Introducing 'Endless Summer® Blushing Bride,' the newest member of the Endless Summer® Hydrangea family.

Beautiful white blooms mature to a light pink blush - available in limited release for 2006

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blushing Bride' (PPAF)

Hydrangea lovers across the country have a new reason to celebrate this garden season, with the introduction of 'Endless Summer® Blushing Bride.' But don't wait for too long to get a look at this bride. 'Blushing Bride' will be available in limited quantities, only at independent garden centers like ours, in 2006.

The name of this new Hydrangea macrophylla says it all. Pure white blooms with semi-double florets gradually mature to a sweet, pink blush. The disease-resistant foliage is an attractive dark green, providing a striking background for its mophead blooms. Strong stems and branches keep the plant sturdy and upright in the garden, and make it a perfect flower for cutting.

The full white blossoms reflect light, making shade and semi-shaded gardens seem brighter. 'Blushing Bride's' full, yet compact, habit makes it an ideal plant for decorative containers, elegant as a stand-alone shrub or combined with other garden plants.

Dr. Michael Dirr at the University of Georgia bred 'Blushing Bride' in 2001. Dr. Dirr calls this Hydrangea macrophylla his most significant introduction to date. "Blushing Bride has the same reblooming qualities as its parent, 'Endless Summer® The Original', only faster," says Dirr. Like 'Endless Summer® The Original,' 'Blushing Bride' reliably blooms on both old and new growth. With 'Blushing Bride' you'll have more blooms, more quickly, all season long.

An arrangement of fresh flowers will brighten a room, bringing the beauty of nature indoors. Picking fresh flowers that you have grown yourself is one of the delights of gardening, but whether you are picking your own flowers or buying cut flowers, you will want to do all you can to get the most from your arrangement.

Picking Flowers

When picking flowers from your garden, do so early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Cool them quickly by placing them in a bucket of water left in a cool place for an hour or so. This is especially important in hot summer weather.

Buying Cut Flowers

If you are buying cut flowers, look for bright, fresh-looking flowers that are just starting to open. Avoid flowers that have been standing in the sun or have been exposed to car exhaust fumes. Flowers with yellowing leaves on the stem or those with slimy stems have been in water for quite some time and are unlikely to be very satisfactory. When you get your flowers home, put them straight into a bucket of water without unwrapping them and leave them in a cool place to revive.

Clean Vases

Make sure your vases are perfectly clean. The stains in vases are usually bacteria that will get to work blocking the water uptake to the flower stems. Stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning may be removed by filling the vase with water and adding a few drops of household bleach. Allow the vase to soak for a couple of hours; then rinse well.

Clean Water and Preservatives

Clean water is essential for cut flowers. You can change the water in the vase daily or use a floral preservative. Check the vase often to see if it needs filling. Some flowers with woody stems drink a lot of water, especially in the first two or three days after cutting.

Preparing the Flowers

Cut off a couple of inches of stem with sharp shears and be sure to remove any leaves that would be below the water level in the vase. Any left on the stem will rot quickly and pollute the water.

If flowers develop a bent neck, they probably have an air lock in the stem and are unable to absorb water properly. Re-cut the stems under water and place them in cool water for a couple of hours.

Most flowers absorb water best if cuts are made between nodes or joints. This is certainly true of carnations and hydrangeas. Never crush the stems, as the damaged tissue will not absorb water well, and the water will become polluted. Sharp, clean cuts are best.

When creating an arrangement from your garden, remember that foliage goes nicely with flowers - try some ferns or other greenery in your arrangement.