September 19, 2009

For the love of PeeGee Hydrangeas

This is a dresser in Carol's dining room that has a stunning display of PeeGees, blue eggs and conch shells from a local beach under a cloche! (I'll be beachcombing there after the next storm) Her collection of ironstone and vintage lighting is well, okay.... to die for.



Carol bought this vintage chandelier in pieces (yes, hundreds) and restored it. Very early one morning she awoke to a vision of it embellished with stunning cone shaped PeeGees! It's wildly beautiful! Breathtaking!!!

I have to tell you. We had been planning it for weeks; waiting for the perfect time to don our dark clothing on a rainy night and go sleuthing around the neighborhood pruning bushes for unknowing homeowners. It was for their own good! And how else would we manage to obtain the necessary goods for the perfect autumn decor accessory? We would have had to plant a tree 10 years ago when we first moved in to our neighborhoods to have what we needed now! I wish I'd known then. I vow to plant one this autumn. Mom had a beauty that 'brother dear' dug up and burned in the spring!!!! arrgg! I was so mad/sad to see it gone.



The one bush that we had been eyeing for a while was an 'oakleaf peegee hydrangea' with bigger heads, leaves and blossoms! Fortunately for us, these grow wonderfully in the northeast with cold winters and hot summers.



It was such a (guilty) pleasure placing stems with heavy blooms here and there, and filling pitchers. The house came to life. Just the perfect colors too!



some in the Ikea pitcher on the quilt chest....



some on the mantel in the large ironstone pitcher...


a few in another ironstone pitcher on the china closet, saving the biggest and prettiest one for my new favorite wicker jug.
I hope we've inspired you to plant a 'peegee' of your very own for spectacular blooms in the future!

20 comments:

Julie Marie said...

Oh Roberta, you are too cute! Pruning their bushes for "their own good"... yes, you have inspired me... to go sleuthing around tonight in my dark clothes and do a little "pruning" for the neighbor's "own good"... Your pictures are sooo beautiful! Bisous... and happy sleuthing! Julie Marie

Erin {House of Turquoise} said...

So beautiful! I've never seen anything like these before. That chandelier is gorgeous. I can't believe Carol restored it from pieces! Her vision come to life is stunning indeed!

Sue said...

They are gorgeous, and very different from what we have near us. I will be looking for a bush to plant as we have the cold winters and hot summers as well. I love how beautiful they made everything look, well it was already beautiful...but, it added an extra touch!

Sue

Alison Gibbs said...

Such beautiful hydrangeas
Alison

Drawn to The Sea said...

So pretty. They added a sweet, soft glow to such already romantic rooms... well worth the risking the ire of your neighbors, imo.

Peaceful day,
~Julia

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Gorgeous... worth the slinking around at night I say and fabulous colours.. they look 'antique' if that is possible. Also love that chandelier and cannot believe that she pieced it together from all those tiny parts.. what patience!
Have a great week x julie

Mimi and Tilly said...

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pictures. Sending smiles.

Elyse said...

gosh, this is one stunningly beautiful post!

rated PG for pretty gorgeous
(tee hee)

xo

Claudia said...

Just beautiful! The colors of the hydrangea are so beautiful. And that chandelier is spectacular!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, I adore hydrangeas!! They are like big fluffy balls of happiness :)
Hugs,
Amy

Rebecca @ Belle Blog said...

Hi Roberta. I am laughing thinking about you helping your neighbors prune their bushes. I have been so enjoying looking at all the gorgeous peegee hydrangeas around here. I have been thinking about helping some neighbors prune their bushes too. Regular hydrangeas are so easy to propagate from a little cuttting, and I am hoping the peegees are too.

Your friend Carol's house is absolutely stunning. I love all the flowers and especially her refurbished chandelier.

♥ Rebecca

Julie Marie said...

Hello Roberta, me again, thank you for your sweet comments on my post today... I have been watching for your Waterside Wednesday post, but see you did not do one today... still love this last post, and still need to go out in the dark through my neighborhood "sleuthing" for pretty flowers to cut and dry! Happy Autumn! Bisous... Julie Marie

BellaRosa said...

What beautiful hydrangeas, do you know if they grow well in Ca? I would love to find some here :) There is one that I came across last Mothers Day called "Vintage Hydrangea" it's blooms colors look like they are already starting to dry. they are in fading burgandys and sage greens and those are the new blooms, sadly I have yet to find them :( But these that you pictured are just gorgeous too. Rose

Debi Ward Kennedy said...

Oh my goodness, this post made me laugh out LOUD! I've been known to don dark clothing and sneak around houses and office complexes in the dark of night to procure the perfect hydrangeas for my home decor, a show or store display, or a party.... I even got caught once! (I'm a fast talker: told the cop I was the secretary and the boss wouldn't let me cut the flowers during work!! He left. ;0) )I haven't done that in a while.... hmmmmnnnn.... it IS the season, isn't it?!

sandra said...

Hi,
Just had to stop and comment on these GORGEOUS hydrangeas! We just returned a few weeks ago from a trip to Cape Cod, and I have to say, I have never seen such splendid PeeGees! I'm a hydrangea fanatic (have over 80, but no PeeGees), but will definitely be adding some of these beauties next spring! By the way, thanks to your info, I found Vintage Lizzie's...such a beautiful little shop. And her workroom was 2 die 4 beautiful. Thanks again for your help.
Ooooh, hope your neighbors don't read you blog! lol
Hugs,
Sandra

vicki archer said...

That chandelier is absolutely magnificent...xv

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Oh how I love PeeGee's! I have loads of hydrangeas, but none of that variety. The yard is extra tiny here at the cottage, and it's VERY full, but I'm determined to find a spot for one of these beauties.

Blessings,
Spencer

NicNacManiac said...

Gorgeous post....Hydrangeas are so beautiful...I have a couple of dried arrangements around. I think I will get a PeeGee..you blooms are fabulous!! xOxO

Anonymous said...

great read. I would love to follow you on twitter.

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Lovely, lovely, lovely!
Oh I would love to be able to tour Carol's home and visit with Willie too, of course! All the blooms are gorgeous, Roberta but you two are up to trouble for certain... something that only happens when 2 very good friends get together and have a blast (good for you ;)

Thank you for the photos, they are a delight and inspire me to get up and move in this hot weather.
xoxo~Tracie