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Sometimes a glimpse or a scent will carry us back to another place, another time. My friend recently gave me rootings from a plant that grew in the mountains of eastern Kentucky where she had been visiting. They were young plants with an abundance of large leaves, but no blooms. It did not take me long to remember my mother's oakleaf hydrangea.
Yesterday's conversations might be gone from my mind, but when I see things that I recognize from my childhood, memories run dancing through my every thought. So it was with my mother's prized oakleaf hydrangea. She had received it as a gift for something wonderful she had done in her Homemakers Club. My mother was always doing something wonderful. The problem was that she expected me to do wonderful things as well.
The hydrangea had been in place in the corner of the shaded yard for only a few years and it had bloomed profusely. I remember that it had a heavenly scent and the cone shaped clusters of blooms were all intact, though they had turned from white to pink and on to a tannish color. She was saving them for drying.
At about the same time, Aunt Bett told me she sure wished she had some "hydrangie" bark to make a decoction to cure her innards. It must have been late summer and I paid close attention because she rarely complained about anything. We were sitting in her back yard in the weathered ladderback chairs, and we were fanning ourselves with cardboard fans that had a picture of Jesus on the front and the words "S.E. Frazier and Sons Funeral Home" written on the back. It is funny that I remember the words on that fan, because truthfully, today I can hardly remember the name of the closest funeral home here in my own town. I remember asking Aunt Bett what innards were, and she told me that it was just a word for the inside parts of a body. The only other time that I had heard it used was when Granny Ninna was throwing away the innards from a chicken she was getting ready to cut up for dinner. I wondered if Aunt Bett would have to have some of her innards thrown away, and that really worried me because I didn't want to think that Aunt Bett would have to go around without her innards.
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a deciduous shrub, with big toothed leaves and long drooping limbs. It forms an upright rounded clump. Its coarse bark, which tends to split, lends texture to a garden. It has showy cone shaped clusters of flowers which start out creamy white in June, then age to pink as the summer goes on. In the early fall the blooms turn to a tannish rust color, and they can be dried for floral arrangements. There were a few years when I added the dried blooms to our Christmas tree, but that is another story. The leaves become red, bronze or purple in late fall, again adding more color to your garden. It is indeed a lovely shrub. When pruning the oakleaf hydrangea, it must be remembered that next year's growth is from the old wood of this year. It should be pruned by mid-July, but only necessary pruning. Removing broken branches is really all it needs. {1}
Someone had given me a tiny pink pocket knife on a chain. I think it was my uncle who gave it to me, since he shared my love of plants and digging in the dirt. It wasn't very big, but big enough to contribute to the trouble that I found myself in. My great Aunt Bett said she needed bark from a hydrangea to make a decoction to cure whatever was troubling her innards. I was determined that her innards were not going the way of the chicken's innards. I went home, shaved the bark from the biggest stalk of the hydrangea bush, and took it back to Aunt Bett.
Today's herbalists tell us that the root of the hydrangea is one of the best herbal remedies for treatment of kidney problems, especially kidney stones, by reducing the size of the stones and allowing them to pass painlessly. It is said to be of benefit for overall kidney and bladder function. But the bark can be peeled and used as a compress or ointment for treatment of bruises, burns and sore muscles. {2} Aunt Bett needed the bark, and so I peeled away the bark.
Aunt Bett said, "Where on earth did you git this here bark, chile?" "Mama's got a hydrangie bush in the front yard, Aunt Bett. I peeled it for your innards," I said.
We fast walked back up the holler to my house, and Aunt Bett went inside to talk to my mother. I was told to stay outside. I opened the door of my dad's workshop which was attached to the back porch. I knew there was some black electrical tape there. I got the tape, and taped that bark right back onto the hydrangea bush. When my mother and Aunt Bett came outside, I didn't say a word. I just held the leaves of that hydrangea back and they could see that it was all repaired.
My mother spent the evening moaning over her prized hydrangea that the Homemakers Club had given her. I spent the evening in my room without my tiny pink pocket knife. I thought at the time that Aunt Bett should have been there with me. After all, I was only trying to save her innards.
I remember that room very well. I spent a lot of time there thinking over the problems that I had created just trying to do something wonderful. The hydrangea bush is still growing very well right there in the front yard. I don't think the electrical tape weathered the years, but the hydrangea sure did.
Photos are from Plant Files. Thanks to victorgardener for the thumbnail and for the fall color in the last photo, and to mgarr for the pink bloom.
A special thanks to my friend Kay Bennett for the gift of my oakleaf hydrangea, and for reminding me of this story.
About Sharon Brown
I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I am an artist often doing commissioned work, and in addition to writing articles for Dave's Garden, I also write boating stories for a nautical magazine. My greatest love is gardening, and learning the history of my state and its numerous wildflowers.
Posted by PaulFromAL (from Piedmont, AL) on September 15, 2008 at 8:08 AM:
No problem about you being expected to do "wonderful things too".......You write and share these stories with all of us, hey that's pretty wonderful if you ask me.........Thanks
Paul from Alabama
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on October 30, 2008 at 4:09 AM:
Paul,
How could I have missed this comment!
Sorry, but I think it came during the horrible storm that Ike brought us, and I just now found it.
Hope you and yours are well.
Nice to hear from you!
Thanks,
Sharon
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Subject: Oakleaf
Posted by BillandJan (from New Milford, PA) on August 19, 2008 at 12:32 PM:
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM:
Hi,
If mine take off like I hope they will, I will share with you next fall. If you want them sooner, you might check some of the on line nurseries. I have not bought from these, but you might check them out.
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on August 17, 2008 at 12:08 AM:
Another winner!
This one reminds me of Anne of Green Gables or Christy.
How do you create a winner? Mix great stories, great writing and humor. Cook over a lifetime; spread and share. You already have the recipe and the style.
Great job; where are your books?
April
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 17, 2008 at 12:28 AM:
On the way, soon, maybe.
Thank you. You always say the right thing, just at the right time.
How do you do that?
Sharon
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on August 17, 2008 at 11:34 PM:
Sharran Sharon,
Thanks, that is sweet. Ummm...my husband might not agree. LOL.
Thanks for sending me a smile.
April
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Posted by Angel_D (from Quincy, IL) on August 20, 2008 at 1:58 PM:
I love all your articles, Sharon. You are a good writer!
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 20, 2008 at 2:16 PM:
Thank you, Angel. I am glad you enjoy them.
Sharon
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Subject: Very cute story!
Posted by jeffinsgf (from Brighton, MO) on August 16, 2008 at 9:48 PM:
I just found the Oak Leaf Hydrangea this year. My wife and I visited Monticello in June. I was mildly intrigued by the architecture and inventions, but I was enthralled with the gardens, both ornamental and vegetable. They had a very nice selection of shrubs and plants in a shop near the obligatory gift shop. I left with a sack full of seeds and three potted plants, an Oak Leaf Hydrangea and two Marseilles Figs. Only problem was, we were 2 days into a 15 day business road trip. I had to baby those plants and hustle them in and out of hotel rooms for almost 2 weeks. I am sure the maids couldn't quite get their minds around the shrubbery the crazy guests had brought in!
I am a little north of where I hear of most folks with Oak Leaf Hydrangeas, but I gave this one a sheltered home, with cedars to the north, east and south and just far enough away from the west cover to get some mid-day sun, but a break in the late afternoon.
Sharon, "extreme western Kentucky"... as in Paducah? we're straight across 60 highway in Springfield, MO.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 10:15 PM:
Hi Jeff,
Yes, just east of Paducah in Marshall County, a couple of miles from KY and Barkley lakes.
Funny picture of you and your precious plants going in and out of motel rooms. I have similar stories about my travels. Try talking them through an airport...doesn't happen.
Sounds if if you have your hydrangea in a good place, and you should have no more problems than I do with their growth. We have been too dry though, so these new ones I just recently planted are showing signs of pain and agony. I am babying them...much like yours in the motel room.
Now, next time y'all are in Paducah, let me know, we can meet up for lunch! It is only about 15 minutes away from me.
Thanks for writing. I love to hear from neighbors.
Sharon
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Subject: utterly charming
Posted by gloriag (from Floyd, VA) on August 16, 2008 at 4:28 PM:
It takes so long for children to learn what they need to. This is a wonderful example of the confusing worlds of adults as a child perceives it. Very nice work indeed.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 4:36 PM:
Thank you, I always treasure your thoughts and comments, Gloria. You have the gift of insight.
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Subject: If only your mother could see mine!
Posted by Terry (from Murfreesboro, TN) on August 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM:
We have a mutant oakleaf hydrangea: this monster persistently grows 10-12 feet tall and just as wide. Unfortunately, it was planted smack-dab next to the central heat/air unit, so it's a constant battle between (wo)man and nature to keep the shrub in bounds.
I let it grow wild and woolly last year (I tell myself it was the stress of the season, and I didn't want to add to the plant's misery.) When our A/C unit needed some work in May of this year; the A/C guys took one look at the shrub and advised me I could either pay them to trim it, or pay for a second trip charge after I had it trimmed. Neither of those options sounded good, so I told them to hang tight for a few minutes. Then I and my loppers set in to giving it an emergency hair cut. When all was said and done, I hauled off nearly as much as I left growing. Can you say "hack job"? For certain, no one is going to hire me as an arborist or let me near their head with a pair of scissors!
But...the plant is a vigorous grower, so it's now busily filling in all the gaps I created a few months ago. Hopefully your mother's plant was of similar "sturdy" stock and responded with lots of new growth ;o)
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 12:11 PM:
Oh, how funny! Mom's plant must have been just as sturdy, because when I was back there a few years ago, that crazy bush was nearly as tall as the house and in full bloom. When Kay gave me these little starters a few weeks ago, I decided I would put them in the least likely place of destruction. The only thing they can overtake is my bedroom window, maybe.
I think yours will very likely fill in before you know it. I'll be sure to not call you when mine needs trimming.
Fun to hear from you, thanks for the chuckle.
S
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Subject: oakleaf hydrengea blooms
Posted by iamkaym (from Port Orange, FL) on August 16, 2008 at 9:48 AM:
Mine bloomed just after transplanting back in February (I'm in FLorida). Bloom disappeared in May - maybe next year will be able to dry some. Thanks for your article.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 12:12 PM:
And thanks to you for writing. I hope next year brings lots of blooms for you!
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Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Mid-Cape, MA) on August 16, 2008 at 4:30 PM:
Fun and evocative article, Sherran. I have two young (2-year-old) Alice oakleafs in a shady area of my yard. I've never grown them before. The macrophylla hydrangeas next to them are blooming, but not the Alices. Do oakleafs need more sun to bloom than the mopheads?
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 4:39 PM:
I think they do, mine only get full sun for a few hours, as did my mother's. My neighbor's only get morning sun then dappled sun the rest of the day, her's grow well too.
Good luck with yours, I do think they might need to be moved so that they can get a little more sun.
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Posted by mistybux (from Aiken, SC) on August 16, 2008 at 5:31 PM:
I have an oakleaf hydrangea that I have been nursing for two years, and am still wondering if it will make it. I planted it in a pine grove and it gets maybe 3 hours of morning sun. Something is eating the leaves, but have not seen what it is. Spraying with insecticide seems to help. I also keep it watered since we have been in a drought situation. My other hydrangeas in the same general area are doing well. Any thoughts?
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 5:53 PM:
Not sure, but the pine grove might have something to do with it....Could you move it out of the area, where it gets about the same amount of sun, or dappled sun, but away from the pine grove. There might be something in that particular soil that affects them. They are a bit more sensitive than other hydrangeas. Mom's was in a corner of the yard, sheltered slighty by a maple, and about 10 feet from the house. It was a great spot for it.
My new ones are doing well so far, getting the morning sun, then again the late afternoon sun. They are sheltered by the house about 8 feet away, which blocks them from the hot sun. There is nothing nearby except an oak tree and it is even further away than the house.
If you had said a walnut grove, I would have said move it NOW, but pines, I'll have to search for that. If I find something that might help, I'll let you know.
Thanks for your interest.
Sharon
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 5:57 PM:
Misty, I read just enough to find this:
Your hydrangea might be fighting the pines for water source, and for sunlight. They do need morning sun and afternoon shade. I would move them out from the pine grove.
Let me know how they do.
Sharon
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Posted by mistybux (from Aiken, SC) on August 17, 2008 at 1:47 PM:
When would be a good time for transplanting hydrangeas in SC? It stays hot pretty much until October so I was thinking maybe just as new growth begins in the early spring. Does that sound right?
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 17, 2008 at 2:03 PM:
I usually do my transplanting in October, but it is cooler here than there.
Very early spring would probably work for you. I would be afraid to say when, because early April is my usual date for spring transplants, but yours might be mid to late March.
Truthfully, I feel more comfortable transplanting in late fall, then the new growth wouldn't be disturbed in spring, but you know your climate better than I do.
I think they will be happy away from the pines, so in either time period, you will probably end up with a satisfied plant, and that is what you are trying for.
Sharon
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Subject: Too funny!
Posted by postmandug (from Bardstown, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 8:06 AM:
Reminds me of the time my cousin Bugg glued hair under her armpits so Aunt Toots would think she was all grow'd up!!!
Doug
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 12:06 PM:
Now there's a story in itself!
Nice to hear from you, Doug.
Sharon
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Subject: Injustices of childhood
Posted by 4paws (from Hoopa, CA) on August 16, 2008 at 4:54 AM:
Did Aunt Bett finally use the hydrangie to heal her innards?
I remember my childhood bedroom very well, too, with it's purple walls, three big windows, and 4 poster bed. I had a lot of thinking time up there...just like you.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on August 16, 2008 at 12:05 PM:
Hi Paws,
Aunt Bett never mentioned hydrangie or her innards anymore!!! But honestly, it didn't hurt that hydrangea at all.
Thanks for reading the article!
Sharon
