{Ask Nancy: Do you have any thoughts or....?}

Dear Nancy: I'm excited to do my own wedding flowers. I am hoping to use home grown hydrangea in the centerpieces but since mid-September is possibly a bit after their best blooms (in the Northeast) I'm contemplating drying them or ordering some supplemental blooms online. I know they need to be hydrated through the shipping process, and I've heard from others that hydrangea die quickly in bouquets, how many days could I get them in advance of the wedding for them to still be in "wedding condition"? Do you have any thoughts or experience on the dry v. live hydrangea? I love the deep color of late season dried hydreangea a lot. Thanks! Slicey19

Great question!

I've posted a photo of a centerpiece that I am doing for my July bride, Lindsey, who so happens to have exceptional tastes. Her wedding is almost entire all Hydrangeas in these lovely white/creamy hues. I wanted to show you that Hydrangeas are not just one of the showiest blooms around but one of the true great value for it's shape and size. These hydrangeas were flown in from South America. They reached my studio on Wednesday and I did the arrangement just a few minutes ago. I also mixed into this arrangement a few that I had from my Monday delivery. Hydrangeas when properly treated can last two weeks. You must must must keep them in a cool piece, preferably a walk in cooler set at 35 to 40 degrees which my refrigerator is set at. The ones that we order come packed with a small tube of water so that they have a water source which is key to the survival of hydrangeas. Make sure you let the Hydrangea drink an entire day. Let them sit overnight(fill your buckets with plenty of water!)

I don't know much about the Northeast so I apologize if my information is a bit skewed for the West Coast. I do know this much, I get imported hydrangeas from South America year round. They are available in two colors white(creamy) and light blue. The ones from Holland are equally as beautiful but 2.5times more expensive. I believe you can order the deep blue and purples as well as the light green with light reddish blush hues.

Local Hydrangeas grown mostly in our foggy Half Moon Bay are available as early as May and can last to December. The fall Hydrangeas are my favorite. They come in hues of reddish brown and specks of hot pink or red. The deep purple with green is also lovely. These fall varieties of Hydrangeas tend to dry better but the look of dry Hydrangeas are very different from the fresh because the outer edges tend to be brown. What we do sometimes is use the dry and "hand tint" them. It works quite well and many people can't tell that they are dried. However, the stems are very dried looking so if you are using them in a centerpiece, make sure your guests can't see the stems. If you don't want things to wilt, hand tinting them is a good idea. You can of course go silk! That's an option especially if you want them in your bouquet. In direct sun, Hydrangeas poop poop out. Because dried is readily available, I would caution you to try to dry them yourselves.

You can of course work with a floral designer. If you do, have them order West Coast Hydrangeas from Half Moon Bay's Figone(I love Louie) or Torchio Nursery. Torchio Nursery will ship across the nation. However, they do not work only with floral designer so find yourself a floral designer if you want them from a wholesaler broker or direct grower.

Good luck as always!