Tuesday, July 3, 2012

summer hydrangea harvest

 monday was a fabulous day!
just the kinda day i crave.
 i spent the early morning in the gardens
 harvesting some hydrangea blooms for drying.
i like to wait to cut these beauties,
 until they are just starting to turn a paler shade and feel slightly papery.
no need to put them in water, as they are starting to "dry" by themselves.
 i sat tucked under the back porch stripping the leaves off the stems.
the neighborhood very quiet today, as the golf course is closed and it was too hot for most to play outside..
i find stripping leaves and fondling these huge blooms, oh so relaxing.
 blue has been my favorite color my whole life,
with green being a close second.
 what is it about these beautiful flowers that make us swoon?
 i am not even sure what i will do with all of these flowers, but the creative potential makes me giddy.
 yes, a very good day...
 playing with flowers.
outside, in my favorite "room" ....
where i recently added some of my vintage hankies, up top,
 as a makeshift banner.
recently stained the deck too!
in a light grey...which i am lovin.
i'll tell you more about that later...
 of course, i had to bring some hydrangeas inside....
 i tucked some into my cement swans
and made a hydrangea garland for the mantel...
 the shades of blue and green blend beautifully with my latest painting.
 my painting,
"drifting" 
the idea suggested to me by my adorable bloggy friend and fellow artist cindy (thank you, sweets)
 AND inspired by all of the queen annes lace growing in the fields right now. 
i love wide open fields.
i am a claustrophobic.
an open area, like a field or a beach, calms me and makes me feel at peace...
so does, stripping the leaves off of a hydrangea.
my hydrangea garland ....
easily fashioned with strung twine and some clothespins.
easy is good.
summery blues and greens....
like ocean water.

the very best part of this day....
after my shower, i walked into the den and realized some clouds in the sky had darkened the room a little...
i walked to the window and i heard the gentle rumble of forgotten thunder.
and yes
it rained!
just a little, but it was better than nothing.
we continue to be hot and dry here,
and i continue to search for creative outlets and open spaces.
i am heading to the beach on sunday!
in some ways, i am already there.

erin

happy fourth of july!

21 comments:

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

My most favorite flower made even more beautiful in your lovely images! Oh, and your hankie garland is the sweetest thing! Well, maybe the hydrangea garland is. So many grogeous things to look at I have to go back for round two!

I drove to work today and no power, so no work! YES!!!

Dawne Boynton Polis said...

Wow, wow, wow, Erin!!!! Just have to tell you how beautiful this post is!!! I try not to covet, but it's hard not to envy these gorgeous masses of Hydrangeas!!! Love every photo!!!
xx
dawne

Unknown said...

This just blows me away! I have never seen so many hydrangeas! All your photography is stunning and you have a beautiful deck to relax on.

oldgreymare said...

Abundance does not even come close to a description. How about Holy Moly!!!

Swoon..it all appears magical <3
xx
z

michele said...

loving your painting, the gorgeous displays of hydrangea, the styling, the combination of delicate flowers and rustic containers, and the incredible mood you have created with images and words. bravo, erin.

smiles and happy 4th to you.

michele

flowersandhome said...

Gorgeous photography, painting and decorations with the most gorgeous hydrangeas!
I will try to blow some rain to your part of the world.
Have a happy fourth of july.
Marian

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Erin
I am in heaven! What a beautiful post... and I LOVE your painting.. It makes me fell like I am walking through a field of Queen Anns lace in the quiet of the day.. Just beautiful!!

Had a thought of what to do with some of the petals of your exquisite hydrangeas..
What about using them as a painting medium. Insead of using a paint brush, use the petals to create a painting... I know this would be painstaking but I believe the end result would be beautiful! I have used my rose petals in a painting before.
First you will need to let them dry, then seal them with Liquitex heavy gel medium.. (you may already have this) It seals and makes them durable but flexible..
You can also use the medium to fix them to the canvas.. Can you see it?
Wishing you a joyful week.
Blessings,
Penny

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your painting is so pretty! And so is your porch - a pretty place to sit and relax.
You will be able to decorate year round with your dried hydrangeas.
Enjoy the 4th!

Cindy said...

You Painted It!!! It's beautiful! And this is one of the prettiest blog posts i've ever seen, i can not believe all those hydrangeas, and the gorgeous colors... omg... i want to "Pin" every one of those pictures!

Cindy

Olive said...

Baptized By Hydrangeas Erin. Love your love of flowers.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Gorgeous photos and flowers of course, but I'm so charmed by your hankie bunting and that lace valance on your porch. Just an all around treat from you today!

jerilanders said...

Light and lovely, your photos are heavenly. Everything always looks so clean and crisp. We have a hydrangea that is just flipping me out. It has 5 different colors of blooms! I've had it for years and this is the first time it has bloomed, I have no idea what kind it is.

KarenB said...

Boy, oh boy, I wish hydrangea's could be shipped!!! They are SO BEAUTIFUL and perfect for your house. What a treasure. I love the garland, great idea! I'm so happy your day was lovely. Here's to another one tomorrow. Happy Fourth of July and have fun at the beach.

Georgianna said...

Happy Fourth of July, dear Erin!

Oh, I am so enamored of everything in this post! Your hydrangeas, your styling, your photos – gorgeous every bit of it. You have so many!!! Ours are not even blooming yet and it will be weeks before I can cut any for drying. I love to have them in the house all year.

I still have a wall that is designated for one of your paintings, btw.

Enjoy the beach, my friend. I know how much you love it.

xoxo

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Goodmorning Erin
Thank you so much for your kind words about Darby and your most welcome visit.
Painting with the rose petals.. The medium I was speaking of is in a jar. Very thick, white, when it drys it drys clear.. It can be used to glue the dryed petals on the canvas.. Once they are on and set, you can dip your brush in the medium and PAINT the petal very gently to seal the top of them...
Like I said, it is a bit time consuming and their may be an easier way to accomplish this, but that is How I use it.
Blessings,
Penny

June said...

Erin I can't even tell you how much I love this post!!!! I adore your beautiful hydrangeas. So much beauty all in one place!
Your outdoor space is lovely and your living room is just gorgeous!!!
You have inspired me to make a hydrangea banner as well...mine won't be so lovely, as I can only grow the white varieties here.
I AM SO glad to have come by today. I just feel so inspired now : )
hugs from here...

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

So glad you got some rain! Those hydrangeas are stunning...and oh so prolific!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous Hydrangeas--my favorite and soooooo lasting! Reminds me of our summers on Nantucket--"Hydrangea Heaven." Thanks for the lovely dose of inspiration! Best, Paula

Mr Paul said...

I cannot belive how many hydrangea flowers you harvested, magnificent!

You should see the high price of these in London you'd laugh your socks off!

So glad you popped in to eneter our giveaway.

Bon weekend Erin.

Paul

Debra@CommonGround said...

Your hydrangeas are so wonderful. Love the hanky banner, too. Coming here is my vacation...xoxo

Becca said...

Oo...you have so many! I am just learning when to cut mine for drying...just brought 3 in yesterday. I am just SO excited to have hydrangeas now! Yours are displayed so lovely. I think I'll get out an old wine box I have...thank you for the inspiration!