Do you prune your Hydrangeas? I admit I haven't been careful about the timing of this practice in the past, for various reasons. But this year they've been so full of blooms--more than I can remember in previous years. And one of our shrubs is next to the sidewalk, so it must be contained. Some sources I've consulted recommend pruning around August 1 to encourage blooms for next year.
So I'm focusing solely on Hydrangeas for this post. I piled a bunch of cuttings in a large glass bowl for display.
They make an interesting mounded arrangement.
I added the teacup to show the size of the mound, although it's hard to convey through a photo.
Here you can see the large glass bowl and the blooms spilling over it.
I also grouped a few of the blooms--some with a little more color--along with some foliage, into a small display vase in the family room. They're so pretty and elegant.
OK, I fibbed. It's not just about Hydrangeas. The Gladiolas continue, and I plopped three stems in a vase in the restroom. Gosh, these were easy arrangements. And the flowers keep coming...
They make an interesting mounded arrangement.
I added the teacup to show the size of the mound, although it's hard to convey through a photo.
Here you can see the large glass bowl and the blooms spilling over it.
I also grouped a few of the blooms--some with a little more color--along with some foliage, into a small display vase in the family room. They're so pretty and elegant.
OK, I fibbed. It's not just about Hydrangeas. The Gladiolas continue, and I plopped three stems in a vase in the restroom. Gosh, these were easy arrangements. And the flowers keep coming...
I'm linking in with Cathy's In a Vase on Monday meme over at Rambling in the Garden. Head on over to see some amazing displays.
Wonderful to see a simple take on hydrangeas and the glads are beautiful. Enjoy your summer bounty. Amelia
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amelia. The blooms did all the work this time. They are so appreciated. :)
DeleteOh I love the vases of hydrangeas as they change colors. Mine are late as I had to cut the bush back due to beetle infestation and damage. They are just blooming along with one glad.
ReplyDeleteI honestly was considering removing the Hydrangea that produced all these beautiful blooms. During a normal summer, it has to be watered very often, and during a drought with hot weather...daily. But, I guess it stays now. ;-)
DeleteI have never brought glads in for a vase! Actually I rarely bring any flowers in. It's one of my cats. One has a passion for anything new, anything I've put where he isn't supposed to go, anything from the garden and therefore edible. Or at least eatable. He ate the green husk ends from corn on the cob last night, which came back up. I wondered where he'd gotten grass!
ReplyDeleteOh, I understand. Our cat is the same way...so the arrangements have to go up high in locations she can't reach, or in closed rooms where she doesn't go. I hope your kitty is OK. <3
DeleteThe Fling reactivated my interest in hydrangeas and I've got something of a fixation going on with them at the moment. Whether it'll last long enough for me to do something about it is the only question - realistically, hydrangeas and my hot, dry garden probably aren't a good pairing. I do love your displays of the fluffy flowers though, Beth, especially the one in the second vase.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris. I can imagine the Hydrangeas are incredible in the Northwest part of the country. I love them here, too, but they truly struggle during drought years. I hope it's a long time before we have one of those again. If they weren't planted near the house, I'd probably take them out because they have to be watered so much in most years. This watery one is an exception.
DeleteGosh, your prunings make a quick and effective vase , well vases! And their blooms are so tactile too, so you will enjoy running your hand over them. And more gladioli - you have been well blessed this summer!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy: Thank you. Yes, the Gladiolas keep coming--I staggered their planting, so there are several more to go. Love this time of year. :)
DeleteWhat fabulous hydrangeas, Beth. I love that gorgeous display in the glass bowl. I don't have enough plants to justify cutting them, but the thought of trying to dry a small amount of stems has definitely crossed my mind! Enjoy the week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Most years I do cut a few to dry, but not the entire shrub. By pruning now, I hope it will bloom prolifically again next summer. We'll see. Enjoy your week, too!
DeleteI love hydrangeas and this year they are particularly nice due to our mild winter. Do you dry them for indoor winter arrangements? A tradition for me is to gather rosy-tinged H. paniculata just before frost for optimal color. I just arrange them in an empty vase and let them dry in place... so easy! Eliza
ReplyDeleteSame for us. Yes, I usually cut a few to dry indoors, and I have loads of dry ones around the house. But this year, I thought I'd try early pruning to prep the buds for blooms next year. It will be a fun experiment. :)
DeleteBeautiful hydrangeas, but I'm in love with your beautiful glads. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy. I'm so glad I planted Gladiolas again--they just keep giving, with staggered planting.
DeleteOur hydrangeas are doing so well this season as well. I love what you have done here to display them. Beautiful. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carla. I really don't think I've ever had this many blooms on the shrubs. Part of it is because of the weather; another part may be because they get more sun--our neighbor cut down a very large Cottonwood tree next door. So one of the shrubs gets much more sun.
DeleteI love seeing the gorgeous plants, which I could never grow, placed so beautifully. All of these arrangements are just stunning, Beth--well done! Tina
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina. They were fun and easy to pull together. I'm feeling so blessed with blooms and healthy plants this summer.
DeleteThe hydrangeas are lovely, I can't grow them here either - so they look especially nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm really enjoying them this year. During a dry year, they can be challenging.
DeleteThey are exquisite and are best standing alone I think.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny. Hydrangeas are great shrubs and so unique. :)
DeleteWonderful hydrangeas, and setting them in a bowl was a great idea Beth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. There are just so many blooms this year!
DeleteI found out that I am partial to green hydrangeas. With the pink, it sort of reminds me of pistachio/strawberry ice cream. The gladiolas are particularly nice, such a cheery color.
ReplyDeleteHi Jerry: These start out pink and purple and then fade to green and other color nuances over time. I usually don't pick them until later in the season, but there were just so many on one of the shrubs this year and they were weighting in down. It's also near a sidewalk, so it had to be pruned.
DeleteBeautiful flower arrangements!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
The family room photo is my favorite by far ... nice color combination and wonderful lighting!
ReplyDeleteThanks. :) Yes, the Hydrangeas have been wonderful this year. And that spot in the family room is up high away from the cat and dog.
DeleteI love your hydrangeas (and mine too, and everyone else's). Your bouquets are great!
ReplyDeleteI chop my hydrangeas nearly to the ground most years because they want to be huge. It doesn't seem to hurt them.
Good to know. I have to trim the one by the sidewalk most years, but I need to remember to do it at the right time so it will bloom again next year. Also, our late winter/early spring freezes often reduce the blooming somewhat. Good timing year this year, though. :)
DeleteI love hydrangeas. I have a particular spot for white ones. Loved reading this post.
ReplyDeleteI love them, too. I tend to lose my patience a bit during hot, drought summers when I have to water them every other day. But a wet spring/summer like this one has me enjoying them again. Tricky little buggers. ;-)
DeleteBeautiful hydrangea displays. Maybe mine need pruning. I bought H. 'Little Limelight' last year and they were wonderful. They did come back this year but are very weak and floppy-stemmed.
ReplyDeleteThanks. They do the work themselves. ;-) And then they're wonderful dried, too. Maybe your little shrub just needs a couple more years to establish.
Delete