From Mélie’s Garden
This year was a disappointing year for hydrangea lovers on Fishers Island. A late winter warm spell encouraged the hydrangeas to put out their buds too early. The new buds unfortunately froze a bit later in a sudden cold snap. So most of the hydrangeas on the Island were flower-less until a second bloom appeared late in the summer.
This fall, as the nights started to get cooler, I noticed that many of our hydrangeas did have quite a number of blooms that were starting to turn a deep purply pink. I love them when they turn that color, so I always pick a few to bring into the house with the hope that they will dry and be nice to have in the winter. I have never been hundred percent successful in doing this because they often turn a dreary color of brown and dry up. It has been interesting to read that drying hydrangeas is not all that easy to do for many gardeners. However, master English flower arranger, Sheila Macqueen says about hydrangeas, “To dry, feet in water and head in hot air to dry quickly and keep in the light.”
Following that advice, I have found that hydrangeas dry fairly well if once cut, you put them in a bit of water and just let the water dry out. It is never a perfect science because some dry beautifully and some just turn brown no matter what you do. If you are successful, they really are pretty to have in the house in the fall. Dried hydrangeas are a nice addition to the table on Thanksgiving, especially when combined with some berries and fruit.
To make the arrangement, place the hydrangeas in a wet oasis in a nice container. You can use flower picks or wooden chopsticks, cut in half, to stick into the fruit, which will secure it in the oasis among the hydrangeas. In between the flowers and fruit, you can also put in little branches with berries or rose hips from rosa rugosa. It is fun to collect various things to add to the arrangement using your imagination. This type of creation doesn’t last more than a few days but certainly will be pretty through the long holiday weekend.
