Drying Limelight Hydrangeas For Fall Vignettes
Greetings! How is your week going?
I have been outside tweaking my front door wreaths, fertilizing some geraniums and cutting the rest of my limelight hydrangeas so I could dry them for a few more Fall vignettes around our home.
I sure have been enjoying these Lime light hydrangeas (Hydrangea Paniculata) and I have learned so much about them these past few months.
With the wide range of hardiness zones for the beautiful blooming limelight hydrangea.
It seems to me the Limelight Hydrangea is an essential flower for the majority of gardeners.
Since most anyone, anywhere, can grow a limelight hydrangea I felt I just had to share this good news with you!
It wasn't until I moved to the deep South that I discovered the ease and beauty of growing Limelight Hydrangea's and the beautiful bouquets that they make when they are at the peak of their season and when they are dried.
Being a flower grower I am always investigating the nature of flowering plants and to my amazement the Limelight Hydrangea grows and thrives in many, many hardiness zones.
These zones range from 3a to 9a, which is why I also saw them growing in my home state of Idaho.
This means that the Limelight hydrangea can grow and bloom at Minnesota's northern border, where extreme winter temps drop to 40 degrees below zero.
And, it can do the same through hot, humid Georgia where temperatures rarely get below 20 F above zero.
Surely the Limelight Hydrangea can easily be the darling of most any garden and drying them is as simple as a snap of the fingers!
How To Dry Limelight Hydrangeas
- Let mother nature do most of the work.
- Don't cut too early from plant or while they are still white or they will droop.
- The longer you wait the better.
- Ideal time to cut them is when the blooms turn greenish.
- After cutting the woody stems place them in a jar, vase or tall container and let them dry.
- So many beautiful ways to use the glorious and beautiful dried hydrangea and making a Wreath is another great option.
How To Add Dried Hydrangeas To Fall Vignettes
I didn’t realize it was that easy! Need to try this. It’s the perfect dry flower for holidays
ReplyDeleteMaria,
DeleteIt was quite by accident that I discovered the simplicity of this process. I had some failed attempts by picking them too soon, too late and then finally at just the right time. After that it was success every time!
I can't remember whether ours are limelight or not. They do turn green after being white and I love them so much. I saw that P. Allen Smith also dries his without putting in water but when I've tried that they don't stay as pretty as when I smash the stems and put an inch or two of water in the vase and let them absorb only that amount of water without adding any more. I do that with oakleaf hydrangeas too. Your vignettes using them are all lovely!
ReplyDeleteDewena,
DeleteThank you for sharing this Hydrangea tip.
I just bet that would really help out with the dryness that hits some of them.
It'd be a slower process and might just prevent the droopiness that claims some of the blooms.
I am going to give that a try for next season.
Thanks for the tip!
What a lovely post Jemma! I too absolutely adore hydrangeas and have been trying to get some started here. I've not had much success, sadly. Although, the varieties I've tried are the pink and blue ones. I need to get this variety. A friend let me pick some of her limelight blooms. I stuck them in a bit of water, and then let them dry out. They were lightly tinged green when I picked them, and they have dried out perfectly. I just love them! Thank you for all the creative ideas to use them :) Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHello Marilyn,
DeleteSuch a sweet visit to have you drop by.
You know Marilyn, I don't know what elevation you are but when I visited my Idaho farm I was astounded at the number of neighbors growing limelights. My
farm is located at a 4000 + elevation so perhaps it is lower than you. I am glad your friend shared her bounty with you!