Hydrangeas have always been a bit of a mystery to me. We never grew them at home as my mother associated them with the ‘big house’ and not for the likes of us ordinary farmers. So when establishing our garden I avoided them altogether. All that stuff about ‘mop heads’ and ‘lace caps’ and their colour being dependent on soil type was too much for me.

It wasn’t until about 15 years ago, when I wanted something to brighten up a north facing wall, that I gave them a try. One of the two climbing hydrangeas I planted didn’t last the winter and the second one has always struggled. I should put it out of its misery but I haven’t the heart.

I also planted two lace cap hydrangeas and while they have grown well they produce very few flowers and those that do appear are so wishy washy they may as well not be there at all. I keep threatening to cut them back, hard, and see what happens and I may do it yet.

A lovely revelation

My road to Damascus moment with hydrangeas occurred on a visit to Mount Stewart in Co Down where hydrangea paniculata ‘Tinky Winky’ was used to line a walkway and I just loved their height, masses of flowers and shades of peachy pink.

I subsequently planted them along the length of a lawn, where they turned out to be a real winner, flowering from May to November, while the foliage comes into its own in autumn.

I then planted a bed of ‘mop head’ hydrangea macrophylla and they are brilliant. I can see them from the kitchen window and the blast of pink heads just lights my day. I have also fallen in love with the white hydrangeas ‘Limelight and ‘Annabelle’

If you want something big and blousy to light up your garden and is long lasting into the bargain then these are the flowers to do the job.