Both my parents worked which meant I spent lots of time at my grandparents home growing up.  It was the first flower that would greet us during the flowering months each time we came to visit.  And it’s what I came to remember most as I grew older.  Of course she had other amazing plants that I loved too; azaleas, magnolias, dogwoods, and a giant banana shrub that took me 20 years to find for my own garden. 

It’s funny how our senses can evoke such strong feelings and memories.  The sight of a blue big leaf hydrangea and the smell of a banana shrub whisk me back to those early days of my childhood.  When all I cared about was what flavor Jell-O was in her fridge.   

Many afternoons, summers, and dinners were spent there.  My sister and I played dress up with her fancy shoes (she had small feet so that was a big win).  I learned to play gin rummy with her. She taught me how to sew, how to throw a cast net, and how to catch blue crabs.  We searched for shark’s teeth at the sands together, and arrowheads and old soldier buttons around the fields near my house. I learned how to make pickles with her and jam and basically anything that could be canned.  Aside from my own parents, she helped raised me.  And my memories of our time together are so sweet and special.  

So that’s my story.  That’s my why. 

It’s why I want my garden full of hydrangeas, it’s why I create original hydrangea oil paintings, and it’s why I want to share them with you so you can enjoy their beauty forever in your homes.