Hydrangeas 101

THIS PROGRAM IS NOW SOLD OUT.

Heritage’s Curator of Hydrangeas, Mal Condon, has developed a new addition to our Garden Education Series for 2025, and it deserves to be this year’s first session! The information presented in this session is truly fundamental to learning about our much-loved Hydrangea genus as we will share the details of each of the six major species. We’ll look at specific characteristics – like blossom composition, of course – but with more attention to the significant definitive differences between the species – plant form, leaf shape, texture and color, stem features and bud details – so that you may more readily identify the hydrangeas in your garden. More importantly, armed with this knowledge, you’ll be better able to appreciate the often subtle but critical cultural issues we’ll be presenting in our subsequent sessions like Pruning, and Planting and Replanting.

While this program is principally directed to the newer hydrangea enthusiast, it may be a worthwhile repeat visit for the more senior gardener as well. Repetition can provide powerful reinforcement.

This session will be held in the Heald Center at the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery. If the weather cooperates, we’ll venture outside into the nearby gardens to examine the dormant hydrangea species up-close in their late winter dormancy mode. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion, and you’ll also receive a PDF handout of Mal’s presentation containing all the relevant text and graphics following the program for your reference.

Program fees fund Heritage’s mission to inspire people of all ages to explore, discover, and learn together. Thank you for your support. Program Registration Fee:  $30 Members, $40 Non-Members

Mal Condon, Curator of Hydrangeas:

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 continue to refine their significant garden 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.