36 August 2014 | thecurrenthub.com
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GATHERING BEAUTY FROM THE LATE SUMMER GARDEN
The flowers on these Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ are ready for harvesting in August.
new” blooms. Select mature blossoms that are slightly stiff and firm to the August is the time to think about touch. Pull off all the leaves and place harvesting and drying your own the stalks in a clean, empty bucket hydrangeas naturally. There are with plenty of room so the flower many ways to dry hydrangeas, and heads aren’t crowded. Don’t add I’ve tried several myself. But due to water. Place the bucket in a cool dark the many variables in our southern, room or air-conditioned basement summer gardens (humidity, rainfall, away from direct sunlight and let drought), it seems impractical to pin them dry for two months. After this down a single “best method” for period of time, take them outside and drying hydrangeas because every spray the stalks and the flowers with summer presents a different weather an unscented “strong hold” hair spray, pattern than the previous one. Here turning the flower heads until they are a couple of suggestions to get you are evenly sprayed. Let them air dry started, depending upon the variety for about 20 minutes before placing growing in your garden. them back in the bucket. They are If you grow Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ now ready for use in dried floral (Hydrangea paniculata), then you arrangements. I have found that this are familiar with its robust bloom simple method of “preserving” habit and huge white flower heads. hydrangeas keeps them fresh and atI’ve had great results drying tractive for two years indoors. ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas. Cut the flowIf you grow the traditional mopers on two-foot long stalks in head hydrangeas (Hydrangea mid-August when the flowers are just macrophylla), wait a little longer bepast their peak. Don’t cut the “brand fore cutting these flowers. In the fall By Nancy Wallace