September 3, 2010

Greening Hydrangea



In late summer, the bright white flower heads of the Hydrangea Annabelle turn to ivory and light green; at this point they are ready for cutting and drying. I place the stems in an inch of water so that they dry slowly, upright in their large containers. The sprightly green slowly fades, then turns pale brown through the winter months. The grand rounded volumes, composed of myriad four petaled blooms, remain, until replaced by new flowers each season.


5 comments:

  1. somehow love these even more than the colourful pinks, mauves and blues...and i do like those blues...

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  2. Sophie, I love the blue hydrangeas, but unfortunately it's too cold to grow them here in northern Vermont. But these do very well, along with Pee Gee Hydrangeas.

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  3. I love the reflection in the quirky little mirror!

    Some years I've taken fresh clipped Annabelle flowers and shoved the stems into a straw wreath form. Then I've hung the wreath outdoors in a sheltered spot where it has taken a long time for the green color to fade.

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  4. I've newly discovered hydrangeas and am particularly liking a paniculata called Quickfire. The flowers are loose and conical and start white, then petals turn pale pink to rose to dark rose, not all at once. This wll grow very well in part shade here in Vermont.

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  5. Ms. Wis, I've never tried making a wreath, but it's something I should think about because it sounds lovely.

    hi Marty, I have something that sounds similar, called Diamond. It's been in a spot where it was chewed by deer, so never grew. I moved it this spring and will see if it does better; I hope so because I love the pink Pee gees.

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