A single flower can lift our spirits, brighten our day, and improve our mood!

But when we unexpectedly find ourselves in a fairy-tale setting filled with colorful hydrangeas, feelings of joy and serenity wash over us!

We encountered this stunning scene in the village of Pedoula, at the home of Dimitris Moiseos. Our host opened the doors to “The House of Hydrangeas,” welcomed us, and gave us a tour of his garden—just as he does for the visitors he meets in his yard.

Mr. Moiseos left the city six years ago and has been living permanently in the village ever since. It was a conscious decision that fills him with peace and… hydrangeas. He tells us that the creation of his garden came about completely by chance.

“Actually, I bought my first hydrangea in May 2020, on Mother’s Day, for my mother. I’d bought it for her in Nicosia. It started to wilt. I brought it here and planted it. I started buying, adding, finding new varieties, and putting them in the garden. Until all the beauty of the garden you see today came to be.”

From bank clerk… to hydrangea caretaker. He acquired his knowledge of caring for this impressive plant through study and by exchanging information with other flower enthusiasts.

“And so, through experience, you gain the necessary knowledge to see this garden in the condition it’s in today. Caring for them is a year-round endeavor and requires a lot of time, love, and passion. They definitely need to be watered every day now that it’s summer. Especially now that temperatures have risen, they need to be watered twice a day.”

Watch Olga Konstantinou’s report:

In recent years, “The House with the Hydrangeas” has become a landmark for the community. Social media is flooded with photos from Klelia Hatzioannou Street in Pedoula.

“It certainly gives me satisfaction and peace of mind to see people enjoying it. You definitely feel a sense of fulfillment because of the time, money, and dedication you’ve poured into nature and the flowers. You see that it pays off and there’s a positive outcome.”

The best time to visit and enjoy this feast of colors is during the summer months, mainly from June through the end of July.

“And as autumn sets in, the colors shift toward maroon; some turn red, others turn green. They take on beautiful hues—especially the blue and lilac varieties, which turn lovely shades in the fall.”

Their colors hold their own secrets. Hydrangeas come in two colors: white and pink. The white hydrangea never changes color.

“The pink ones, depending on the soil’s acidity—its pH—can change color. If you lower the pH and the soil becomes more acidic, they turn blue. If you raise it and the soil becomes more alkaline, then they turn pink or reddish. To achieve this, you need to add aluminum sulfate. It’s a substance that I mix into the water and use to water them starting in the fall, until the first color appears on their flowers in the spring.”

The garden is home to more than ten different varieties of hydrangeas.

Visitors are welcome to tour the Hydrangea House, provided they respect the space and keep it clean.

“I ask that they not pick the flowers; although most visitors respect the space and do not pick flowers. There have been cases where people cut quite a few, but also just one or two each, because when everyone cuts just one or two flowers, there won’t be anything left for the next visitors to enjoy.”

Mr. Myoseos’s colorful garden “bloomed” and the village as well, since thousands of Cypriots from every corner of the island, as well as tourists from all over the world, flock to Pedoula to see the hydrangeas, take photos, and capture a little of their radiance.

“As soon as people see them, they’re left speechless; they love them, they take photos, they come with their babies dressed—either in blue for the boys or pink for the girls—and take videos and photos. Sure, they enjoy the area, and this also puts the village—Pedoulas—on the map; they visit the restaurants to have coffee and a meal. This also helps the village’s development.”

At the same time, they have the opportunity to explore and visit the village’s religious monuments, museums, and nature trails. 

The sight of the hydrangeas in full bloom brought back memories and recollections from Tasoulla Avraam’s childhood.

“I admire them so much, so very much. We had so many hydrangeas in Morphou; they were so beautiful. And now that we see them, we’re thrilled. They’re so beautiful. The entire street in Pedoula is lined with them. Very beautiful.”

Their beauty is so captivating that no passerby can help but notice them.  

By scanning the QR code, the public can easily find their way there. The Facebook group run by Dimitris Moiseos, called “Gardenias, Camellias, Hydrangeas, and Other Acid-Loving Plants,” brings together thousands of hydrangea enthusiasts who exchange information on plant care. There is also a wealth of content on his Instagram page, “The House with the Hydrangeas.”