a Green gift

 I walked into my kitchen this morning

and found a gorgeous green gift

(left by my gardener)

When the flowers of Hydrangeas start to turn green,

 or dark blue and pink with a papery feel

it is a sign that Autumn is in the air.

they will last like this  without water until the next season comes around..

Leave blooms on the shrub until late summer. Toward the end of the summer the petals will begin to age and take on a vintage look. If left on the shrub a while longer, many blooms will pick up interesting shades of burgundy and pink, or in this case, green. The timing for cooler areas may be much different from this.

Hydrangea hortensis

One can cut the blooms, strip off the leaves, arrange them in a vase, with or without water, and leave them to dry. It is not necessary to hang hydrangeas up side down to dry unless the stems are very thin and weak.

 Colette x