Evening star., 1937-07-07
THIS AND THAT
The favorite old blue-somebody says
pink-hydrangea is now In bloom every
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL,

The favorite old blue-somebody says
pink-hydrangea is now in bloom every
where.
The truth is, as most persons know,
1t blooms either blue or pink. according
to whether the soil is predominantly
acid or alkaline
Sometimes, when the earth in which
specimen is growing is neither one
way or another, both pink and blue blos-
SONS will appear on the same stem.
A popular way of getting them blue is
to put nails in the soil around the plant.
A sweet soil gives pinkish flowers.
These may be secured by the liberal use
of hydrated lime, bonemeal or other
alkaline medium.
X X X X
Two good points about this favorite
are that the blooms last long time on
the bush and present good appearance
even when Withered.
Those tidy gardeners who insist on
picking off the faded flowers lose one
Of the real beauties of this plant.
Often the faded blooms wither to a
magnificent old rose. which remains
pretty for weeks on end.
Try leaving them to wither and drop
off Of their own accord. This way a
garden novelty is secured, at the same
time no harm is done, for this is sterile
plant, anyway.
The name "hydrangea" comes from
Greek forms meaning water" and "ves-
SELL probably referring to the undoubted
liking Of the plant for plenty of water
1t looks well and grows we'll with
rhododendrons. If the soil is acid for
the latter, it will give blue flowers on
the hydrangea, of course. 1t would not
be advisable to use alkalinizing material
on specimens planted with the rhodes.
These flowers bloom together.
This hydrangea has been SO popular
that the esteem of some OF the more
finicky gardeners has been lost to it,
since certain types of minds never find
satisfaction in what is popular" no
matter how worthy the plant may be-
This hydrangea remains very popular
subject, however, which is just as well,
because 1t IS very easy to grow, is a
sure bloomer, under most conditions, and
is really very pretty.
What more could one ask? Just be-
cause every one has specimens is surely
nothing against it, in fact, merely at
tests to its good qualities.
X X X X
1t is fortunate thing for the average
great American gardener that he does
not take too seriously the specialist S
likes and dislikes in garden materials.
If he did, many of the best things he
may grow would have to be left out, for
it is possible to find at least one "spe-
cialist" who has few harsh words to
say against almost everything he grows,
or would like to grow.
The man who likes a neatly trimmed
privet hedge, for instance, can find few
sneering words against this favorite
from the pen OF one of Americas best
and most liked writing gardeners.
This spleen, however, has not kept
any one who wants a sharply trimmed
hedge from having it, as far as any one
can see.
The privet hedge is just as popular in
the suburbs today as ever, although it
must be admitted that the cold Winters
several years ago gave it natural
criticism which has had repercussions.
II
There is no real need for buying and
owning and caring for any except the
plants the individual gardener prefers,
but there are an amazing number OF