Fresh or dried, hydrangeas hold up well

Hydrangeas are flowers that keep on giving.

During summer, they paint a riot of color in our yards in blues, purples, pinks, lime greens and white, then turn to deeper, darker colors like blue-greens, red-bronze, burgundy-blues and cream in the fall.

Enjoy the big puffy mop heads, lace cap, panicle hydrangeas and other varieties in spectacular summer floral arrangements, or wait and dry them for use the rest of the year.

There are several ways to dry hydrangeas, but three dominate: bundle and hang them by string in a dark place; place them in a container with a small amount of water, keeping away from direct sunlight; and drying with silica gel.

I've had luck by cutting the flowers in the early morning, removing all the leaves and putting them in 1 to 2 inches of water, then placing them in a dark hallway and leaving them alone for two to three weeks.

Usually I snap a few bright-blue mop heads in early August for the first wave. They are dry by the time I pick the larger crop in early September through the middle of October, depending on the weather. You can make an arrangement of the drying containers on a tray for a prettier look while drying.

Uses for dried hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are ideal for large arrangements in big containers such as temple jars, jardinieres, soup tureens, punch bowls and baskets for use on a mantel or dining-room table.

If you have enough blooms, simply make an all-hydrangea arrangement. If not, add other dried materials such as leaves, twigs, berry branches and even peacock feathers.

A simple single bloom looks great in a clear vase on a bathroom counter or tied to the top of a gift in place of a bow.

Fill a grapevine wreath with hydrangeas and place it in a protected area for a bright welcome, or mix in a few roses with the hydrangeas to make a centerpiece for a dinner party.

For the holidays, add dried hydrangeas to an evergreen wreath and tie the dried flowers mixed with fresh baby's breath to the limbs of a Christmas tree.

Hydrangeas will begin to fade by next May, so enjoy the last of them by adding them to the fire. They provide the perfect kindling for the first autumn fire.

Budget Bouquet is an occasional feature in digs.