Sunday, June 3, 2012

Hortensia bleu

I don't recall ever setting my brown yeux on a more beautiful bleu!
The hortensia bushes have abundant blooms this season. It's everything I can do to not pick the flowers for arrangements. I'm wanting to dry them instead. 
They line the north side of our home with their stunning beauté.
They are such a sight to see that I've even had folks drive by our home, turn around and stop and ask me what kind of fleur they are. 

I do nothing to the soil. We've had an extremely dry spring so I have watered them, but other than that nothing. There are pink blossoms too! 

They will be ready to sec in around three weeks. If you're picking hydrangea for drying wait until they've bloomed. After they bloom they become top heavy and their blooms begin to turn green. That's when you pick them for drying. No special process for drying at the point. I do remove the leaves, but other than that. I then place the stems in a vase or whatever conteneur I wish to use and that's it!

I have dried blooms from several years ago! They last a long time if dried. Kind of like Bittersweet. 
I'm experimenting this summer with a variety of everlasting flowers that will be dried. I'm so excité about the idee of dried flowers. I've always been fond of them. Mustn't forget lavender...

Oh and if you cut the flower fresh to enjoy as an arrangement. Always smash the stem with a case knife or scissor handle. If you don't do this your bloom won't last through the day. However if you do, they will last up to two - three weeks!

Ayez un beau jour
 
Jill


6 comments:

  1. I caught the drying bug too. I used to do a lot of it and then got out of the habit, too bad because dried flowers are wonderful. So far I have bouquets of yarrow, statice, roses and hydrangeas...my lavender is just starting to bloom. I hang them on the doorknobs to dry and they add fragrance to the house.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a gorgeous blue, Jill! You were definitely born with a 'green thumb'! :)

    xoxo laurie

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful blog, full of pretty images!
    Carmen

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love hydrangeas too. Can't wait to bring some bouquets inside.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh wow....Great tips. This is such an inspiring post. I would love it if you would share this wonderful post at our WIW linky party. Hope you can join us!

    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stunning flowers. I just planted 3 new red hydranga this year and I am like a mother hen with them. Hoping for blooms next year and so excited to see what a red hydranga looks like in person.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

    ReplyDelete