In my garden, hydrangea blooms that were bright blue and pink during the summer months are fading and turning papery. Blooms have taken on an aged, antiqued look in shades of burgundy, pink, green and blue. Today was the day I cut the best candidates, those that were the perfect blush, more mature and paper-like, for drying.
Many people put their hydrangea stems in water and allow the water to evaporate as the flowers dry, however, I remove the leaves, then allow the blooms air dry naturally just as my mother always did. I have dried the blooms both ways and for me, there is no difference in the color, however the air dried blooms seem a bit more fragile.
My hydrangeas will be soon be arranged in a container, no water, and the colorful blooms will become a centerpiece on our dining room table for the winter months. When spring arrives, the bouquet will be ready for the compost pile.
Beautiful! I better get out there and cut mine before they are past their peak!
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They were our grandparents favorites, and now becoming our favorites after skipping a generation! I like to keep (most of) mine very blue in the summer by sprinkling aluminum phosphate, available at your garden store, even turning very pink ones to very blue, by changing the soil pH.
The oak leaf variety also makes beautiful dried arrangements.
Nice article.
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Perfect timing! I was just wondering what the best way to preserve hydrangeas was, my most favorite of blooms — love masses of them fresh or dried!
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Great idea!
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For my classes I would always dry them ahead of time using your method, but I would hang them upside down in a dark unairconditioned room, and they were perfect each time.
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