Drying Hydrangeas

Would you like to have beautifully dried hydrangeas for fall and winter arrangements?  The trick is in picking them.  Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry naturally on the plant before picking.  Fresh blooms do not dry very well.  

I cut a bunch the other day, took all the leaves off, tied them by the stems with rafia and hung them to dry.  You could also dry them in a vase or pot if the stems are strong.  

After the hydrangeas are dry, arrange them in a pretty container or use them in making a wreath for hanging.  Dried hydrangeas make lovely arrangements.  

Enjoy!

Now I know

Do you have this plant growing in your garden?  

I didn't know what it was until a friend of mine on facebook posted a picture of it the other day and identified it as Jewels of Opar, also known as the fameflower.  This plant has been growing in my garden for several years now, popping up everywhere.   I just thought it was some type of baby's breath.  I love the pretty pink flowers and tiny burgundy and gold seedpods.  It sows freely and is drought tolerant.  

Another one of my favorites, and this one was a gift from Mother Nature.  

Hello my friends

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.  I am slowly getting back into the swing of things today, laundry, cleaning, the usual, and it's too hot to work in the garden, oh yes, the weeds, always weeding to be done, so  

~ I opted to paint.     

A rooster painting I just finished, 

and another yellow and white polka dot plant hanger for the garden.  The one below just sold in our shop so I painted another one just like it.  The new one will have a glass crystal ornament hanging from the bottom.  It will catch the sunlight and sparkle!  These are nice to fill with herbs or flowers.  

'till next time, 

Saving plants

Whenever I go to Lowes I always check the clearance rack in the back of the garden center. I was lucky a few weeks ago when I found this May Night Salvia and Apricot Delight Yarrow on sale for $2.00 each. They looked pretty bad when I bought them, but with a little TLC they are now thriving and I hope to plant them this weekend. Isn't it great to save a plant and save some money too!

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Pinching back

The Coleus in the garden needed some pinching back to make them full again. I brought some of the stems inside to root on the kitchen window.

After they've rooted, I will pot them and get a new plant!

Planting

When I was shopping the other day, I saw a display of amaryllis and paperwhites. I like to plant these every year so I will have beautiful blooms by Christmas. I bought a bright red amaryllis (Red Lion) and a bag of the paperwhites (narcissus).

Time to plant.


Riley sits nearby and watches.

For the amaryllis, all you do is place the soil disc in the pot that's included in the box, and add water. When the water is soaked into the soil, mix with your hands.

Then, plant the bulb in the soil. Just cover about 1/4 of the bulb. And that's it! Keep it out of direct sunlight.

Now for the paperwhites (or nacrissus)...nothing could be easier. Just place the bulbs in some soil and give them water.

Keep them wet and they should grow into tall plants. Put them in pretty pots or urns, you can even cover the ground with a bit of moss.

And by Decemeber, hopefully, I can show you the beautiful blooms!