangea.

The drought situation here on the Kapiti coast has certainly affected many of my annuals, even the perennials are suffering. The trees do provide much needed shade and certainly help make things some what cooler than the gardens of my friends.

One thing though that is blooming just beautifully though is the glorious hydrangea. It is making a comeback in garden circles and popping up as a florist's flower now after long being out of favour.

To some of us though they have always been beloved, for such a easy care plant, is there any other shrub in which you can alter the colour of the flower just by adding to the soil or taking from aluminium. they are forgiving of a good prune, as 2 years after I gave the 6ft tall plants in my previously neglected garden they are just as tall and blooming beautifully. That is magic indeed.

While the flowers, leaves and stems of the hydrangea are highly toxic, the dried root makes a healing tea which helps urinary tract infections and kidney stones among other things. However I would be inclined

to seek advice first from a professional.

Do, if your pruning your hydrangea be careful of disposing of the branches as they do take roo easy, can be a nuisance in the native bush we love here.

A tip if your using as a cut flower, lightly bash the stems and put in a little boiling hot water before arrange in vase, helps tremendously with preventing wilting.