John Hall

Hydrangeas are one of my all-time favorite flowers. In East Hampton, they bloom for most of the summer, and they pretty much take care of themselves. (There are many different kinds of hydrangeas, so check which ones are best for your growing zone.) There are shrub varieties such as Annabelle that withstand some heat and sun, Endless Summer that are gorgeous all summer, some like Tardiva that can be grown as standards, and climbing hydrangeas that will drape themselves over arches and sheds. Many varieties are affected by the acidity of the soil, so you can add lime if you want the flowers to be more pink or purple than blue. Then, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show all summer long!