My version of a jap. maple.. its blooming, thanks Joyce!

[LynneNY]

Jerry - you are correct about the humidity!  It has been just awful this past week - they keep forcasting rain but it never materializes here for us!

I was not aware of this bush until I saw your post.  I think it's beautiful, both the Black Beauty and the Black Lace.  I am going to have to go out on a mission and find one of those.  There was something kind of like that in Conneticut.  It was called a lace capped hydranga and it had all those flowers in a cluster of each individual bloom.  The hydranga here bloom in one big ball, different colors depending on the acidity of the soil.  I like the new England version more and brought one back but it isn't doing well.  Going to keep feeding it and trying to make it happy.  I sure could find a place real quick if I find one of your type bushes.

jax - I have a few lace capped hydrangeas also - have had them for many years but I had them in too much sun and they were just "ok" - last summer I moved them to the front of the house that only gets morning sun and they are full of buds already - very early!  I will take pictures when they are in full bloom.

[Jerry]

It is the humidity that the plants love.  I will be careful what I wish for!

[tinkster]

beautiful pics!  Cant wait till mine looks like your alls.

Joyce.. I bought the sutherland gold on ebay to go with mine but it didnt do to well here then finally died.. think it had to much sun.  Gonna try again though or something yellow with mine this time.


tink

[jax]

I'm going to go looking for one of these bushes.  I have some good greenhouses and landscaping businesses around here.  I just love it.  Maybe my lace capped hydranga get's too much sun.  Must go look at that and maybe have to move it before it's a total goner.  I have other hydranga's around the house but they seem more shaded.  Hope I can get it going.  I had never seen the lace capped one's for sale around here and I wasn't planning another trip to New England in the near future.  We had plants shoved into the van along with suitcases, shopping bags and anything else we could push in after that trip.  It was a good one.

[LeeAnne151]

Hydrangea macrophyllas of which lace cap varieties are part aren't very hardy and in general, never want full sun. Many hydrangeas bloom on old growth only and never bloom if they get too much frost damage. The new ones that bloom on old and new growth are supposed to correct this problem. 'Twist and Shout' is the new lace cap in the same series as 'Endless Summer' which is commonly available and blooms on new wood too.

Both elderberries (Sambucas) and ninebarks (Physocarpus) are now available with great foliage colors. Sadly they all get far too big for my yard. I've been seeing them all over on recent garden tours at eight to twelve feet tall and wide and bigger.
'Coppertina' ninebark is stunning!

[Joyce]

LeeAnne, to be precise the spelling is Sambucus unless you are drinking Sambuca. 

I just bought a Coppertina Ninebark.