Location, Location, Location

More than 100 selections of hydrangeas flourish on this wooded hillside. 

Wendy and her husband, Bew, have an extremely hilly lot that's covered in large trees. A mixture of pines and hardwoods creates high shade, allowing just enough filtered light to sift through the branches.

Each year, Wendy removes low limbs to make sure the garden doesn't get too shady. She says the hydrangeas that get more sun bloom better but tend to become stressed by the summer heat and need more water. They seem to do best when they receive morning light but are shaded from the hot western sun. The backyard has dappled light, fertile, well-drained soil, and a willing gardener, so it's the ideal spot for a hydrangea garden.

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