“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”
Psalms 119:114
Hello sweet friends! I am so glad you are here because I have a treat for you today. As I promised on Monday’s and Tuesday’s blog posts, I am taking you on a mini tour of a hydrangea farm. So many of you said you had never heard of a hydrangea farm, so now you have. I first visited the farm several years ago when I was in charge of decorating for a charity event. When I met the owner, I was made to feel like we had been friends forever, Martha is so warm and hospitable. Since I was in need of hydrangeas last week for two blog posts, I traveled the twenty-five miles to the farm. Grab your tennis shoes and let’s take a walk around the hydrangea farm…well we didn’t exactly walk, Martha and I rode in her golf cart.
The farm has been in the Aldridge family since 1901 and sometime in the 1930’s nursery stock was added. Snowflake hydrangeas were planted in 1971 and other varieties were added between 1990 and 2005.
I immediately fell for these big showy Annabelle blooms…
…their flower heads are round and can reach between 8-12 inches across! I loaded up on these gorgeous blooms for my floral arrangements.
I had never seen a pink oak leaf hydrangea before, have you? It is called Gatsby pink. They boast showy blooms that quickly transform from white to this beautiful pink color. I am definitely adding this to my garden!
Macrophylla hydrangeas, also known as the French hydrangeas and often called mop heads, are the most popular of all hydrangeas. They can be blue, pink, red, light purple or dark purple depending upon the soil pH.
Love the varying shades of purple!
Alkaline soil produces the beautiful pink!
This sweep of blooms took my breath away…
…planted near this picturesque small lake!
Rows and rows of blue Macrophylla…
…its blue color comes from acidic soil.
Martha introduced me to this gorgeous hydrangea – Invincibelle Spirit…
…the blooms are stunning. I think this will be a must in my garden!
A seedling from Invincibelle Spirit!
The magnificent Snowflake Hydrangea is what the farm is known for.
It is named for the intricate flowers that look like magnified snowflakes!
Martha said they had measured blooms up to 22 inches in length…wow!
As the blooms begin to dry, they will be cut and preserved and eventually make their way to Japan. From Alabama to Japan is a long way for a bloom to travel!
There were so many rows of these almost 50 year old beauties!
I spent about three hours with Martha on the farm as she shared her vast knowledge of hydrangeas. I absorbed all that I could, but as I was writing the post I had to consult with her. Is that a sign of getting old? I certainly hope not!
It is easy to see why the farm is known for Snowflake Hydrangeas.
I didn’t take any photos of the oak leaf hydrangeas in bloom. I somehow forgot to photograph the rows and rows of them at the farm. I can’t wait to go back when the limelights are in bloom.
This tour is no where near exhaustive of all the farm has to offer. I am thrilled that I live close enough to visit with my friend at her beautiful hydrangea farm. She is truly a lovely and gracious Southern lady!
Thank you for your visits and sweet comments. Wishing you a joy-filled weekend!
Gorgeous. I would love to be near this beautiful garden and to meet Martha! I would drive her crazy with questions.
Martha is so gracious and I asked lots of questions!
Martha is a treasure! One of the sweetest!
I totally agree!
It’s beautiful and the snowflake hydrangea deserves the praise it receives. What a trip that would make. Thanks for inviting us long for the show.
I am so glad you joined me Alice!
Wow, Pam what a beautiful farm with all those varieties of hydrangeas. Makes me want more!
Yes, it makes me want to plant more and I am.
Could you let us know where this is? It would be a wonderful visit. I live in Alabama.
Thank you Sharon, sent you an email!
Wow I remember you posted about this before but I forgot how magnificent it is! What a joy to visit! I’m in awe of how many hydrangeas they grow!!
Yes, Liz it is amazing all of the varieties!
Where is this farm located? Also does she sell them to make centerpieces?
The farm is in NE Alabama.
I think I would have to visit that farm very often as there is such beauty and a sense of peace there. I only had three varieties at my former house….Oh how I miss them and want to plant some at the new house asap! I wonder what the recipients from Japan do with the dried hydrangeas?…I guess the same thing we do!
Thank you for taking us along on this beautiful tour of the hydrangea farm!!!
Shirley, you would love the farm and Martha!
You truly captured the beauty of the many colors of Hydrangeas! Beautiful photos!
Thank you Pamela!
Wow, stunning photos and gorgeous flowers!!
Thank you Carole!
Thanks for the tour. Gorgeous is the only word I can come up with! A little bit jealous. lol
Thank you Bobbie, it truly is!
Such beauty to behold. What a joy to go on this trip with you. Would love to visit this farm.
I am so glad you enjoyed Dianne!
Wow Pam, what a wonderful visit to the hydrangea farm. Beautiful, outstanding blooms everywhere with a lakeside too! The pink oak leaf is just gorgeous as is the snowflake hydrangea. Thank you for taking us along! We didn’t even have to endure the extreme humidity & heat -win win! 😉 Have a great day! Clara 💕
I am so glad you enjoyed the tour and thank you for coming along, Clara!
Okay, where is it????
Are visitors welcome? Do you need to make an appointment?
I’ve never thought about such s farm existing. How awesome it must be to work there.
Thanks for inquiring Mildred, sent you an email!
Dear Pam, how wonderful to visit such a glorious place. I would have thoroughly enjoyed tagging along. I, too, love the Annabelle’s. They are not only beautiful, but have a long vase life. Which of course, makes anyone who loves fresh blooms adore them. Thanks, for sharing your lovely visit with us, I am sure you came away with many ideas of plants swirling around in your head.
Sandra, I would have loved for you to have been with me!
Amazing photos! That is what heaven will look like!
Thank you Patricia!
Dear friend, I have never seen so many varieties in hydrangeas. Is incredible!!!
I have been impressed by the varieties not only of color, but also of the shape of the flower: the shape is round, but some varieties are elongated that I had never seen, but the so-called “Gatsby Rosa” would never have recognized as a hydrangea … she is beautiful.
You have given us a good lesson about these beautiful flowers, which are as beautiful as hydrangeas.
Thanks friend
Dolores
Estimados Dolores, estoy tan emocionado de que hayas disfrutado la granja de hortensias, ¡es realmente increíble! Estoy emocionado de obtener algunas nuevas variedades para mi jardín. ¡Fue una hermosa y educativa mañana con una encantadora dama! ¡Te deseo un maravilloso fin de semana mi amigo!
Oh my goodness! All the varieties are spectacular! You must have been in your glory!
Such stunning flowers and how lucky you got to experience this!
So now I bet you can’t decide which hydrangea to plant in your garden. Thank you for letting us come along with you!
Thank you my friend, I am so glad you could join me!
Thank you for sharing your trip to the hydrangea farm. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing the limelights.
Sharon, thanks for joining me!
Stunning! What a treat to tour this magnificent farm with you!! I had absolutely no idea so many different types exist. If Martha gave you growing tips, I would LOVE a post on that topic.
Martha has vast knowledge, but we talked non-stop and never got to growing tips. But I will be talking with her.
The Snowflake is the highlight of our garden but you have me convinced we need a few
Annabelles….Stunning… Our new Invincibelle Spirit bloomed this year to wide acclaim…many
neighbors asked about it…Thanks to you, Pam dear, the hydrangea bug has been caught…
Thank you to Martha for this lovely tour…Brava!
Mary, how wonderful that you have Snowflake and Invincibelle Spirit, I would love to see photos, I know they are beautiful!
Wow! I LOVE hydrangea’s and would love to visit a hydrangea farm. We have a tulip farm and a sunflower farm near us but that’s about it as far as flowers go. My favorite are the blue ones but those snowflakes ones are new to me and so pretty too.
I am so glad you enjoyed! The snowflakes are just beautiful!
What a gorgeous post and to be there—-OMGosh…I haven’t been lucky growing them…these are magnificent!
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed!
How fabulous!!!I am grateful for this virtual tour! Such beauty!!!You brighten up my day,thanks dear Pam!
Aw you are so kind Maristella. I am glad you enjoyed!
I enjoyed that ride with you Pam, my favorites are all the blue & purplish ones! So breathtakingly beautiful!
Bless you,
Jennifer
I am so glad you enjoyed Jennifer❤️
We love Mrs. Martha and her beautiful farm. She’s a precious lady and her flowers are unbelievable to see. She surely knows hydrangeas. Gorgeous. Donna
Donna, I wholeheartedly agree!
Swoon Pam! Hydrangea Heaven! I wish I were closer to visit in person. Thank you for the tour ♥
My pleasure and you would love it Mary❤️
Martha, and her sweet husband is the sweetest. I have been in love with all the hydrangeas with both visits to the farm. It really is a gem to see.
I so agree Janie! Wonderful people and place!
Stunning garden tour. You are so lucky to have visited and to have met Martha.
Happy Summer,
Kippi
Thank you so much Kipling. Have a great weekend!
I can’t imagine what if must be like to see masses and masses of beautiful hydrangea blooms, swoon ! Does she sell wholesale to stores like Wholefoods? I am assuming she is part of the Aldridge family that has the beautiful Aldridge Gardens in Hoover? That is one of my favorite places to visit and go for a walk, so beautiful in every season. You must have felt like you were in hydrangea heaven!
Jenna
dear Pam … your golden lens has captured the magic of God’s creation yet again!
His creation is splendid!❤️
Oh wow I know where I want to be planted! right in the middle of those gorgeous blooms!
Christine, as a gardener you would love it!
Love all the flowers, breathtaking and beautiful.
Calypso in the Country has been to a tulip farm, and now you’ve been to a hydrangea farm– I’m feeling the need to find a flower farm to go to!! Thank you for sharing at Best of the Weekend– I’ll be featuring you tomorrow.
I only have a Mountain Hydrangea– which I bought not realizing that the head would not fully bloom like other hydrangeas. I made a dried Fireworks Bouquet from hydrangeas that I posted about recently— so much fun!
Liberty from B4andAfters.com
Thank you so much Liberty. Hydrangeas are the perfect summer flower!
What a great time you had Pam. I adore the Annabelles and of course all the others are simply gorgeous. I am trying to grow a couple hydrangeas in pots down here in SW Florida…we shall see. One has actaully come back this year stronger than ever, I am so excited. As usual your photos are magazine perfect. Love them.
Thank you Kari. Bet of luck on your hydrangeas!
Can you please send me the information about this hydrangea farm? Do they sell hydrangeas?
Carolyn, what state do you live in?
Wow, what a gorgeous hydrangea farm! I love all hydrangeas and had 66 of them in my former garden along with 6 snowflake hydrangeas. I would love to visit this garden if you’d please share the information.
Hi Raylene, do you live in Alabama?
No, but I drive thru on my way to Knoxville.
Raylene, she is actually a wholesaler. If you would email me a few days before you would be coming through, I would be glad to call her and see if you could come by. June through mid August is the time to go. All of her limelights will be harvested in September and will be sent to Japan.
Hi there!! Would love to know more about visiting this farm! Could you share the name of the farm? Thank you!
The farm is in NE AL. If you are interested in getting in touch with them, let me know and I will email you the information.
That was exhilarating!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed!
OMG! This is amazing and just a slice of this is what I would love to create around my home. I am an avid hydrangea lover and am wondering if she offers tours of this? I am in Illinois! This took my breath away!!
Hi Elizabeth. The farm is in NE AL. She used to give tours, but I am not sure if she can now. If you are serious, I can check. Of course now isn’t the time to take in the beauty of hydrangeas. Just let me know if you are interested for next year and I will check for you. I am so glad you enjoyed the post. Happy Fall to you!!
Be still my heart, Heaven on earth! What a feast for the soul and eyes! How exciting to spend hours in this magical garden on a lake…
You would definitely love the hydrangea farm, Jain!