The Genus

Hydrangea

Updated 20 November 2005

Welcome to the home page of The Genus Hydrangea ; Country Gardens, a nursery in Fall City, Washington; and the Howe brothers, Keith and Donald who own and operate the nursery. It is our intent to present horticultural information on hydrangeas such as propagation techniques, pruning practices,etc; reviews of books and articles written on the genus; listings of nurseries specializing in Hydrangeas; information from the American Hydrangea Society; as well as a changing gallery of photographs of the 20-23 species and approximately 600 cultivars. Additionally, we would welcome any e-mail or other correspondence that might further our understanding of the genus or questions that we might answer.

Background

Keith and Donald Howe, with the help of their mother, Willa Howe, run a nursery specializing in hydrangeas. The nursery is located 3 miles east of Fall City, Washington on the Snoqualmie River. It is a maritime climate in Zone 7 with an annual rainfall of 32 inches. They started the nursery 11 years ago and still operate it on a part time basis not having given up their day jobs yet.

Hydrangea Societies/Associations

Friends of the "Shamrock" Hydrangea Collection
(Association Des Amis De La Collection D'Hydrangea "Shamrock". regie par la loi 1901)

Membership fee is 15 US dollars (1994) which entitles you to become a corresponding memeber of the Shamrock Hydrangea Collection. The objective of the society is to study and promote knowledge of the genus Hydrangea, and to help conserve, maintain and develop the Shamrock collection of hydrangeas , originally brought together by Corinne Mallet. This collection is of worldwide importance, and is located at Route de l'Eglise in Varengeville sur Mer, Normandy, in the garden known as "Shamrock". Members will be sent the society's Newsletter, containing up-to-date information about the development of the collection; they will also be allowed to enjoy guided visits of the collection at the group rate rather than the individual rate.

Address:
Collection d'Hydrangea Shamrock
Route de l'Eglise
76119 Varengeville sur Mer
France

American Hydrangea Society

P.O. Box 11645
Atlanta, GA 30355

Founded in 1994 by Penny McHenry. Scott Regnauld is the current Membership Chair of the Society. Meetings are held three times a year in January, April and October with a tour of local hydrangea gardens in June. Previous guest speakers have included: Dr. Michael Dirr, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia; Becky and Jimmy Stewart, well-known Atlanta landscape designers; Terry May, Supt. of Grounds, Atlanta Botanical Gardens; internationally known plantsman, Don Shadow of Shadow Nursery; and Elizabeth Dean, Wilkerson Mill Gardens. Copies of all lectures are available for $3 to members and $4 to non-members, by sending check to address above.

Membership is $15 yearly which also entitles individual to The American Hydrangea Society Newsletter published quarterly. The charter chapter is based in Atlanta with 300+ members across the U.S. and abroad. It is hoped that other chapters will organize in other states.

Availability (nurseries & catalogs)

Bell Family Nursery

6543 S. Zimmerman Road
Aurora, OR 97002
503 651-2887

Carroll Gardens

444 East Main St., P.O. Box 310
Westminister, MD 21157
410-848-5422. Catalog $2

Country Gardens

36735 SE David Powell Road
Fall City, WA 98024
425 222-5616
Catalog of available Hydrangeas
keith@hydrangeagardens.com

donald@hydrangeagardens.com

Forest Farm

990 Tetherow Road
Williams, OR 97544-9599
503 846-7269

Gossler Farms Nursery

1200 Weaver Road
Springfield, OR 97478
Catalog $2

Greer Gardens

Goodpasture Island Road
Eugene, OR 94701
Catalog $3

Louisiana Nursery

Rte 7, Box 43
Opelousas, LA 70570
318-948-3696 Hydrangea catalog $4

Wilkerson Mill Gardens

9595 Wilkerson Mill Road
Palmetto, GA 30268
770 463-9717

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