Hydrangea
Hate to see those opulent hydrangeas perish from frost? We can very easily extend our moments of admiration by drying hydrangeas in the fall before frost. My Peegee and Blue Nikko hydrangea combination in the basket (see photo) were dried naturally in the beginning of October. In the fall some of the Nikko flower heads artfully turned into a lavender-purple. One can cut the blooms, strip off the leaves, arrange them in a vase, without water and leave them to dry. Some individuals fill a container half-way with water, fill it with hydrangeas, and let them dry without adding more water. It’s not necessary to hang hydrangeas upside down to dry unless the stems are very thin and weak. Silica gel drying is another method, but it’s too messy for this neatnik.
Clip hydrangea branches in the afternoon on a dry day. Before clipping, scrutinize the petals. If the petals appear to be soft and almost velvet-like, then wait a little longer until the petals feel dry and rather papery.
The creative spark: dried hydrangeas are charming for making arrangements or all alone in a vase or unique container, they certainly are eye candy. You may like to use dried hydrangeas for wreath making or, for a change, decorating a Christmas tree. Consider using hair spray to discourage petals from dropping.