Summer in Bloom: Getting to Know Hydrangeas with Salt Air Farm
September 16, 2026
By Bridget Q. Micieli-Martinez
Nothing says summer on Long Island quite like the dainty, colorful blooms of hydrangeas. From home gardens to professionally landscaped properties, these abundant shrubs dot the landscape with their beautiful blooms and unmistakable summer presence.
So, what better time of year than a humid, overcast morning in late August to gather a group of curious gardeners and chat about all things hydrangea?
Gardeners braved the muggy weather to join Prudence Heston of Salt Air Farm for an informative morning focused not only on the many varieties of hydrangeas, but also on timing, care, and pruning tips and tricks to help keep their beloved mopheads and lacecaps thriving.
Prudence shared her expertise through a presentation highlighting different varieties, optimum growing conditions, seasonal tasks, and techniques for drying hydrangea blooms. There was plenty to learn—and, of course, plenty to admire.
A Few Takeaways
While hydrangeas may look delicate, they are surprisingly tough and adaptable, thriving in a variety of garden conditions. And for Long Island gardeners, there is an added bonus: we have a native hydrangea growing right here in our region.
Summer marks the height of the season for these abundant, carefree perennial shrubs. Their large, beautiful flower heads bring pops of pink, blue, lavender, deep purple, light green, and snowy white to the landscape.
But the beauty of hydrangeas doesn’t end as summer begins to fade. As temperatures cool and autumn ushers in a new season, the blooms often transform into a beautiful, earthy palette known as “antiquing.” Depending on the variety, flowers may shift from creamy white to dusty pink, while others develop layers of muted greens, smoky burgundies, variegated hazels, and deep periwinkle.
These changing colors offer another opportunity to enjoy hydrangeas long after the garden season quiets into a winter slumber. An “antiqued” hydrangea bloom, picked at just the right time and properly dried, can last for years in arrangements—bringing a little bit of summer’s beauty indoors, combined with the colors of nostalgia, and allowing us to enjoy them throughout the seasons.
It’s one of the many qualities that makes hydrangeas such a beloved garden staple: their beauty doesn’t simply peak and disappear. Instead, their colors—and their character—evolve with the seasons.
A Native Hydrangea
Long Island is home to one native hydrangea species: Wild Hydrangea, also known as Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). Interestingly, this species is classified as threatened in New York State.
While the wild, straight species is relatively uncommon in local landscapes, popular cultivated varieties such as ‘Annabelle’ are widely available and grow exceptionally well in home gardens.
All attendees left the presentation with a deeper understanding of—and a new appreciation for—the hardy hydrangea. And for gardeners looking to add a reliable, long-blooming shrub to their landscape, hydrangeas certainly are a smart match. With the right care, they offer months of beauty, while their changing colors provide a graceful illustration of nature’s transition from summer into fall.
Bridget Q. Micieli-Martinez
Director, Marketing & Events
BMartinez@peconiclandtrust.org