From the minute we closed on our Dutch colonial,
I have been trying (but failing) to design our lot line landscaping.
Then this happened.
Just last weekend, I found (my favorites!) Oak Leaf hydrangeas
at Menards, a Midwestern home improvement store:
$11 each for one gallon size plants!
Can you believe it?
Yesterday we drove to a Menards about an hour away,
to find enough plants (7 total) to make our informal hedge.
Like this, hopefully:
Back to NOW — here we have our new plants,
marching along our lot line, at left (below).
Imagine, if you will, what our hedge will look like, in a few years:
Good things come to those who wait!
Oak Leaf hydrangeas grow to 6′-8′ tall by 6′ x 8′ wide.
This means our backyard will be less of a fish bowl.
Our hedge will begin + end between 2 large existing trees —
a huge walnut (L) + a gorgeous maple (R):
Oak Leaf hydrangeas have cone-shaped white flowers
which turn a pretty, faded pink as the blooming season progresses.
Yes, those flowers are gorgeous,
but in my opinion, their leaves are the all stars.
Look at what happens in the Fall:
Is it any wonder that Fall is our favorite season?
Anyway, I am so relieved + happy,
after suffering through all those months of indecision.
It’s hard to believe I found one of my favorites,
+ at such an affordable price!
Fingers crossed we’ll find the time to plant them THIS week.
Stay tuned!
REDBIRD 
August 2nd, 2016 at 1:40 pm
That’s exciting for you! I love oak leaf hydrangeas and have some in my yard and woods. When you mentioned walnut tree at one end I had to do some research because many things won’t grow in the area of walnut trees. Obviously you had done your research because it looks like you are okay with the oak leaf hydrangeas. It will be beautiful.
August 2nd, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Oops. Barbara, you give me too much credit. I wasn’t hip to the issues involving walnut trees. I do know that it’s tricky to plant under any large tree. The hydrangeas need a lot of water when they are young + even more so under the tree. 😉
August 2nd, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Love any kind of Hydrangea!! However you might want to check on plants that walnut trees have an affect on…my daughter had some issues with a neighbor’s walnut tree that was close to the line…had to be careful what she planted
August 2nd, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Carol, thanks for the advice. I think Barbara did some research + found that the Oak Leafs (Leaves) are okay. !! Hope so! Neither we nor our neighbor, in whose yard the walnut tree is growing, are that fond of it. G.O. paid our sweet neighbor boy to pick up walnuts a couple times. 😉