Mal Condon Programs

Join Mal Condon, Heritage’s Curator of Hydrangeas, for one – or all – of these in person, informative, and fun programs. Mal’s engaging and passionate approach to hydrangea care has proven to be a popular formula. These classes fill up quick!

Please note: this program will take place rain or shine. In good weather, much of it will take place outdoors in the gardens. In the event of inclement weather, the total program will be held indoors inside the Heald Center.

Program fees fund Heritage’s mission to inspire people of all ages to explore, discover, and learn together. Thank you for your support. 

A lifelong gardener, Mal is locally known as “The Hydrangea Guy” and has been collecting, propagating, and growing hydrangeas for nearly 50 years. He and his wife Mary Kay owned and operated Hydrangea Farm Nursery on Nantucket Island for many years. Early in 2014 they “retired” to Yarmouth Port on Cape Cod and now continue to refine another significant garden creation which is open during the annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival. Mal joined Heritage in 2016, and as the “hydrangea whisperer” on the property, he’s especially devoted to the continuing expansion and evolution of the Hydrangea Display Garden and the North American Hydrangea Test Garden. He also loves to teach and regularly shares his wisdom through a variety of workshops at Heritage.

Pruning Hydrangeas: The Seasonal Approach
Step 1 Regenerative Pruning – All Major Species

Heritage’s Curator of Hydrangeas, Mal Condon, has over many years developed the seasonal step approach to more effectively prune our beloved hydrangeas. By practicing specific pruning steps during specific times of the year you will have the best opportunity to optimize plant form and bloom density. Mal is always evaluating new strategies and routinely optimizes his best practices in his teachings. Join us as he shares the critical details of this important Step 1 – Regenerative Pruning – as it applies to all major species.

During this small group session you’ll learn how to identify and remove dead and declining wood while retaining strong productive stems that will yield improved plant vigor, increased bloom count, check plant height, and enhance overall ornamental value. Mal’s detailed remarks will cover each major species and all the tools, tips, and techniques you’ll need for success with your own plants. Even with all there is to cover in this program there will still be plenty of time allotted for questions and discussion. You will also receive a PDF handout of Mal’s presentation containing all the relevant text and graphics for your reference. And, as Step 1 Pruning is a late winter / early spring practice, you can apply your new knowledge at home almost immediately! Advance registration is required and we expect this popular program to sell out quickly.

Program Registration Fees:  $30 Members, $40 Non-Members

For Your convenience, please choose the morning session or the afternoon session.

Pruning Hydrangeas: The Seasonal Approach
Step 2 & 3, Detail & Pinch Pruning – All Major Species

Heritage’s Curator of Hydrangeas, Mal Condon, has over many years developed the seasonal step approach to more effectively prune our beloved hydrangeas. This program is the follow-up to Mal’s Step 1 Regenerative Pruning program in March and illustrates a logical progression in hydrangea pruning. In this program, Mal will focus on Step 2 Detail Pruning for the species H. macrophyllaH. serrataH. arborescens, and H. paniculata – in common terms, the ‘Big Leaf,’ ‘Mountain,’ ‘Smooth,’ and ‘Panicle’ Hydrangeas. Step 3 Pinch Pruning is exclusive to just the H. macrophylla and H. serrata species. This program demonstrates the continuing application of practicing specific pruning steps during specific times of the year to optimize plant form and bloom density.

The required techniques for both Steps are easily learned and practiced. Mal’s detailed remarks will cover the specifics for each species and all the tools and tips you’ll need to address your plants. Timing-wise, Step 2 Detail Pruning is a May event and Step 3 Pinch Pruning is practiced in July. Mal has been evaluating both pruning Steps for some time on H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars.  But Step 2 is quite new to the H. arborescens and H. paniculata species and largely remains an exploratory development. Experiences to date have been encouraging, particularly with respect to plant form and size containment. Mal will share the critical details of what has been learned to date and will encourage you to contribute to this continuing and interesting development.

This program also includes bonus content, as Mal will additionally address two other important and timely subjects – fertilizing and bloom color control. Even with all there is to cover in this lecture there will still be plenty of time allotted in this small group session for questions and discussion. You will also receive a PDF handout of Mal’s presentation containing all the relevant text and graphics for your reference. Advance registration is required and we expect this popular program to sell out quickly.

Program Registration Fees:  $30 Members, $40 Non-Members

For Your convenience, please choose the morning session or the afternoon session.

Growing Hydrangeas in Containers Workshop
Featuring Guest Instructor Linda Coven

Of all the hydrangea species, H. macrophylla is the best suited to growing in a container, especially a decorative one whose color and style blend with the charming blossoms of the hydrangea and companion plants. This container-friendliness is a very good thing, as our beloved ‘macs’ are the least cold-hardy of the hydrangea species group, and they totally appreciate isolation from direct contact with any winter severity. Curator of Hydrangeas Mal Condon has developed superior ways to enhance both plant growth and winter protection attributes through his “Pot-N-Pot” and “Bag-N-Pot” growing techniques that will be explored during this small-group workshop. This method gives the gardener total control over plant growing conditions, particularly during the freezing months. It truly provides the only way you can obtain reliable and repeatable summer blooming – even on Cape Cod!

The blooming beauty of the H. macrophyllas is especially appreciated when plants are located close at hand – like on your deck, patio, or porch. Singly or in groups, you can move them around to achieve varied floral displays and can adjust for changing sun and/or shade conditions as the growing season progresses. They can also become “garden art” within your traditional planting areas. Given reasonable care, this species can remain in the same pot or bag for several years. Interestingly, many H. mac cultivars like being root constrained, often flowering better in containers than when planted in ground.

Best of all, this container growing arrangement provides an effective mobility factor – this component system makes it comparatively easy to move and protect these cold-sensitive plants. Mal is especially fond of his time-honed methods and will share full details. He will be joined by expert guest Linda Coven of Strictly Hydrangeas who will demonstrate the fine composition skills she has developed to “completely” plant your container in enviable fashion. She will share her favorite “fillers” and “spillers” to compliment the central hydrangea “thriller” in your containers. Following the program, you’ll receive a PDF file including presentation content via email for your reference. Advance registration is required, and we expect this popular program to sell out quickly.

Please note: this program will take place rain or shine. In good weather, it will take place outdoors at Heritage’s Horticulture and Maintenance area. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held indoors at the Heald Center inside the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery. Your registration confirmation will include driving directions to the Maintenance location. If we move to the Heald Center, we’ll let everyone know in an emailed reminder communication.

Program Registration Fee: $35 Members, $45 Non-Members