Every once in a while I will glance down from my upstairs bedroom window in order to catch the flashes of crimson fish in my neighbor’s backyard koi pond. Seeing them lends a tiny slice of serenity. I’m always glad that most of them tend to survive the predators and winter cold, rising back up from the bottom to return each Spring. You can only see them from above until the trees come into full leaf during summer, at which point the view is obscured.

Although the view of the pond is currently hidden by a canopy of leaves, something blue along our shared back fence caught my eye. Could that be a Hydrangea? I had no idea there was a Hydrangea back there at all. I’m guessing it had never gotten large enough or made enough of a show to be seen from my perspective.

Walking down to the back of the driveway, I peered through the fence to check the patch of color on the other side and discovered the bush is actually huge. Who knew?

And then I started to notice the Hydrangeas seemed to be going wild all over the neighborhood. It appears to be a banner year for them. Has anyone noticed how prolific and gorgeous the blooms are right now? Especially the blue ones, but the others have been stunning as well.

Of course I had to look up why…… apparently this is happening throughout the northeast and has something to do with the amount of rainfall combined with a milder-than-usual winter, in addition to some strong sunny days. Aside from the variety, the acidity of the soil factors into the shades and intensity of pinks or blues.

The blues are so stunning I just get lost in them like a magical, textured sky.

All of the colors…..

Many years ago I planted a Hydrangea in front of another house a few blocks away. It usually makes a handful of blooms each summer. But driving past it the other day I did a double-take, as it has become a massive explosion of azure and sapphire. Rudi and I took a walk over there to admire them.

All of the varieties are lovely, but the blues have always been my favorite. There is something about blue in nature that sets an interesting mood.

High up in the crow tree, my crow friend calls out from a Hydrangea-colored sky.

It is blueberry season right now. Can you almost taste the blue?

June to July, slipping into the season of Summer, a season of Something Blue.

~*~