I've decided we go through stages in gardening. I know I have. My first love is small bulbs, & then I lurched in to Irises which grew prolifically on our farm in the Lindis Pass. Retiring to Wanaka, I went through a Rose phase, but after ten years, decided they were a lot of work. They also grew very woody so I paid a man to dig them out & gave them a one way ticket to the dump !

Now, I suspect because of old age (!) I'm in my hydrangea period. They grow so easily, don't need spraying or dead heading, no pampering whatsoever, which I like. Grow easily from cuttings too.

This is Hydrangea Crushed Raspberry which is a rather old fashioned colour. Everybody loves it !