Hydrangeas is part of me. When I was a kid in Tropical Borneo, I lived with my Grandpa who left China in his 20s. He told us fairy tales the same way as western children read in books. He spoke of the hydrangea flower which is known as the embroidery ball flower. In this fairy tale love story, when a girl comes of age, she would stand in her balcony and throw her embroidered ball to the young men waiting down in the garden. The young man who catches the ball wins her hand. I joked with Grandpa, what if an ugly fat man catches up, Grandpa laughed, he said, "Why do you have to ruin an aged old story?"
Hydrangeas became reality when I came to live in Auckland. There are bushes everywhere. In two houses we stayed. I had the light blue hedges, and I had lots of stories.
A hint to gardeners, I was told if you put tins/can at the base of the plants, the iron rust will make the flowers become a deep colour. I remember reading John Michener's book Hawaii doing that for their pineapple plants.
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8 comments:
Wow, gorgeous shots of your beautiful Hydrangeas!
Love the story your Granpa told, thanks for sharing!
Happy New Year!
No, it's wintertime here now, so I buy my roses. I have to wait until May/June to see the roses in my garden again.
I usually see lots of hydrangeas at the nursery just before Chinese New Year and plenty of them at the annual Flower Show in Sentosa. Hope to catch another one in January.
Wow!
I wonder if you tried doing the tin can thing to see if it is true?
I love this flower! I wish we have some in our garden ;-)
LOL indeed, why do you have to ruin the story?! i've always love hydrangeas---but we can't grow it here in Manila, too hot.
There are several of these in our neighborhood, they really make a bold and beautiful statement! We have the tradition of the bride throwing her bouquet at her wedding reception, she has to stand with her back to the crowd. Whatever girl catches it will be the next to marry.
Hmmm...I realized last year this bush was purple and this year our flowers turned blue. I was told it's too acidic....maybe I will place a few tin cans like you suggested and see what colour it will turn out to be next summer! I will keep you all posted, readers! Cheers and have a fabulous New Year 2012, everyone!
Looking at your great captures of these hydrangeas brought me back to late summer and early fall. I've got photos just like these. Something about a hydrangea that begs to be photographed.
Love your grandfather's tale and your response.
Wishing you all the best in the new year.
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