Author: Neal Saye

Do you have certain plants that for whatever reason are special to you? Maybe it’s their beauty or uniqueness or the nostalgia they evoke.

I do. And one for me is the Oakleaf Hydrangea. Are you familiar with it?

I first saw it quite a few years ago in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. But I called it by the wrong name for years. I just made up a name and started calling it Big Paperwhite. (Similar to Adam and Eve naming the various animals in the Garden of Eden, I imagine.)

It wasn’t until about a year ago that I finally had sense enough to use my iNaturalist app to identify the plant.

Lo and behold, iNaturalist corrected me and informed my that my attractive plant is the Oakleaf Hydrangea.

I was glad to have the right name but a little disappointed that I had to start calling him by the new, well correct, name.

And yes, the leaves do look like a bit like oak leaves, I must admit.

But don’t you think the individual little flowers look a tiny bit like the Paperwhite Narcissus?

Oakleaf even comes in different colors …

So now you (AND I!) I know.

But just between you and me, I still occasionally call him “Big Paperwhite,” for old-time’s sake.

And that’s My Saturday Evening Post.