A Beautiful Harvest

It has been an abundant year for my 

Hydrangea bushes! 

Not wanting these beautiful blossoms to go to waste, 

I have been filling baskets, boxes, and every container I can find! 

I have also been making wreaths.

Come along with me and I will show you how

to harvest and preserve these beautiful flowers. 

I grow Nikko Blue Hydrangea. 

(Click on the link if you would like more info and to buy your own)

Normally these are bright blue, but this time of year

they have faded to lovely shades of green, tinged with rose. 

At this time of year,

(approx. the 3rd week of Sept. onward -

 or when the petals feel papery to touch) 

I can cut these lovely blossoms and they will stay 

perfectly formed without any water! 

Here you can see the contrast of colors, 

with some newer blossoms showing 

their glorious blue coloring. 

These blue blossoms would have

 to be preserved by letting them dry

 in a container with a bit of water. 

Just let the water evaporate over time 

and the blossoms will dry gradually. 

The older blossoms need no water. 

Cut the stems right above a leaf node. 

Nikko Blue sets bloom

                          on stems two years old and older.                       

If you want to trim back your Nikko Blue

further than the first or second leaf node, 

you will sacrifice next year's blossoms!

So be careful about that. 

I fill large baskets with these glorious blooms. 

My faithful companion, Champ. 

To fill a large, shallow basket, 

crumple newspaper in the bottom. 

Fill the perimeter first, then the middle. 

The blossoms with hold each other together. 

A bountiful harvest!

Let's go inside and see where they are placed....

My European laundry basket gets

 placed on the bedroom armoire. 

The green basket resides on the stair landing. 

This is the view from the kitchen.

Extra folding chairs line the hallway.  

A pool of late afternoon sunshine 

from the octagonal window

glows on the wall. 

I keep part of my collection of Posie Paintings here. 

I painted the blue cupboard years ago. 

I keep photos inside. 

This small area brings cheer 

to walking up and down stairs. 

To make the Hydrangea wreath, I chose 

approximately 12-18 small blossoms

and wired them to a coat hanger shaped into a circle,
then wrapped in floral tape,

It's easiest to tear 12" strips off the roll to do the wrapping. 

The tape allows the hydrangea stems to be wired on without slipping. 

You will need a roll of floral wire and cutters, too. 

Starting at the top, lay the first stem 

against the wrapped coat hanger

and wire in place, wrapping about 3 or 4 times.

 Keep the wire attached to the spool

as you go along. 

Simply lay the next blossom over this wrapped 

stem and wire that one in place. 

Continue around. 

To secure the end of the wire, 

Tie a little knot around the hanging hook by the base. 

So simple and easy! 

Hang your wreath by the hanging hook! 

xoxo

Don't cut the remaining blossoms off your Nikko Blue, 

but allow them to remain until spring. 

They will turn tan and papery and you can harvest some

for Christmas wreaths! 

The remaining blossoms also afford some frost protection

to vulnerable buds. 

Trim the remaining blossoms

 when you see signs of growth in spring. 

I hope you will give Nikko Blue Hydrangea 

a place in your garden, too! 

xoxo

Thank you , Dear Friends for your lovely comments on 

my recent trip to New England and the wedding. 

xo

'Friendship is a word the very sight of which

in print makes the heart warm.'

-Augustine Birrell-

Linking with: Ivy and Elephant's- What's it Wednesday