A Lesson From My Pink(ish) Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas seem to be in bloom everywhere I look this time of year. Well, everywhere except my front porch. I'm a sucker for buying gorgeous flowers and being naive to think they're going to live forever under my care. It's really just wishful thinking. But this isn't my way of asking for gardening tips… I learned something pretty crazy about hydrangeas in my latest attempt to brighten up my front porch decor that I had to share.

I recently added a beautiful, fully in-bloom potted pink hydrangea to help welcome visitors at my front door. Within a week, I noticed the bubble gum pink color started to dramatically change from shades of pink, to white, and even to green. I thought it simply needed more water so I tried that.

Days later, it was still confused about its hue and seemed to be getting worse. I googled it and found out that it’s color shifting was because the flower is affected by the soil’s PH. Basically, too much acid will turn it purple, blue, and even green. Who knew? Some pro gardeners were recommending crushing up egg shells and even adding coffee grounds to help control the color of the blooms. I cannot relate with this level of gardening skill, but it did get me thinking…

What kind of soil am I planted in? Is my soil ideal for what I need to flourish? Am I letting the wrong elements in, like negative voices, self-destructive thoughts, or habits that are no longer serving me? Do I even know what color I'm created to be anymore? What can I do to nourish myself (and my unique needs) so that I can grow, stay bright, and be useful where I'm planted in this season?

I may not want to take the time to enrich the soil of my front porch decor, but really taking the time to nourish myself is always time well spent.

What about you, friend? How would you describe the condition of your so-called soil, or the color of your blooms? Are you changing colors every day based on your environment? Or is your soil healthy to sustain you when things get a little “acidic?”

I pray this is a season for all of us to slow down long enough to remember how - and more importantly, WHY - it matters for us and everyone around us that we stay nourished from the only True Source. I'm praying that for us all today.

I REALLY love hearing from you all and can’t wait to hear: Did you know that about hydrangeas too? And if you have hydrangeas at your house, I'd LOVE to see a picture of them! Or, if you're inspired to get some at Lowe's this week, let me know how they do for you. (Hopefully better than mine!) But mostly, let me know how YOU are doing. Flourishing doesn't come without intentional effort and I am honored to be invited along your journey!