Hydrangea University 2024 – Save the Date

* Please note the change in day from previous years. This year’s program will take place on Monday to avoid conflict with the Independence Day holiday weekend.

Heritage Museums & Gardens and the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society are pleased to continue our partnership to present the eighth annual Hydrangea University – the premier event of the annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival. During this symposium-style event, expert guest speakers will inspire and entertain while increasing participants’ knowledge of hydrangeas. This year’s speakers include:

• Natalie Carmolli from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs and Skye Hamilton, Digital Creator and Instagram’s “Hydrangea Queen”
• Joan Harrison, Author and Speaker
• Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, Mt. Cuba Center

Following the program, participants will have the opportunity to tour the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society Display Garden and the North American Hydrangea Test Garden.

Included with registration:

• Presentations by four expert speakers
• Admission to all of Heritage Museums & Gardens
• Morning refreshments (coffee, tea, pastry)
• A goodie bag
• A Little Lime Punch® hydrangea plant to take home courtesy of Proven Winners®

Advance registration is required, and we expect this popular program to sell out quickly.

Program fees fund both Heritage’s mission to inspire people of all ages to explore, discover, and learn together, and the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society’s mission to share knowledge and enjoyment of hydrangeas with the broader community. Thank you for your support.

Program Registration Fee: $65 Members of Heritage Museums & Gardens or the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society; $75 Non-Members

Registration will open to the general public on Wednesday, May 1 at 9 am.

Special pre-registration for members of Heritage Museums & Gardens and the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society will be available starting on Monday, April 29. All members of both organizations will receive an email communication with an exclusive, members-only link that may be used for early registration for Hydrangea University from the time the email is received through Wednesday, May 1 at 9 am, when registration will open to the general public.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Natalie Carmolli from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® and Skye Hamilton, Digital Creator and Instagram’s “Hydrangea Queen”
Hydrangea Breakthroughs: Unveiling Beauty, Versatility, and Reliability
Join Natalie Carmolli and Skye Hamilton for a unique two-part session exploring the latest advancements in breeding hydrangeas and their practical yet stunning applications in gardens. Natalie will unveil the newest and top-performing hydrangeas in the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® collection, while guest expert Skye, “The Hydrangea Queen,” will share her favorite looks for gardens that feature North America’s favorite flowering shrub.

Joan Harrison, Author and Speaker
Mophead Hydrangeas: Three Marvelous Seasons of Color
Marvelous mopheads provide glorious color in the home garden during spring, summer, and fall. Joan Harrison, author of Marvelous Mopheads: Hydrangeas for Home & Garden, will provide details about recent mophead introductions along with pruning guidelines, tips for success with both fresh and dried hydrangeas, and helpful suggestions on how to select the best mopheads for your own garden.

Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, Mt. Cuba Center
Hydrangea for Every Garden
Get a sneak preview into Mt Cuba Center’s current evaluation on Hydrangea quercifolia and take a deep dive into the recently completed Hydrangea arborescens Trial results! After a five-year trial from 2017 to 2021, learn which Hydrangea arborescens received top marks from a garden perspective and which species and cultivars tallied the most pollinator visits. Included will be tips for successful cultivation and care of wild hydrangea in your home landscape.

Natalie Carmolli, Marketing & Public Relations Specialist, Spring Meadow Nursery/Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

Natalie Carmolli is rooted in horticulture. Raised on a mid-Michigan farm with a full-sized glass greenhouse, her exposure to her mother’s seasonal flower business provided an early entry to the industry. Throughout college, where she pursued a performing and fine arts degree, Natalie continued to work in the floral industry. Now, as a public relations specialist for Spring Meadow Nursery, she combines her artistic background with her lifelong horticultural experience, bringing a touch of theatrical flair to her role as she promotes the art of gardening using Proven Winners® ColorChoice® flowering shrubs.

Skye Hamilton, Digital Creator and Instagram’s “Hydrangea Queen,” Hamilton House Designs

Known as “The Hydrangea Queen” of Instagram, Skye Hamilton brings education and entertainment together for the kind of Home and Garden content that’s as engaging as it is informative. Hamilton House Designs provides a warm and authentic space for the Home and Garden Lifestyle community seeking relatable advice and inspiration, and hers is known as the go-to account for all things hydrangea. You can follow Hamilton House Designs on all of Skye’s social channels for educational content, personal stories, as well as fun, and humorous reels. With a background in interior design, her followers are also treated to information on tablescapes, home, and holiday décor.

Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, Mt. Cuba Center

Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center where he evaluates native plant species, old and new cultivars, and hybrids in the Trial Garden. Mt. Cuba Center is a renowned native plant garden and research facility in Hockessin, Delaware that is dedicated to the conservation of native plants. Sam earned his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from the University of Vermont.