In Full Bloom, Hydrangea Style
Garden expert C.L. Fornari’s latest book brings clarity, confidence and a fresh perspective to growing one of the coast’s most beloved plants
Written by Kristen Hampshire
The’s the Garden Lady, a radio personality and go-to source for real-life gardening questions. Her energy weaves advice, enthusiasm and a can-do spirit into caring for even the most stubborn but stunning plants.
Enter the hydrangea.
It’s the topic of C.L. Fornari’s latest title, Hydrangea Happiness. The hydrangea is a natural choice for Eastern Shore gardeners because of its abundance and popularity. It pushes regional boundaries and is certainly having a decor moment as a chosen motif.
Hydrangeas seem to be everywhere. Instagram Reels highlight hydrangea bouquets; shops display tea towels and dishware featuring the iconic bloom paired with lemons and oranges.
C.L.’s book starts with soil, continues with blooms and reaches new heights with creative ways to present hydrangeas in the garden, on the table and wherever you please.
Hydrangea Happiness is about understanding your environmental conditions and working with them, giving the plant space to grow and finding fresh ways to introduce the plant into your world. The book empathetically addresses the reasons behind failed attempts, so you are set up for success.
Also, the pictorial guide with its tips, tricks and inspiration is good-looking on a coastal coffee table.
Growing an Audience
“The funny thing is,” says C.L., “I never intended to be the Garden Lady.” She studied art and built an early career as a fiber artist, weaving and creating photographic collages. She lives on Cape Cod, where she gardens at her home—known as Poison Ivy Acres—in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
After 22 years hosting “The Garden Line” on WXTK, she moved to NPR, then WCAI and WGBH, where she is now settled as the Garden Lady, a title that would have surprised her early on in her career.
“People call and say, ‘I’m not a gardener, but…’” says C.L., explaining how her latest book and past titles spark conversation.
Her entry into the gardening industry began in the early 1990s, during a transition that brought her to Cape Cod. Looking for a book on gardening in the region, C.L. hoped to stumble upon a guide of sorts. The few resources available were outdated, offering advice that didn’t reflect the realities of coastal growing conditions.
As an artist and maker, her natural instinct was to create her own guide.
What began as a self-directed project, driving across the Cape, photographing gardens and talking with local growers, led to her first published book in 1996. In the three decades since, C.L. has authored nine books and built a career as a trusted voice in the gardening community.
Along the way, C.L. found another platform: radio.
This accessibility remains central to her work. “I like that radio reaches people who might not think of themselves as gardeners,” she says.
Hosting Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a natural subject for coastal gardeners. They are iconic, abundant and often misunderstood.
“There are several varieties, and they all behave differently,” C.L. explains, comparing them to members of the same family with distinct personalities.
Ending up with showy blooms is all about understanding your environment and matching the right plant to the right place. Sun exposure, soil conditions, winter weather and pruning practices all play a role. C.L.’s goal with Hydrangea Happiness is to simplify the process and make it approachable for gardeners at any level.
The book is designed to be both informative and inviting, with quick-reference sections that allow readers to “scroll” through tips and guidance rather than feeling overwhelmed.
“I wanted people to be able to dip in and out,” she says.
C.L. also rethinks how hydrangeas are presented.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional garden photography, she emphasizes what she calls “hydrangea style,” showcasing blooms as design elements, from single stems displayed in bottles to arrangements that highlight color, texture and form. “Cut these flowers and bring them inside,” she encourages. CS
