Here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon the autumn season is still in full swing. The leaves on the sweet gum trees in my neighborhood are a blaze of red, orange and yellow. And the leaves that have fallen from the maple, oak and cottonwood trees have been raked up and are piled high on the curbsides waiting for the recycling truck.
Likewise, the hydrangea flowers in my garden have turned from their bright spring pastel shades to various darker autumnal tones of pink, purple, green and blue. Ahhh, yes - this is the time of year to cut and preserve these delightfully fluffy pom-pom balls of color!
Drying garden hydrangea flowers is a very easy process, but timing is everything. If cut too soon they'll wilt just like any cut flower. But if cut during the autumn season before the first frost the moisture will properly evaporate and the flower heads will last for years to come. Preserved hydrangeas provide one with an easy opportunity to enjoy having flowers in the home through the winter months, or if one chooses, throughout the year.
As mentioned, the trick is to cut the flowers in the autumn before the first frost. How you can tell if your hydrangeas are ready to be cut for preservation is to examine the log stems. The plant will begin to dry out on its own as it begins the process of going into dormancy for the winter. The stems should look dry from the ground up to just past the half way point of the flower head. The flower heads should still feel soft and fluffy, with petals fully formed and colors muted.
Cut long stems and arrange into a florist bucket or any utility-type container. Pour about an inch or two of water into the bottom of your chosen container. The idea here is to add just enough water to see the flowers through the drying process. I poured 32 ounces of water into this standard sized farm bucket.
Place your container in a cool dry area of your home for 1-3 weeks. I placed mine in my garage. Depending on the amount of moisture in the flower heads when you started the process, you should start feeling the flower heads begin to dry within a week or so. They should slowly dry without changing their basic shape or size in any significant way. Again, the idea is to slowly encourage evaporation of the moisture in the flowers.
Do not add any more water to your container, rather, allow the water to slowly evaporate.
Once your hydrangea flowers have fully dried they are ready for wreath making. If you are interested in how to make a dried hydrangea wreath, you might like to read my very popular blog post DIY: Autumn Hydrangea Wreath.
Happy wreath making!
