A reader seeks advice on why their hydrangeas are fading in color. Plus, Grumpy’s gripe of the week. "My French hydrangea starts the summer with big, lovely blue flowers. As the season continues ...

Hydrangeas are exceptional in that the color of their flowers can change depending on the availability of aluminum ions.

I checked with the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plant Health Care supervisor, who has seen this same problem in some of the Garden’s hydrangeas this spring. Your description fits the damage we see from ...