by KYW's Phran Novelli
Ever wish hydrangeas bloomed forever? Drying hydrangeas is the next best thing, and when it works, they can last for years. Success seems to vary with the variety you have, but some of the best advice is to let them dry on the shrub – whites often dry to green or pink, blues age to purple, dark blue or mauve.
Even for drying indoors, it’s best not to pick them too soon - fresh hydrangeas just seem to shrivel up. So wait until they feel a bit papery before you cut them, then plop the cut stems in a vase without water and leave them to dry.
Or to preserve the color better, place hydrangea heads in a deep plastic container and gently surround them completely with silica gel beads from a craft store. Once they’re dry, you can create a wreath or just enjoy a basket of dried hydrangeas to keep things looking summery indoors, even when it’s freezing outside.
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