LIVE OAKS GARDEN CLUB June and July2015 THE SUMMER LOG

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1 LIVE OAKS GARDEN CLUB June and July2015 THE SUMMER LOG A Message from the President: A special meeting was called on June 8th to discuss the Glynn Visual Arts project. Ten members met at Glynn Visual Arts on Island Drive. We again looked at the landscape plan and discussed what part of the landscape plan we could provide. A motion was made and carried that we would buy from Sea Island five Live Oak trees and six Eastern Redbud trees at a cost not to exceed $ Sea Island will be doing the irrigation and planting the trees. The trees will be guaranteed for one year. Lynda Sterrett Redbud Tree

2 A Note from the Editor This issue of the Summer Log is dedicated to all things Hydrangeas. Betty Lou Applegate provided several great articles on Hydrangeas that should be of interest to all. Some of you sent me pictures of your hydrangeas. Thank you! The next issue of the Summer Log will be coming out the end of July. Please send me pictures and stories of any garden you visited on your summer travels. Remember the Summer Log is only possible if you send me your articles and pictures. Sandra Changing the color of your Hydrangea: Newly planted hydrangeas can be a bit unstable as far as color goes, as they accustom themselves to their new site. Left alone, the plant may flower a slightly different shade next year. Hydrangeas are one of the few plants for which we have the ability to affect the color of flowers. The change occurs because of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The ph level (acid/alkaline level) determines how much aluminum is available to the plant. That said, white-flowered hydrangeas cannot be changed. And as plant breeders continue to hybridize hydrangeas, the colors may be less dependent upon ph and more set in their genetics. To shift a plant from pink flowers to blue flowers, apply 3 ounces of aluminum sulfate mixed in 1 gallon of water. Apply this solution two times in the summer and again the following spring. Mulching the plant will help too. Changing flowers to pink is a little harder. Apply ¼ cup of hydrated lime in the spring and again three months later. It s hard to keep the plant flowering pink because the lime leaches out of the soil rapidly. Changes take 18 to 24 months to complete. Expect any flowers shifting from one range to the other to change gradually, with the flowers in the middle year being a mauve/purple.

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5 Steve Bender also known as The Grumpy Gardener has suggested another idea for propagating hydrangeas. Instead of using the trench method, Steve recommends removing several leaves from a low hanging branch and placing that section of the branch in a container of potting soil, covering it with more soil and weighing it down with a brick or stone. After two months the branch should be rooted. The new plant maybe separated from the mother plant using sharp pruners. I am trying this method and will let you know how it works. The trench method has worked for me in the past. My Penny Mac Hydrangea A pot is under the low hanging branch using the Grumpy Gardener method of propagation. The original Endless Blue Hydrangea propagated using the trench method.

6 Hydrangeas at Betty Lou Applegate s home. This beauty is in Patty Jordan s Garden.

7 This is a Twist & Shout Endless Hydrangea variety. The color should be pink but my soil is high in acidity. This Limelight in Rose Applegate s garden will consistently be the same color regardless of the soil ph.

8 This Mop Head H. macrophylla is in Rose Applegate s garden. This deep blue Hydrangea graces June Sortwell s garden.

9 Plumbago in June Sortwell s garden. Melinda Smith s plants from Earthworks field trip enjoying a shady spot. Rose Applegate s Magnificia

10 An Afternoon in Betty Lou Schoneker s Garden

11 Betty Lou s Garden is a feast for the eyes. Betty Lou has something special planted at every turn. I felt privileged to enjoy her hard work and to photograph the garden to share with you. Please invite me to photograph your garden.