As temperatures cool outside, gardeners who love flowers are still thinking about them and reading about them.

I have been reading about a new hydrangea that should be available in our local nurseries next spring. I have already put it on my "must have" list.

Those of us who were smitten in the last few years by Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Endless Summer' will be glad to know that this new one is a relative and is called 'Blushing Bride'. It is hardy to zone 5 and like ‘Endless Summer' blooms on both old and new wood.

This is important for gardeners in cold regions as if the old branches are damaged by spring freezes, we will still get blooms later, when the new growth produces its flowers.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Older varieties with blue and pink flowers only bloom on old wood and so don't bloom reliably in areas of the country with tricky temperature variations during spring.

‘Blushing Bride' was introduced by Bailey Nurseries in St Paul, Minnesota where springs are chilly to say the least. It was bred by Dr Michael Dirr of the University of Georgia.

It has pure white, some double flowers that blush pink as they mature. It also has sturdy stems and is disease resistant and has lots of blooms.

It sounds like a new plant we will be thankful for.