The faded charm of pink hydrangeas.

I've been in the wars a little bit this week!
On Monday I was stung by a wasp on my lower left arm, as I'm mildly allergic to wasp stings it wasn't long before the swelling went from elbow to fingers.
As I'd had the same thing happen last year I had antihistamine tablets and cortisone cream in the cabinet so after a couple of days the swelling was starting to recede.
That was until this afternoon (Thursday) when I got stung again whilst in the garden getting some fresh air.
Same arm, just higher up!
Taking no chances I went to see our lovely Dr B-B who loaded me up with more tablets, cream, compresses, alcohol (to cool the arm, not to drink!) and bandages to hold the compresses in place!
I look like the walking wounded and have to stay this way for 10 days.
So, I need some fresh flowers to cheer me up, more than ever which is why I'm ..............................

Joining Liz @Rose Vignettes once more for Fresh Cut Friday.

Even though they are past their summer pink gorgeousness now

 my hydrangeas are still bringing me pleasure.

I'll let them dry out here in the dining room and

enjoy their faded charm for many more months to come.

Joining Beverly too for Pink Saturday @How Sweet The Sound.

Please click on the links to join both of these lovely ladies for gorgeous flowers and delightful pinks, me, I'm staying indoors with a good book until all the wasps have gone.

Alphabe-Thursday...H is for Hydrangeas

For Mrs Matlock's class this week I'll bet some of you thought "oh! Maggie'll write about Hilton Head, since she loves the place so much and would love to live there one day". DH thought that would be my subject today. Wrong!!
(However, you could click here to see why I really would like to be there right now!!)

Instead some scenes from last summer, featuring a favourite flower of mine: the Hydrangea or Hortensia as is is called here in France.As you probably already know there are two types, mop head and lace cap. It's the mop head variety which can be either white, pink or blue. It all depends whether the soil in your garden is acidic (blue) or alkaline (pink). We have three large pink Hydrangea bushes and one that starts off blue but can turn gradually "purplish" during the summer months, I think it depends on how much rain we have! They are on opposite sides of the garden which may account for the different soil types.

Last year I planted a white Hydrangea, beneath the blue Hibiscus tree, next to the existing pink Hydrangeas. Click here for more pictures of the garden last year.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society's website white and green flowered cultivars do not change colour regardless of the ph of the soil The RHS advises using rainwater to water Hydrangeas, since mains hard water can affect the flower colour, turning blue flowers mauve or pink.

Now Head over to Jenny's and don't be late for class, she is a real stickler for punctuality and she'll give me a C- if she finds out you dawdled here and missed assembly.