It’s harvesting hydrangeas season! And you know what that means, right? My sad, tired patio landed some forever beautiful buckets of hydrangeas on a ladder.
This is what I had moments before.
You might say I forgot to care for this bucket of flowers.
So I’ve been having coffee each morning on the patio, avoiding looking in this direction.
So when I spotted this big prune fest of hydrangeas going on next door, you can bet I put a stop to that right quick!
I casually waltzed (sprinted) on over there and asked (begged) if I could have the pruned cuts.
I’ve figured out the drill well next door. When Jake and Janette prune, you run. You run fast.
So I grabbed every bucket I had on hand, and filled them with flowers and water. It’s looking pretty grand by my front door right at this moment.
I thought I’d take some bunches to the Crafty Affaire Harvest Market on the weekend… and maybe I will. But then the brainstorm hit. My poor patio was about to get a new outfit.
Grabbing the buckets I had in my stash, (some for sale on the weekend… sob), they got tied to the ladder with twine.
A bowl of water was placed inside each container. This will help the hydrangeas dry wilt free. More on how to dry hydrangeas is HERE.
KABOOM. Instant gorgeousness!
Amazing, abundant multicoloured hydrangeas that will dry just like this. That I don’t need to water! It just doesn’t get much better than that.
And because I couldn’t stop snapping pictures…
My forever beautiful buckets of hydrangeas on a ladder are perfect!
And now I can enjoy my AM coffee without having to avoid a certain ladder.
Hydrangeas on a fireplace mantel
Here’s what I did with my own hydrangeas last year.
And here’s what I did with Jake and Janette’s hydrangeas last year.
I do believe doing something over the top with hydrangeas is going to become a tradition!
If I continue to sprint fast enough…
And on a related note, I have a new guide written with ways to display flowers, vintage style! The writeup includes where to find all these great containers too! Click HERE to visit.
So you have any hydrangeas ready to harvest yet? What do you like doing with them?
If this isn’t the most gorgeousness one ladder can hold, I don’t know what is!
Hydrangeas grow well from cuttings. Just put them in a pot of potting mix and next year you will have your own
Wowsers! What a haul. I was just eyeing my hydrangea yesterday and thinking I need to harvest those blooms. I did last year and I am still enjoying them in my home, they reside in an ironstone bowl on my coffee table. Love the bucket and ladder idea. I may have to “borrow” it.
I absolutely love dried hydrangeas! My bush let me down this year (probably pruned it at wrong time last year) so I am envious of your haul. They are beautiful!!!
So Gorgeous–for some reason we had NO BLOOMS on our hydrangea this year! I have heard lots of others didn’t either–JEALOUS, but thanks for sharing so I can enjoy yours!
The hydrangeas on that bush are so gorgeous! The ladder is such a fun display for them too!
Oh really hit the jack pot! Beautiful! Hydrangeas do not grow in my area. I only see them in the stores. I live in SLC UT. My Sis lost over 30 bushes to winter kill. 🙁
I can’t believe how many different colors of flowers there are on that one bush. What kind neighbors you have. Do you fix up a special little bouquet for them as a “Thank You”? Lucky Girl!
Fantastic my seester, lovely, great job, now to cut mine down, you inspire me!
Oh yes!! Do it before the rain comes! I will quiz you in about a week’s time… haha xo
Oh Donna … you are so lucky to have those beautiful flowers. Would love to be able to grow them. Look so good on you ladder.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Donna, I am SO, SO, SO VERY jealous of your hydrangeas! My absolute most fave flowers and it’s too hot to grow them here — but I try! My bushes peak in late May with flower heads about the size of a softball. One day I will live where I can grow them like Jake & Janette…Peace.
Beautiful!
I’ve never seen hydrangeas with such a gorgeous array of colors like Vancouver has – the last time I was there I wanted to cut a bunch from peoples gardens to take home ( to Montreal )
I settled for driftwood instead lol
Unbelievably gorgeous – in the buckets – AND on your mantel
XOXO
I was disappointed when my bushes didn’t bloom in time for my granddaughter Kate’s wedding in July. We spent a small fortune buying them for her wedding. Now, here in middle Tennessee, my bushes are blooming! I dried so many from Kate’s wedding for various projects. I have to share the funniest thing concerning my dried hydrangeas. I had placed a basket on my back porch on a table, only to find one of my leghorn hens using it for a NEST! She would only lay her eggs in that basket and did so for weeks, until the two kittens took it over for themselves! So, who doesn’t love the hydrangea! I am looking out the window as I type at my neighbor’s beautiful white bush that they will be pruning soon. I guess I will take a dozen fresh eggs over in exchange for her dried flowers! Happy pruning y’all.
I just stumbled upon your website.I live in about 2 hours north east of Toronto on.I planted a Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea ,about 5 years ago,and I have been obsessed with them ever since.I planted 2 new ones this year,so now I am up to 6 in all,all different types.I am trying to learn as much as I can about caring for them,and that is how I found your site.Thanks so much for all the inspiration,advise,and lovely pictures.Currently I have the following types.The oldest plant I have is a Strawberry Vanilla one,which is how I became nuts over them.I also have newly planted a tidy Bobo Paniculata Hydrangea,a Purple Passion Macrophylia, Firelight Panicle one, a Quick Fire EARLY BLOOMING Panicle,As well as a Summer Bloomstruck MACROPHYLLA .It is confusing to me on whether to prune them in the Spring or late fall,depending on the type.I just wanted to share a hint with you ,in regards to your drying technique.The first year that I was rewarded with the most gorgeous blooms.i was literally giddy! I had no idea as to how to dry them,and decided to just put them in a vase without water,to see what happened.Well holy…AMAZING! THey dried beautifully,without any water in the vase,and to this day continue to get rave reviews from our houseguests.I went out yesterday and cut some fresh ones,and now I can’t part with all my dried blooms from the last few years.So I packed the old one carefully into large bins,for future projects.I am going to try your water method on some of the blooms that i cut,and see the difference in the the way the color looks.I am thinking I may eventaully combine some of the older ones from years before,with some of the newer ones,when I need to freshen up my decor.I have so many ideas wn my head,when it comes to displaying them around our home.I just want you to know that I appreciate your site,and I love how I have found someone else,who gets as much joy from Hydrangeas as I do.
Hey Kathy! Thanks so much for sharing this wealth of hydrangea tips! You may find if the blooms dry in the water, the petals will be less ‘wrinkly’… hope you see positive results!
Hydrangeas are my all-time fav flower as they are SO easy to care for. Glad you enjoy them too!