This summer, make your home lovely with lush, summery hydrangea arrangements. They’re an easy, long-lasting cut flower, and because they’re so large, just a few stems create a sizable statement.
Fresh Cut Hydrangea
Hydrangea don’t have much in the way of fragrance, so adding carnations (see the picture above), tuberose, stock, roses, or freesia will create a soft scent that lightly perfumes a room. We’re partial to monochromatic bouquets, but that’s a matter of taste. Make the arrangement your own!
Cut hydrangea are very forgiving if you have to keep them out of water longer than you’d like. We don’t rush ours home from the store. And speaking of stores, we often buy ours from the local grocery. Nothing fancy! The Endless Summer hydrangeas below are garden fresh. If you have room, they’re a delightful plant in the garden.
To create your own stunning arrangement, select a container or vase with a wide mouth, or use a hurricane lamp. Cut the stems so the blossoms will lay over the lip of the container. Refresh the water every couple of days, recutting the stems on a diagonal. Our indoor bouquets last at least a week or longer.
Drying Hydrangea for Arrangements
Drying hydrangea couldn’t be easier. After you’ve enjoyed them in an arrangement, hang them upside down for several weeks to dry. Take four stems at a time and rubber band them together. Use a hook or unfold a paper clip to hang them. Allow them space to dry in a natural, rounded shape.
When your hydrangea are completely dry and rigid, they’re ready for arranging. For dried arrangements, we prefer opaque containers that hide the floral foam. Cut the foam to fit the shape of the container. Allow enough space to lift the foam out fairly easily. Insert the dried hydrangea stems into the foam, creating a mounded shape to your arrangement.
At the end of summer, carefully lift the entire arrangement out of the container and store it in a dry closet. This enables you to reuse the container for other everlasting arrangements. Enjoy!
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