My Grandfathers Hydrangeas
I have no doubt whatsoever if prizes
were awarded,
for the bluest of blues in any garden,
anywhere at all ..
Then gold would almost certainly go
to my grandfather’s
hydrangeas, the trick is, he said, each
year without fail
they need to be fired up, until full of
ferrous iron filings
and then, in March, cut back, with a
decent pair of old
secateurs just a thumb above a new bud ..
-
Author:
Neville (
Offline) - Published: March 17th, 2026 08:34
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 52
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange, arqios, Efrain Cajar
Offline)
Comments6
Good write N.
Thanks a bunch Orchidee .. Neville 😎👍
Neville, that line about “fired up…full of ferrous iron filings” stuck with me…it turns something ordinary into something almost alchemical. Like tending the soil is also tending legacy. The repetition of the opening brings it back around like a season…like March always comes again. There’s something steady and grounding here. And, I love hydrangeas, so there's that. Well done, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Well blow me down our Tristan .. that'll do nicely my friend .. Thanks loads .. Neville 🐈⬛🐦⬛🖤😎👍
Most welcome, Neville!
What is a bout grandfathers and hydrangeas? I remember well both of my grandfathers had them. My father never did although he loved gardening and had many other types of flowers. I sense a metaphor here as well and firing up with iron filings and cutting them back each year seems appropriate for growth in human terms as well. Loved it my friend
I've got the feeling everybodies grandfathers had em .. thanks for reading the lines and between them brother S .. N 😎👍
Always a pleasure my friend
As did mine. And we had a flurry of them during our stint in Tokyo, every ear in June 🌸
Amazing aren't they .. thanks arqios .. Neville 😎👍
Here there's a programme 'Gardening Australia" Fridays 7.30 sharp on ABC. You'd be a dead ringer for a prime spot on there complete with Grandad's Hydrangeas. Apply now.
'Pity their season is so short.
Great job on a great flower; thanks Neville.
Okay, if they make the seaon into a series I might give it a shot .. Ta Dave .. Neville 😎🌻🌻👍
The season referred to the Hydrangeas, not the show, which has been on air forever and a day (and none the worse for that).
Sounds like our antiques roadshow or Bargain Hunt .. 😎👍
So true Neville, that is the way to get blue hydrangeas.
Andy
Pop was a clever old so and so .. Cheers Andy .. Neville 😎🩵👍
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