Saturday, July 20, 2013

Garden To Table Hydrangeas

 I think hydrangeas are perfection!

Their blooms are a mainstay in my garden, performing from May to December.

The best time to harvest them for drying is late fall when the blooms have changed color and aren't as delicate as the spring blooms.

 Sometimes, I can't resist though and cut them for tabletop bouquets...

... knowing full well that they will wilt in a few days. 

I guess that's the price I have to pay for bouquets of perfection scattered throughout the house.


Can you blame me?

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17 comments:

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

Cannot blame you one bit. Thanks for sharing such beauty inside and out.

bella said...

I love them. We have one that grows so well, but I don't know if I should prune the flowers for more blooms or not.

The enchanted home said...

Simply stunning. Unfortunately ours have taken a major beating with the stiffing 100+ degree heat but hoping they will bounce back. Beautiful!

Sandy said...

Love hydrangeas too. Ours are a beautiful deep pink. Read from Pinterest two methods of prolonging cut hydranges: place stems in ice cold water which I did after adding ice cubes, and the second method, rubbing the bottom of the stems in the spice alum.

Mary Palumbo Collings said...

Your Hydrangeas are stunning, and I love your simple table top arrangements. I have many Hydrangeas, but most of mine like to be pink.
Enjoy the weekend...

Unknown said...

Delores, I love hydrangeas too & was sad to have them wilt in a few days. I learned this trick from my wholesale floral house - after cutting them, soak the heads in cool water to cover for abt. 1-2 hrs. If you have a lot, place them in a bathtub! They will be dripping wet but I dab them w/ a towel. Really works!! I have had them fresh for almost 2 wks.! LOVE your blog!

Kathy Bunge

Unknown said...

Delores, I love hydrangeas too & learned this tip from my wholesale floral house. After cutting, soak the heads in cool water to cover. If you cut a lot, soak them in a bathtub! They will be dripping wet when arranging them, but I dab them w/ a towel. They have lasted for over 1 1/2 wks. after this. LOVE your blog!

Kathy Bunge

Unknown said...

Just gorgeous!!

Splenderosa said...

Totally heavenly, Delores. I love them too. I keep cutting them shorter once they come inside. Keep the stems long when cutting, and as they begin to wilt cut the stems off a bit and they pop right back up.

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I am doing the same thing, but I am getting mine from the old house. ONE perk of the fact that it hasn't sold yet:(:( Yours are gorgeous and so are the vessels!!!!

Sarah said...

If I had a hydrangea bush, I'd cut them to be enjoyed indoors. When I purchase the cut stems at the market I can usually get them to last for 2 weeks or more. Cut the stems at an angle and then again up the stem so they can drink freely. Sometimes I have to rehydrate with warm water. Love these gorgeous blooms you show. Beautiful color!

Unknown said...

Oh my! I could have written this post myself! I have the same hydrangeas and have been enjoying my fresh bouquets all summer but have also been cutting they dry blooms and using them for arrangements around my house. I have just created the most gorgeous arrangement (for my dad's birthday brunch) with the dried hydrangeas and fresh sunflowers (from our garden) and took lots of pictures. Couldn't help but think of you! I will post about it and let you know because I can't wait for you to see it. I just love your blog!

Southerncook said...

I am enjoying my hydrangeas right now too and I can't resist having lots of vases filled either. I am especially enjoying a new variety that I planted a couple of years ago, Limelight. They are gorgeous and I have dried them beautifully last year but haven't been quite as successful this year, not sure why? It is unusual for a white hydrangea to dry beautifully and I will not give up. My favorite flower to bring in from the garden. I do as Sarah does, cut them on an angle and then up the stem.

Carolyn

My Little Bungalow said...

Not at all! Hydrangeas are spectacular. I don't have any in my yard, but if I did, I'd cut them for inside the house too.
Claudia

Leslie said...

Gorgeous color Dolores! Ours have gone bonkers this summer and I'm enjoying making arrangements for my home. The flowers are one of the many joys of summer!

Bonnie said...

Delores, I share your hydrangea love. I have over 80 bushes and want more!!!!!

Pat@Life At Lydias House said...

Your hydrangeas are beautiful! My cut ones last a couple of weeks because I either smash the end of the stem with a hammer or take a sharp blade and cut several cuts up into the stem. I read years ago that this keeps them from getting an air bubble that stops the water from going up the stem.

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