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Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
As New Englanders, we are well-versed in the constant change of the seasons. Living in this part of the planet, we are treated to a wide range of weather, and we have the opportunity to see how one season can affect another. For example, we know that a dry summer can lead to a less vibrant fall and [...]
Japanese Skimmia
Why Doesn't Everybody Grow Japanese Skimmia? By: Iris Clearwater, Senior Gardener For the entire month of April, every time I turned the corner by the labyrinth, I was overwhelmed with a heady, exquisite perfume, resembling jasmine. It took me a while to locate the source to be a low cluster of beautiful Japanese Skimmia. I have already been a [...]
Fertilizing Hydrangeas: Keep It Simple
Fertilizing Hydrangeas - Apply the KISS Approach By: Mal Condon, Curator of Hydrangeas One of the most common concerns for the home gardener regarding hydrangeas is fertilizing – how much, when and how? There is a lot of information out there on fertilizers, but luckily, I have found that a simple approach is the best approach. Hydrangeas typically require [...]
Bottle Flowers: A How-To
Make Beautiful Bottle Flowers at Home! If you attended our Gardens Aglow event last year, you most likely saw our Bottle Flower garden. We've received a lot of questions about this upcycled project - and we're here to share with you how to bring this magic to your home. YOU WIL NEED: 8 - 20 oz clear plastic bottles - [...]
Moving a Large Hydrangea – Relocating an Ancient PeeGee Standard at Heritage
Moving a Large Hydrangea - Relocating an Ancient PeeGee Standard at Heritage A couple of years ago I ‘rediscovered’ two very old Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ tree-form plants on the slope of the Arbor Bowl at Heritage. Both specimens have accession tags indicating their presence at the time of the Lilly acquisition of the property in 1969. However, having devoted a [...]
Pollinator Tea Garden
Pollinator Tea Garden: Provide for native bees and use the leaves for amazing teas! Iris Clearwater, Senior Gardener There are many things that you can do to support both your own health and wellness, and that of our native butterflies and bees populations, which we need to keep our ecosystem healthy. Below, you’ll find some good general tips for [...]
North American Hydrangea Test Garden Opens
Ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, July 14 North American Hydrangea Test Garden Opens July 12, 2021 (Sandwich, MA) – Heritage Museums & Gardens, the largest public garden in Southern New England, will celebrate one of Cape Cod’s most iconic plants this summer during the Cape-wide Hydrangea Festival, July 9-18. The highlight of this year’s festival at Heritage is the ribbon [...]
A Stellar Year For Hydrangea Macrophylla
Hydrangea Season: 2021 Possibly the Best Year Yet The stars have aligned this year for our favorite summer plant, Hydrangea macrophylla. Thanks to many factors (mostly weather) this is shaping up to be one of the best years for flowering that I can remember. I’ve lived on the Cape for almost 10 years and there have been only three [...]
