Nuts over Pistachio

I’m often rather quick in my judging – occasionally too quick. And, sometimes it takes me a while to realize it. When I do, I always feel a little foolish – rightfully so. Oh well, I always think that maybe next time, I will be less rash in my opinionating. It’s a noble aspiration to offer more balanced assessments but – I just did it again.  And this time, it surprised me so, and filled me with such intense plant lust, that I felt compelled to post about my error. Nothing like a little humble pie here and there, right? Here goes:

When I first saw the little compact Hydrangea ‘Pistachio’ in all its tie-dye glory, I brushed it off with some snarky remark about indiscriminating hybridizers just pushing whatever new plants out there, as long as they are sufficiently odd or novel. I looked at those somewhat clownish, multicolored bracts with puzzled disdain, crinkled my upturned nose, and moved on, thinking no more of it.

This is what the blooms I so instantly snubbed, look like. Although I generally do have a thing for green flowers, I’m not a huge fan of multi-colored ones (or pink ones, for that matter) – I guess I just felt this one was a bit too much. Also, in my defense – the flowers I saw weren’t this nice. This capture is by Peter, the Outlaw Gardener (from his own garden) who was kind enough to let me use his photo. In all honesty – they look a lot better here, than where I saw them. (Or maybe my new assessment has changed the way I see them?)

Fast forward a few months. I just saw one again, and this time I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the tag, and realized what it was. Really? Could it truly be the same plant…? Wow – this thing is positively glowing in the overcast light of November – such phenomenal, vibrant color it sent me into a lust-filled tailspin.

There are several reasons I should not get one, even though I’m literally drooling over it. For one thing, it’s a shrub. I don’t have room for another shrub – however small. It is also a Hydrangea. They don’t do too well in my garden – I’m too stingy with the water. And heck, give it another couple of weeks, and some stormy weather, and it will have no leaves at all, until the new green ones start to sprout in spring. Then I will have to wait an entire summer until the leaves turn again… Those are the cons on my list. Oh, one more – did I mention that there is no more room? (That is a fact that cannot be overstated. That scene from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life comes to mind… “It’s only a thin wafer…”) To be fair – here are the pros:

This…

… and this. The creamy white veining is so elegant!

The newest leaves are lined with red edges.

I love how the bracts have turned a beautiful red.

Lovely, isn’t it?

Oh well, I will be spending today mostly outside, playing in the garden. The goal (yet again) is to get everything hitherto unplanted into sheltered ground. (Yes, I’m sure most of you did that months, or at least weeks, ago – but this is hard to accomplish when you’re constantly rescuing plants…) I have little doubt enough room will magically appear, but I will keep it in mind. Wish me luck. And, if anyone is up for some plant adoption, please let me know…