Drying Hydrangeas - How To!

Have you tried to dry hydrangeas

with no success....except for some very ugly withered  bouquets?

I think I've found the secret.

(BTW, if you are a professional hydrangea dryer, I hope you agree,

but regardless, this IS working for me!)

It's not HOW you dry them...

Some people suggest putting cut hydrangeas in the trunk of your car

and leaving them for a few days....

or hanging them in the attic upside down to dry.

I simply cut the hydrangea stems,

removed all the leaves,

and placed them in various containers

with a couple of inches of water in the bottom.

But.....that is still not the secret.

I think the KEY to drying hydrangeas

is not the HOW to,

                                                                 but the WHEN to.

I've always tried to dry fresh blue (soft) mopheads.

Nope, not gonna work.

Sorry.

You've got to leave those mopheads on the bush for at least a month!

They will begin to turn green-blue,

and the blossoms will seem to "set up"

sort of like jello.....or your hair after you've added a little hair spray.

Seriously.

Then, choose the technique,

fill your containers,

and watch them dry

in their beautiful green/blue glory.

These beauties are almost dry now.

See how pretty the colors are and

how full the petals are?!

You can't rush them.

You have to leave them on the bush....through the thunder storms, argh!

(Note:  My daughter's hydrangea bush is in the blazing sun, and her blooms went from fab to burned rather quickly.  Our hydrangea bushes are shaded.)

Hope you can gather and dry some hydrangeas.

To  me, they are the prettiest of all the dried flowers!

Blessings,

Linda