Latest news with #Hydrangea
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Hydrangeas are in full bloom – here's where to see them
As summer sets in, hydrangeas bloom in brilliant shades of blue, pink and lavender across Korea, drawing flower enthusiasts and tourists alike to gardens and nature parks across the country. Known for their large, lush petals and various hues, hydrangeas reach their peak from early June through July. From central Korea to the southern coast, here are three hydrangea-viewing destinations that offer not just floral beauty but immersive seasonal experiences: Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Garden, Yulbom Farm and the poetic and secluded Manhwa Secret Garden. Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Garden Located in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Garden is the largest hydrangea garden in Korea's central region, spanning over 43,000 square meters along the scenic Yugu Stream. The garden boasts 22 varieties and more than 54,000 hydrangea plants, including Enamel, Endless Summer, Pink Annabelle and Mophead hydrangeas. The garden features flat, easy-to-navigate walkways, making it accessible for all ages. Pastel-colored hydrangeas bloom most densely behind the garlanded area near Yugu Bridge, which has become a popular photo zone. Even after peak bloom, the dried petals offer a unique aesthetic that adds to the garden's charm. In June, the garden hosts the annual 'Gongju Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Festival,' now in its fourth year. This year's events extend beyond the garden itself to include the nearby Yugu Traditional Market, highlighting local culture through performances and themed activities. The festival kicks off on Friday with the 'Jeong Eui-song Hydrangea Song Festival,' featuring 15 performers selected through a preliminary contest. On Sunday, acclaimed poet Na Tae-joo takes the stage in a musical poetry concert titled 'Songs That Became Flowers, Hearts That Became Poems.' Folk, jazz and Korean traditional music performances by local artists are scheduled throughout the festival period. The garden also offers a luminous experience by night in the Yugu Saekdong Moonlight Garden, with light installations that enhance the dreamlike ambiance. A night market-style food and drink venue, the Hydrangea Night Pocha, adds flavor to the evening events. 'This is more than just a sightseeing event,' said Gongju Mayor Choi Won-cheol. 'It is a meaningful festival that combines the region's nature, culture and the pride of our local residents.' Yulbom Farm, quiet garden for flower enthusiasts For those seeking a more serene, low-key escape, Yulbom Farm in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, offers a more intimate hydrangea-viewing experience. The private botanical garden is not widely promoted on social media, meaning it is still a hidden gem for those looking to enjoy flowers without the crowds. As early June brings the first whispers of summer, hydrangeas in gentle shades of lavender, pink and sky blue cover the landscape. Unlike traditional parks, Yulbom Farm blends agriculture, nature and art into a cohesive experience that lives up to its name — 'Yulbom,' or "the quiet spring." The garden is known for its intentional simplicity. Carefully planned plantings, clean walking paths and subtle artistic installations create a harmonious atmosphere. But it is the understated presence of the flowers like watercolors softly blending into the landscape that leaves the strongest impression. More than a garden, Yulbom is a certified Rural Art Theme Farm, offering educational programs using seasonal produce. Children can learn about ecology through hands-on farming experiences, while adults find a peaceful retreat from urban life. Manhwa Secret Garden, living canvas of hydrangeas in the south In the foothills of Byeokbangsan Mountain in Goseong County, South Gyeongsang Province, lies the Manhwa Secret Garden — a 330,000-square-meter sanctuary named after the phrase 'Manhwa Bangcho,' meaning 'a place of 10.000 flowers and fragrant grasses.' Founded in 1997 by garden director Jeong Jong-jo to offer solace to city dwellers, the garden now features over 200 varieties of hydrangea, 700 species of wildflowers and 66,000 square meters of wild tea fields. Designed with minimal artificial alteration, trails follow old animal paths and the landscape flows with nature's contours. The garden's Hydrangea Flower Road is its crown jewel, where the flowers stretch as far as the eye can see. A hydrangea festival runs through July 13, showcasing the full bloom of these vibrant flowers. Despite the stunning scenery, Manhwa retains a 'secret garden' quality — it was once known only through word of mouth and has only recently begun receiving public attention. Visitors can explore wildflower fields, a natural rock garden, a small pond filled with yellow lotus blooms and shaded trails lined with cedar and hydrangeas. Traditional clay houses serve as spaces for rest and even natural dyeing workshops, while giant wooden totems mark the entryway to the garden's more rustic areas. Climbing higher toward the summit of Byeokbangsan Mountain, visitors are rewarded with views of the East Sea and an experience that feels more like wandering an old village hillside than a manicured tourist attraction.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that ‘transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY might not be the most instant transformers. But climbing plants can be a brilliant way to hide ugly fences or walls, and there are seven in particular that gardening pro Alan Titchmarsh recommends. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Alan Titchmarsh has revealed the seven climbing plants that are perfect for covering up ugly walls and fences Credit: YouTube 3 They provide pretty flowers and gorgeous fragrance when trailed on fences Credit: YouTube "Climbing plants are wonderful for transforming ugly sheds, walls and fences with a mass of flowers, foliage and fragrance," he said in an installment of his Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh video series on YouTube. "The wonderful thing about climbers is that there's a climber for every situation!" The former Ground Force presenter went on to detail his favourite climbing plants, as he explained where and when they can be used. At the very top of his list is the Clematis 'Shimmer', which is perfect for growing in full sun or partial shade. It produces large flowers, in this instance purple, and does that a couple of times per year. Second on the list, the Clematis 'Montana'. These "very, very vigorous" plants will "cover the side of a cathedral", Alan said, and can grow up to 12 metres in height. So they definitely aren't the ones to choose if you've got a small area you want to cover. With both the Montana and Shimmer varieties, they like their "roots in the shade and heads in the sun". "When you plant them, a little bit of flagstone laid on the area around the roots will stop the sun from striking it and drying the soil out," Alan explained. The four easy steps to get your tired lawn lush for summer & you don't need to worry about pigeons ruining it either If you've got a spot in the shade that needs covering with a climbing plant, it's worth considering Lonicera 'Scentsation' (Honeysuckle). The "woodland native" that's "happy in dappled shade" produces spidery flowers and "the most glorious" honeysuckle scent. It can grow to between four and nine metres, and flowers the most during spring and summer. "It has twining stems, so loosely loop them in as they grow to cover the area you want to," he added. Or, if you want a "reliable" climber, then the Hydrangea petiolaris is a good choice. It's suitable for shade, and can grow up to eight metres wide. How to encourage wildlife into your garden THE Woodland Trust shared five top tips 1. Grow wild Let nature take its course to create a more attractive environment for all things wild. You don't have to leave your plot to develop into a small jungle – wildlife will thank you for just a small corner, border or planter. 2. Plant trees and shrubs Research has shown that gardens are more attractive to wildlife if they have trees. And those trees can bring a host of other benefits too, from reducing noise and flooding to fighting climate change. 3. Create homes If you want to attract a particular species, a ready-made home can look especially appealing to any wildlife passing through. 4. Offer a water source Water is crucial for wildlife. Making some available in your garden could be a lifeline, especially in extreme weather. 5. Serve an extra meal One of the best ways to persuade a plethora of wildlife to your patch is to give them access to an easy meal. And the main draw of the plant is that it's a "self clinger", that "glues itself to the wall as it spreads". "It will cover quite a large area on a wall that's often too shady to cover with anything else," Alan continued. The Thunbergia 'Black Eyed Susan' is up next, and grows up to 2.5m tall. While the majority of the plants Alan has recommended are perennial, this is annual - meaning it only survives for one year. But it makes a pretty addition to a garden for "late spring, early summer and right through to early autumn". The sixth plant on Alan's list, which can top 9m in height, is the Rhyncospermum Jasminoides. "This is another plant for a sunny, warm fence," he said. "Give it sun and you'll get these glorious white flowers and a fabulous scent." The seventh and final climber Alan recommends is the Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'. It's more of a "shrubby" climber that doesn't cling, you have to train it to grow where you want it to. And he added that it's also a good choice if you're short on space, as there's a nifty way you can train it for a smaller area too.
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I'm a gardening pro – my easy steps – including a £2.25 Dunelm trick – will banish garden pests like aphids this summer
WE may well be seeing lower slug and snail numbers this summer thanks to colder weather in winter and the recent dry spells. But mother nature never makes it easy for us. Instead - of course - there's a new pest in town. 2 RHS members have found aphids to be the biggest problem this year Credit: Getty 2 Adam Woolcott told Sun Gardening how to get rid of garden pests Credit: Supplied Aphid levels have rocketed this year - and the RHS reckons it's top of the list of gardening queries to their hotline. There's over 500 different species found in the UK - and can be red, yellow, black, green, brown or pink. They feed by sucking sap from plants - and can cause severe damage - including distorted growth, sooty mould and plant viruses - and sometimes plant death. Chelsea award winning gardener Adam Woolcott - and Webb ambassador - gave Sun Gardening some top tips on how to tackle the most common early summer pests. APHIDS Physically remove the aphids from the stems and leaves. Use natural insecticidal soaps. Blast off with water jets. Encourage predators such as ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies VINE WEEVIL Both the adult vine weevil beetles and their larvae cause damage. Adults — all female — chew distinctive 'U-shaped' notches in leaves, particularly on evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, escallonias, and viburnums. Underground: larvae feed on plant roots and can kill container plants like Heucheras. Remove adults at night when they're most active Break the life cycle with biological controls such as nematodes (apply in spring and autumn when grubs are active) Chemical treatments are a last resort, but offer longer-term control LILY BEETLE The bright red beetles and their larvae are both covered in their excrement. They can strip a plant in days, affecting flowering and bulb health. Remove beetles by hand where practical Encourage wildlife into the garden. Birds and ground beetles will eat the larvae Grow a resistant variety. Tolerate some damage if you can — total eradication isn't always necessary. CATERPILLARS Especially troublesome in veg patches. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars love brassicas, while box tree caterpillars are spreading rapidly across the UK, stripping foliage as they go. Remove the caterpillars by hand if you can and destroy any badly affected plants (if practical) to stop the infestation from spreading. Use biological sprays like nematodes. In some cases, hot water and a mild detergent can help. Ecover is on sale at Dunelm for £2.45. As a last resort, chemical controls can be effective Also in Veronica's Column this week... Top tips, Gardening news, and a competition to win a £250 lawnmower NEWS KING Charles made a surprise visit to Windsor Flower Show last Saturday. Celebrities including Alex Jones and Kirsty Gallacher were at the one-day show - which had wonderful village fair vibes, vegetable and cake competitions and fantastic floral displays. TOP TIP JUNE is actually a good time to take Hydrangea cuttings - and get your own plants for free. They'll have produced some soft green growth - which is what you want. Choose healthy, non flowering shoots that are 10-15cm long and cut just below the node (the leaf joint). Don't collect cuttings from plants with leaves that are turning brown. And try to collect in the morning if you can. Remove the lower leaves - leaving just one or two at the top. Then dip the end in rooting powder or gel - then pop it straight in a pot. You could splash out on seeding and cutting compost - but multi purpose will do - just add a bit of grit or perlite. Then keep them out of direct sunlight and keep moist. They should have rooted within about a month. NEWS A RARE 'sheep-eating' South American plant has flowered in an English primary school for the first time. The Puya Chilensis, with its iconic spike pattern, is normally found in the Andes in Chile. But after it was planted 10 years ago by school horticulturalist Louise Moreton, it has sent out a 10ft spike at Wicor Primary School in Portchester, Hants. It's called a Sheep Catcher as it would normally entangle wildlife, hold onto it - and then when the animal died - would take the nutrients. Ms Moreton said it was exciting but a worrying sign of global warming. WIN! Keep your lawn looking its best this summer by winning a Webb Classic Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower worth £249.99. To enter visit or write to Sun Webb competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 5, 2025. T&Cs apply. TOP TIP IF you want to get more flowers from your sedums (now called Hylotelephiums) and prevent them from collapsing - pinch them out around now. Pinch off around four sets of leaves down - which will make them bushier. JOB OF THE WEEK Weeds thrive this month - keep on top of them by hoeing. Tie in sweet peas, and give your plants a good feed - liquid seaweed feed is great - and Tomorite works with nearly everything. Give agapanthus a high-potash feed every couple of weeks. For more top tips and gardening news, follow me @biros_and_bloom
13-06-2025
Touring Four Kamakura 'Hydrangea Temples'
Seasonal flowers bloom almost continuously throughout the year at Kamakura's temples and shrines. The most popular of these is undoubtedly the hydrangea, masses of which add color during the rainy season at the end of spring. The temple Meigetsuin in Kita-Kamakura is the forerunner of what are popularly called ajisaidera (hydrangea temples). Over 50 years ago, word of Meigetsuin's gorgeous stands of hydrangeas spread, and growing the shrubs became popular at temples and shrines throughout the country. Blue mophead hydrangea line Meigetsuin's stairs. (© Harada Hiroshi) The first stop of our tour of hydrangea temples is, naturally, Meigetsuin. This spot is highly popular even during the rainy season, when rain or overcast skies are frequent, so the best times to avoid the crowds are immediately after the temple opens in the morning, or in late afternoon, just before closing time. Nearly 2,500 mophead hydrangeas ( Hydrangea serrata ) in varying shades of blue known as 'Meigetsuin blue' fill the grounds, lending a cooling feeling to the air. The weathered stairs leading from the entrance to the temple's gate, lined on both sides with the blooms, are the temple's most visited attraction. Visitors here tend to focus on the hydrangeas, but the splendid garden behind the temple's main hall should not be overlooked. And at the front of the main hall, crimson azaleas bloom in the dry landscape garden, creating a wonderland of flowers. The temple's expansive iris garden, open when the flowers are in bloom. (© Harada Hiroshi) Next is the nearby temple Jōchiji. This renowned Zen institution is less well-known as a famed hydrangea spot, promising visitors enjoyment of the flowers in a more relaxed atmosphere. Lacecap hydrangeas at Jōchiji. (© Harada Hiroshi) Lacecap hydrangeas ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) bloom by the pond in front of the temple's main gate. The worn stairs leading to the belfry gate create a contrast between the ephemeral beauty of the blooms and the weight of the long history of this temple, founded in the late thirteenth century. Iwatabako ( Conandron ramondiodes ) can also be spotted blooming quietly amid rock faces. (© Harada Hiroshi) A Lesser-Known Spot Becomes a Meigetsuin Rival Nearly 2,000 stalks of mōsōchiku tortoise-shell bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ) occupy the grounds of Hōkokuji. (© Harada Hiroshi) The third stop on our tour is the temple Hōkokuji, in the east of the city. This temple is known for its beautiful bamboo groves, but connoisseurs also visit for its hydrangeas, which form an attractive combination with the bamboo and the moss-covered ground. Particularly striking are large hydrangea shrubs that act as a backdrop to the numerous stone buddhas dotted throughout the temple grounds. Pause here for matcha while admiring the bamboo groves to enjoy a quintessentially Japanese experience. Blue and purple blooms form a stunning backdrop to the stone statues. (© Harada Hiroshi) A short hop on the Enoden—the Enoshima Electric Railway—brings us to our last stop, the temple Hasedera, Meigetsuin's rival as a Kamakura ajisaidera . But in contrast to Meigetsuin, where only mophead hydrangeas are cultivated, Hasedera features over 40 different varieties of the blooming shrubs. Not only do they offer a medley of colors, the flowers also bloom at different times, offering a much longer viewing season. Nearly 2,500 hydrangeas shrubs bring color to this sloping terrain. (© Harada Hiroshi) Here too, the stairs lined with hydrangeas are the main attraction. Access is via queue numbers, so prior online reservations are recommended. At the top, the splendid panorama of the sandy Yuigahama shoreline unfolds in the distance, making Kamakura unique and unparalleled as the ancient capital with a view of the sea. The view greeting visitors at the top of the staircase's two hundred steps. (© Harada Hiroshi) (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Hasedera's hydrangeas come in a myriad of colors. © Harada Hiroshi.)
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to prune 10 plants now to ensure summer blooms
If you're looking forward to seeing your garden in bloom this summer, make sure you take time to prune these 10 plants to see them develop to their full potential Most garden -owners are anticipating a gorgeous display of blooms once summer is in full swing – but, beware, some flowers need to be pruned first. Pruning is a crucial task for the development of many plants, as it allows gardeners to sheer off any unwanted, damaged or dying blooms to make way for a much more robust blossom. This is because it forces the plant to redirect energy and nutrients to new blossoms. Equally, it helps prevent the spread of disease, as you can prune away any infected leaves, stems or blossoms. Of course, not all flowers or plants require pruning, so it's important to know which ones do. Luckily, Country Living have put together a list of 10 popular plants that need pruning before summer: Ornamental Grass This pluming grass is great at adding visual interest to your garden. To ensure it blooms to its full potential, prune it back by about two-thirds before summer kicks into full gear. Panicle Hydrangea Pruning hydrangeas will encourage fuller, healthier blossoms. Country Living advise to cut it back by about a third and to remove any weak or broken stems. Caryopteris While this plant is known for its gorgeous deep blue blossoms, it can become foliage-heavy if left untrimmed. You can cut them back by about 30 to 45 cm without harming them. Smooth Hydrangea Similar to the panicle variety, smooth hydrangeas should be pruned back by about a third to guarantee fresh, healthy growth and to remove any discoloured or unappealing blossoms. Russian Sage This hardy plant will grow back year after year if cared for properly. To get the best of its summer bloom, you can cut it all the way to the ground to allow fresh new growth to spring back up. Butterfly Bush These beautiful bright purple bushes are so-called because they attract butterflies. To maintain its bloom throughout the summer, Country Living advise to cut most of the plant back once blossoms start emerging. Otherwise, you can deadhead dull blossoms. Rose While roses are generally low maintenance, they will benefit from pruning before the summer hits. Country Living say you should cut them back by about a third "straight across". Lavender Many gardeners enjoy growing lavender for its delicately-scented purple blooms. However, if your plant needs sprucing up, you can prune it back. Though make sure not to cut into the woody stem and not to prune after buds have appeared. Catmint A cat's favourite plant, felines are irresistibly drawn to this flowery bush. It's not necessary to prune before summer but cutting away dead stems will improve its appearance. Boxwood While not absolutely necessary, pruning this evergreen bush can improve its appearance. Country Living write: "You can trim to shape it, or you can leave it more natural-looking and not prune, depending on your preference."
