In the world of plants, as in show business, everything old is eventually new again. Our grandmother's old-fashioned hydrangeas, those shrubby mainstays of gardens past, have made a comeback. And with good reason, for few plants are so easy to care for, plus bloom so long in such a lovely array of colors.

Breeders have been busy creating a wonderland of whites, blues, pinks, reds, violets and deep purples and not just in the familiar mop-head clusters.

Hydrangea flowers come in cones, lace-caps, varying in color on a single plant, and even variegated. Plant them along the north side of the house, beneath trees (as long as it isn't too dry and rooty), or in any shady or partially shady spot.

Just remember that the word hydrangea comes from the Greek "hydro," meaning water. Hydrangeas need to be watered regularly. And they appreciate a dose of compost and manure every spring to look their best.

Just leave the old flowers on in the fall (except for the ones you cut for bouquets and to dry) to protect the new buds from harsh weather. New buds form beneath the old flower heads, so cut back carefully in March, which is also the time to cut out maybe a quarter to a third of the older stems on the plants.

Lots of hydrangeas

You can enjoy (and buy) some of the coolest hydrangeas on the planet, growing in a dappled woodland alongside ideal companion plantings, at the annual Hydrangea Daze Garden Open, next weekend at Heronswood Nursery in Kingston.

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, plant explorer and Heronswood proprietor Dan Hinkley will give free slide presentations both days about hydrangeas, and staff will be on hand to answer plant questions.

Admission of $1 benefits the Kitsap Library Foundation. For directions and information, see www.heronswood.com or call 360-297-4172. Take the ferry from Edmonds; the Heronswood Nursery is a 10-minute drive from downtown Kingston at 7530 N.E. 288th St.

That's all the care hydrangeas need, and they'll reward you with luscious flowers in the garden, and to cut for the house, for many years.

There are lots of new types of hydrangeas as well as old favorites available in the nurseries. Here are some of the prettiest:

"Buttons 'n' Bows" has big, fat flowers in rosy pink, each petal cunningly outlined with white.

"Preziosa" has black stems and flowers that come on cream and turn to every shade of pink through wine as the season progresses. As the weather cools, the leaves turn red as well as the flowers.

"Little Honey" is an oakleaf hydrangea with golden-colored leaves. The handsome, toothed foliage is topped off with cones of creamy-white flowers all summer. It's the perfect little plant for containers or at the front of the border, for it grows only about 3 feet high and wide.

"Blue Deckle" brings a blast of sea and sky to the garden, with electric blue, lacy flowers that age to violet.

"Annabelle" is my favorite of all the hydrangeas, with near-basketball sized round flowerheads that start out creamy and turn soft green. It's the essence of old-fashioned hydrangea splendor, as big and blowsy as they come.

Cutting and drying hydrangea flowers: Right after you pick, dip stems in boiling water for five seconds and they'll stay fresh in water for a couple of weeks. For drying, wait until the flowers turn a bit leathery and dull slightly. Flowers picked too soon will wither no matter what drying technique you use. When picked at the right moment, all you need to do is stand each stem separately (don't crush together in bouquets) in vases or bottles to dry, and they should last for several years.

Choice plant

Hosta "June" is an award-winning perennial, with chartreuse leaves edged in blue, and pale lavender flower spikes in mid-summer. It is surprisingly slug resistant, and grows into a clump nearly 2 feet high and wide.

Hostas are fine companions to hydrangeas, with similar needs for shade and moisture.

Technique to try

Organic gardening restores nature's balance to the garden, and ensures safety for kids, pets and wild creatures.

Seattle Tilth offers low-cost hands-on garden clinics to aspiring organic gardeners every month of the year. Each clinic is one-hour long and takes place in the Seattle Tilth Demonstration gardens in Wallingford. These are fun, participatory classes, followed by garden work parties.

Each clinic costs $8 for Tilth members, $10 for nonmembers. For a schedule and to register, call Seattle Tilth 206-633-0451, or register online at www.seattletilth.org.

Gardens to visit

As the skies clear and rain is scarce until September, stop by the Bellevue Botanical Garden to be inspired by all the plants you can grow in droughty conditions. The waterwise display garden is filled with colorful lush plants that get along just fine on little or no water once established.

You'll be amazed to see this varied palette of lovely plants flourishing in bright sun and beneath huge fir trees — all in dry soil. Be sure and pick up free Waterwise Gardening Guides in the Visitor Center.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden is open daily from dawn to dusk; the Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The garden is located at 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Call 425-452-2750 or www.bellevuebotanicalgarden.org for directions.

Valerie Easton also answers questions in Wednesday's Plant Talk on the back of Northwest Life. Send questions to P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com Sorry, no personal replies.