THE gardener's LOG

This easy guide to growing hydrangeas reaps armfuls of flowers for years to come

- ASHLEY JAMES

There's a certain magic to hydrangeas, the sort that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

One moment the garden is all leaf and promise, the next it's transformed into a painter's palette of blushing pinks, soft blues and creamy white petals, as though someone has spilt a box of watercolours across its borders. Hydrangeas bloom with the self-assuredness of plants that know they're beloved - sufficiently timeless to have graced our grandparents' gardens - yet bold enough to hold their own in contemporary planting schemes.

I have always thought hydrangeas have a personality: generous, theatrical in summer, occasionally unpredictable and utterly dependable once you understand their moods.

They thrive on a moderate dose of care and conversation, and in return they'll fill your garden with billowing clouds of flowers that turn with the seasons. Place them where you can admire them from your favourite chair - hydrangeas love putting on a show for anyone who's willing to watch.