Decorating With Hydrangeas

I am in love with hydrangeas, when we first moved in I planted a Pee Gee species off of my front porch. Last year I planted another one to flank the other side of my porch, I think it will look really nice when it finally catches up to the other one. This one bush has given me several bouquets through the years, I like to cut them around the beginning of September when they are still a pretty lime green, sometimes I can get them at just the right time and a bit of a plum color will line the edges of the delicate petals. My neighbor Pam has given me some of her gorgeous Annabelle's and I love to make a huge bouquet with them. Hydrangeas are very easy to dry, sometimes I will hang bunches upside down but this year I just picked them put them in a vase and let them dry naturally. I thought I would share some pictures from this years "crop", I usually have plenty and give them away to visitors because although I love them, I don't want them everywhere, my son has severe allergies and I try to limit alot of dried flowers sitting around to collect dust. I cleared my buffet in the dining room the other day of all fall items and went for a more clean look, this huge bouquet of hydrangeas looks so pretty in there next to my white dishes. I like being all set up for dinner parties this time of year. I was looking at the P*ttery Barn catalog the other day and got inspired to do this. I also hung a shelf that I have had for years on an awkward wall in my kitchen. It was too long so my hubby cut a few inches off of the ends for me and now it fits perfectly, I love giving new life to an old favorite. It is the perfect place for my vase of this years hydrangeas. I usually pick my flowers when the heads are starting to get a little cripsy, they only take a few days to dry.