This weekend, I purchased a beautiful bundle of hydrangeas at the 32nd Street Farmer’s Market in Waverly with the intention of taking them home to dry them. The vendor warned me that there was a 50/50 chance they may just shrivel up and die, and she gave me a few helpful tips (one of which was to buy extras just in case a few of them bombed).

August through October is the ideal time for cutting hydrangea blossoms. They should be just over peak bloom, when the larger petals are beginning to fade and some small flowers are just about to bloom. Overall, the subtle fade in color is your best indicator that the blossoms are ready to be cut – or, you can just rely on an experience flower vendor to do your cutting for you (like I did).

Once you have your blossoms in hand, there are several ways to dry them. One of the easiest ways is to simply trim the leaves and hang them upside down. Your stems should be around 12-15 inches, and your blossoms should be hung separately. It will take about a day or two for them to dry. Another easy way is to place the stems in fresh water until it evaporates. With water drying, your flowers may end up being a little less brittle than with the hanging method. Either way, once they’re dry they make a beautiful statement and if handled with care can last for years.

Baltimore Sun file photo