Hydrangeas are easy-to-grow, beautiful flowers that bloom from early summer to late fall and come in a variety of colors. If you have hydrangeas in your garden and have thought about cutting and drying them, now is the time to do it.

The ideal time to cut hydrangea blossoms for drying is toward the end of the season, when the larger petals are starting to fade or change color and the tiny flowers on top are just beginning to open. Flowers are best picked at the end of the flowering season in mid to late fall. An easy way to determine if the flower is ready for drying is to squeeze the flower head gently. Use the whole hand with fingertips extended to do this. If the flowers are ready they should not feel soft, but rather crisp to the touch.

Once cut, hydrangeas are usually air dried in an upright position rather than the upside down hanging method that is used with other flowers. Leave the flowers in a couple of inches of water without replenishing the water. The flower heads use the remaining water in the stem, which helps them to retain color and volume as they dry. Flowers take about 2-3 weeks to dry depending on conditions. They are best left in a dry, dark and warm place with air circulation. If dried in the light, the color of the flowers will bleach. The flowers are ready when they are crisp with firm stems.

Dried hydrangeas can add beauty to any décor. They look great in a vase, you can make a wreath with them and they can even be dyed.