What Every Bride Should Know About Choosing Local Flowers

My sweet husband and I will celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary this year ( I still can't believe it's been that long). Every time I meet with a new wedding client I can't help but be transported back to our wedding day and all the planning we did to create a special day for ourselves and our guests. We chose a small country venue for our old-fashioned Vintage Victorian theme ( who knew we were ahead of the trend by about 25 years? ) If I was wearing a flower crown instead of a wide brimmed hat I just might pass for a modern vintage bride today. The roses for my bouquet were local ( but most likely not in season in September) but I do recall having simple small wild flower arrangements on the banquet tables.

Happily Married me! (circa 1991)

 The 2016 Wedding season is here and locally sourced wedding flowers are more popular than ever before. Whether you're going the DIY rt.or having your flowers designed by a farmer/florist there are a few things you should know about choosing local flowers for your wedding day.  

• I  recommend an in-person or at a minimum a phone consultation to find out what kind of farm/garden or other local sources your flowers will be coming from. This is also the best time for the farmer/florist to get to know you and find out about your venue, wedding theme, the types of flowers you would like as well as any personal details in the wedding flowers you wish to include. 

• Local and seasonal flowers aren't always cheaper than imports. When comparing costs, remember that your local farmer/florist has been married ( so to speak) to your flowers since the day they placed their first corm/seed and tuber order for the season. From that moment on they are committed to bringing you fresh, lush and vibrant blooms for your special day. Local flowers are almost always 100% sustainably grown and have been given lots of TLC before they come to you, so they come with love and beauty.

•  Seasonal flowers means, just that, seasonal. June, July, August and September are brimming with beautiful blooms so be sure to ask your farmer/florist what will be blooming the week of your wedding. Some may have pinterest boards, and/or websites with lists of the flowers they offer each month.

• It's always a good idea to visit the farm or garden where your flowers are coming from. I love to have couples over to see the flowers. This is a good time to bring any vases, ribbons, trays, etc that will be incorporated into any design work your florist will be doing for you. 

• If you're working with a local florist and want to use local flowers, just ask. It's possible they have a network of local flower farmers to source seasonal flowers from. 

• Some farmer/florists also deliver and set up a venue, others do not. Expect a delivery and set up fee to be added on to the cost of the flowers.  Be sure to iron out those details from the very beginning. You don't want any extra stress tacked on to your wedding day. If the grower is also your designer, expect a design fee to be added to the cost of the flowers. 

• Local flowers can also mean plants, trees and flowers from your local garden shop. Some nurseries offer design services which can be a great fit for romantic garden themed bridal showers and weddings.

 Find local flower farmers, florists, and designers, on the Slow Flowers Directory Website.

As always, thanks for reading! 

I wish you a wonderful gardening ( and Wedding ) season. 

Only ' natural ' green gasses were used to drive us to our reception hall.

Put down some roots and BLOOM!

Digging Dahlias and Winter Storage

Glorious dahlias in pumpkin vase mixed with hydrangea, sedum and pumpkin on a stick.

 Dear Dahlias,

 How do I love thee? I couldn't possibly count the number of ways I adore you. I am intoxicated by your beauty and I mourn your absence even before the first frost comes to take you from me for another long New England winter. I love you so much that I will dig each and every one of you out of the ground so you don't rot in our bitter 7-7a garden zone. I'll put up with a stiff back and sore knees believing that for all of my efforts to tuck you away safely in storage there's a chance I'll see you again next summer. That's how much I love thee. 

Growing dahlias isn't hard. They are happy in a container or in the ground as long as they have rich, well draining soil, plenty of sunshine and lots of love. The challenging ( and most labor intensive ) part comes when it's time to dig them up at the end of the season. 

 If you garden in a cold climate you will have to dig your dahlias. There's just no way around it.

 After the first frost the leaves will wilt and turn almost black. No need to rush with the digging them just yet. Give them a couple of more weeks in the earth. Even though the flowers and foliage appear to be dead, the tuber is still growing and putting on new eyes (growth ) for next years blooms. 

I cut all of my dahlias down leaving the tops showing above ground before digging them so I'm sure to get every one. To dig I use my handy garden spade and gently poke around about a foot or so away from where the stem is to be sure not to damage the roots.

 Once they are dug, rinse them off lightly and let them dry on a surface that allows airflow like a screened table or greenhouse work bench with drainage. I used our patio table.

After they are dry, shake off any excess dirt and  remove any untidy roots ( as seen below ) and divide if necessary. Some you just pull apart gently and others you will need to cut.  If you do divide, just make sure you have a visible eye on the tuber. If you're not sure, pack it away until spring. You just might get lucky and you can divide then.

 

Now is a good time to label your tubers. You can use copper tags with wire, plastic garden markers with twisty ties, or oak leaf tags with permanent marker tied with twine.You can also write directly on the tuber with an indelible pencil or permanent marking pen.

Mine are stored in correlation with the bed they were planted in. I have a master list of the names of each variety that was planted in each bed to refer to come planting time. That's not the most organized fashion to do it, but at least I'll know generally which ones go together next season. 

This year I am storing about 75 tubers so that's not too many to keep track of and store. I'll be expanding to 100 -150 next season. I'm stocking up on Advil now!

 I decided to store them in Rubbermaid bins layered in pine shavings with the lids off and covered with a double layer of landscaping burlap fabric so there's some ventilation. I have them all tucked in for their long winters nap in our unfinished basement. Dahlias prefer to be stored in cooler temps. 35- 50 degrees. Wish us luck! 

Here are two great videos from Swan Island Dahlias on how to Dig Dahlias and Divide them.
I'd love to hear your dahlia storage tips too. Leave me a note if you've had success storing dahlias!

 

  

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #208 and Happy Halloween!

Happy Farmgirl Friday! 

Oh, it did our hearts good to see you all last week! Thanks for comin' round to share your farmgirl talents with us again.  I confess I don't have any cute Halloween crafts or treats to share this week. We had company from Reno, Nevada last week so we were out and about sight seeing all up an down the south coast and Cape Cod enjoying fall in New England. Everywhere you go, people are saying the color hasn't been this beautiful in years and I agree.

  I had to pull over and get a quick pic of this charming little red cape all gussied up for fall. We're also in the middle of a bathroom remodel and putting the garden to bed. I've got dahlias to dig and store and a fallen down greenhouse to clear out before winter comes. Life is GOOD!

Debbie's been busy canning of all things, right in the middle of her kitchen remodel. Now, that's some serious farmgirl'n! As the old saying goes, " where there's a determined farmgirl, it shall be done ". Okay, maybe it's not an old saying, but it's true!

 Speaking of determined and talented farmgirls, it's time to renew my subscription to MaryJanesFarm Magazine. Yes, this IS a shameless plug for my favorite magazine in the whole world. It just gets better with every issue... and that's a lot of issues. 15 years and counting of farmgirl inspiration! 

I couldn't pick a favorite from last weeks hop. I loved each and every entry. So many hit home and inspired me to get moving. I need to make marinara sauce, I cleaned my closet yesterday, ( not photo worthy, but clean), I'm still decorating for fall, and I'm always looking for new homesteading and decorating ideas. Thanks for covering all the bases, once again! 

Let's hop farmgirls! 

Now, where did I put my witches hat?

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 207

 

Howdy friends! Welcome back to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

Your place to share your best recipes, crafts, DIY projects, farm stories, farm animal tips, and vintage treasures and what ever else you fancy. 

I hope you are all settling in to fall. It's such a wonderful time of year for getting out and enjoying milder weather, beautiful scenery and delicious food that celebrates harvest season.

Where have we been the last month? I apologize for going missing. This farmgirl had her hands busy with all things flowers this year and somehow our little ole hop ended up at the bottom of the pile. It was a season of growth inside and out!

Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash with Craisins

It's about to get cold and dark out and we're gonna need each-other over the long winter months ahead. To spice things up in our kitchen, I promised myself I would make more " new recipes" rather than fall-back on my old stand-by meals. This week I made a delicious Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash with Craisins and boy was it yummy! I found the recipe online in MaryJanesFarm Recipe of the 

Week. You can read all about it in my Beach Farmgirl post here.

 What have you been cooking up now that the weather has a chill in it? Do tell!

My farmgirl co-hostess, Debbie and I have missed our hop so let's get to it!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 186

Happy Farmgirl Friday y'all! Welcome to the farm, the virtual farm that is. Your place to play farmgirl with your best gal pals from all over the web! There's never any shortage of FARMGIRL inspiration in the posts you share here each week which is why we can't imagine Friday's with out YOU!

Here at Dandelion House we are slowly making our way out of the two plus feet of snow that fell in the Blizzard we had earlier this week. We lost the greenhouse in the high winds and our garden gazebo that covers the deck, but the good news is the chickens are fine! I did have to do a little coaxing to get them to come out of the coop though! Have a listen!
BEWARE! I am no Hollywood producer!

 Despite the damages I'm excited about a new growing season that grows nearer with each falling snowflake. Get the full storm report here! Here's hoping my New England friends survived the storm with minimul damages.

Let's get hoppin'!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include links of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects, thrifty make overs, gardens, chicken coops, recipes, studios and workshops. 
You get the idea! Link back here in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends! 

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got some great FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!
Have a great week and we'll see you on the hop! 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 167 and Heirloom Blooms

Zinnias

 Welcome back to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! We missed you! 

Since we last hopped, the flower gardens have really started popping here at Dandelion House!

It always amazes me how fast flowers grow and bloom in such a short time span. 

Here's what's bloomin' this week! 

White dinner plate dahlia

 

Buckets of dahlias!

 These are for you!  Enjoy the abundance of the season! 

Be sure to stop by Big Sky Acres to see "my farmgirl in crime" co-hostess, Debbie too! ( aka Farmgirl Unleashed) . I hear she's been cooking up some delicious homegrown tomato and mozzarella cheese sandwiches! YUM!

Time to link up for your weekly fixin' of farmgirl soul-food!
Tis' the season of plenty and there is so much to celebrate! Share the bounty here!
 Crafting, cooking, canning, chickens, gardening, farming, and just plain farmgirln' around!

What's bloomin' at your place? 

As always, we thank you for your participation in the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! 

Put Down Some Roots And BLOOM!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 148 and The Farmgirl Buzz!

 

Dear friends, Welcome back to your favorite Friday Blog Hop for farmgirls far and wide!

I'm so happy March has finally arrived here in the northeast. Even though we are still experiencing unusually cold weather for this time of year I know without a doubt that soon I'll be spending more time outdoors cleaning the greenhouse, raking left over leaves out of the flower beds and planting seeds for this years flower crop! 

 Plus, I've got a long list of DIY projects for inside! This is the year we are FINALLY going to finish our ECO-FRIENDLY kitchen re-do we started a few years ago. It started with refacing the kitchen cabinets, and a new vintage inspired farm sink. NEW floors and a NEW island top are top of the list, plus as always there will be furniture and walls to paint! I'll do my best to share as we go! 

We are also just two weeks a way from our 150th Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop and our BIG announcement!!! Stay tuned!!! 

Here's The Farmgirl Buzz from Farmgirl Chit-Chat!

Life is humming along on Farmgirl Chit-Chat  this week! We are wrapping up a craft swap, stitching together a crochet along, and tying one on with an apron swap! 

PLUS,  Heidi is having her Grab an Apron Blog Hop and Dolly is hosting a giveaway for one of her beautifully custom designed reversible fabric handmade bags! And, Debbie aka Farmgirl Unleashed is about to become a first time Bee Keeper!

So, if you haven't joined us yet, please do! You won't find a more active, productive and supportive group on Facebook! Well, besides the amazingly brilliant MaryJanesFarmgirl Connection that is, which inspired us to start our own!

Thank you all for your fabulous entries each week! You are all simply amazing and we ( Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I ) LOVE how you share your farmgirl lifestyles and inspire others. Keep up the GOOD work! Farmgirls Forever!!!

Time to link up for your weekly dose of what??? Farmgirl Soul-food that's what!

Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I love to see what you're up to from week to week so let's get going!

Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking
Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed 
and me of course!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters 

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea! Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 144 and so much MORE!

 

Happy Farmgirl Friday sisters ( and brothers )! Welcome new bloggers! Last week we had 71 amazing entries on the hop PLUS, dozens of pics and posts on your Farmgirl Chit-Chat Facebook group!  Saddle up and mosey on over to join! This week Heidi hosted an all day Scavenger hunt providing 6 fun farmgirl clue's to get our members to share more about themselves. It was loads of farmgirl fun! Today I'm hosting a Cock of the Walk Rooster Modeling Contest, so bring your best looking guys on over and let them Strut their Stuff! There is a prize for the winner!

And, that's not all... There's still time to enter my Waggin' Delights Artisans Dog Treats Giveaway!

Oh yeah! As if that's not enough to keep us all busy, I published my first post on the Community Chickens Blog.  

An amazing community for chicken keepers of all kinds!

 Whew doggies, we've all been busy farmgirls this week! But, we wouldn't have it any other way now would we? 

  Now it's time to link up for MORE farmgirl soul-food. 

Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I love to see what you're up to from week to week so let's get going!

Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking
Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed 
and me of course!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters 

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea! Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends! 

 Enter up to three entries per hop!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 136 PLUS a HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome back to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I missed you all last week and we're happy to be back with a festive HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

 You KNOW we love our MaryJane! She is the inspiration behind this little ole blog hop of ours!

 Each one of us will be giving away a ONE YEAR subscription to MARYJANESFARM magazine! That means FOUR lucky winners will be the happy recipients of 6 issues of farmgirl goodness next year!

 Never has there been a magazine quite like hers. It's really a magazine for farmgirls at heart, far and wide, who are passionate about the food they eat and grow, living a creative life, and caring for each other.

 I'm proud to be sister # 1199 in the Farmgirl Sisterhood and a contributing writer to her fabulous publication. MaryJanesFarm is so much more than a magazine. It's a way of life.

 To Enter simply leave one comment on the Farmgirl hostess blog of your choice and if you have time, pop over and " like " MaryJanesFarm FACEBOOK page so you can keep up with her weekly recipes, farmgirl features and all of the farmgirl blogs including MaryJane's Raising Jane Journal! 

Then get right back here to enter this weeks hop! We've got lots to catch up on! 

If you aren't already following us please click that follow button and join the fun!

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostess

Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking
Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed 
and me of course!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals,  quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the  Linky tools space to your  Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop! 

 DON'T BE SHY~  

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too! 

As always, thank you for your continued participation! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! See you on the hop! 

PS. This is a blog hop, so please share it with your friends by copying the code at the bottom of this post and including it into your weekly entry!

 

Simple Sunday Supper~ Pot Roast with a HEALTHY Side of Locally Grown Root Veggies

I love the smells that fill the house on a cloudy, windy fall day when our crock pot is working over time filled to the brim with a 2 lb chuck roast basted, dried onions, plenty of crushed garlic, and salt and pepper. It truly is a simple Sunday Supper!

 There are so many variations on cooking a pot roast aren't there? I've yet to master roasting one in the oven. My pot roast has evolved over the years. I used to use Lipton Onion Soup mix ( low sodium ) with three or four cups of water in the pot with garlic, salt and pepper. It was always tasty that way, but I like to mess with things, even when their good! I wanted an organic version so I started using organic beef stock which was equally tasty and better for us. When I went to find my beef stock for this recent post roast, I was out of it but I did have some organic vegetable beef stock so I figured, what the heck? I'll try it! In my husbands words it was " out of this world ". That's the phrase he uses when he's really impressed with something. I had to agree. Using the vegetable stock allowed the flavor of the meet to come through and with the additional simple seasonings it was just mouthwatering good. 25 years in the making and I finally perfected my pot roast!

What do you like to serve with your pot roast? We love mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, carrots and onions, and fresh green beans too sometimes. If I don't roast the veggies in the oven, I'll usually toss them into the crock pot along with the meat. However, this past Sunday I got sidetracked with some raking outside and other little projects. By the time I came back to my roast it was too late to add them to the pot so I cut up some locally grown purple potatoes ( which I've since learned have a higher nutritional value than the familiar white or red potatoes) and carrots from last weeks CSA delivery and boiled them on the stove-top for 25 minutes. Just long enough to get slightly tender with a little crunch left in them.

 Just look at how pretty the purple and orange are together! I seasoned them with some butter, salt and pepper. I can't tell you how long it's been since we had veggies that tasted so good!
Oh, I almost forgot the biscuits! I cheated and used canned biscuits. They are great in a pinch and they bake up nice and flaky!

Here's the recipe: Crock Pot Roast

2 lb Chuck Roast  (specified for Pot Roasting )
4 cloves garlic
1box organic vegetable stock
 Fresh ground sea salt and pepper  to taste
1 1/2 table spoon dried onion bits.

Set crock-pot to high, add the roast and all remaining ingredients and cook for 4- 6 hours until meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

Boiled Carrots and Purple Potatoes
4 - 6 large organic carrots
6-8 purple potatoes

Cut carrots into 1/4 inch slices and add to 2 cups water. Boil for 25 minutes or until tender and crunchy! Cut potatoes into bite-sized chunks and add to 2 cups water. Cook same as the carrots.
Drain water out of each pan, add 2- 4 Tablespoons of butter and salt and pepper to taste. 
Simple and Perfect every time!

 Buying local food, means fresher tastier and healthier meals on your table. Farm to table at it's best!

Try doing a google search in your area for local Organic CSA year round' delivery or pick up services.
They are beginning to pop up across the U.S.!

We are fortunate to have South Shore Organics serving the south shore of Boston.



 

Who's Your Farmer?

 

Good question isn't it? Unless you grow your own veggies or make it a point to eat local most folks have no idea where their food comes from never mind when broccoli or asparagus is in season. If you go by the produce section in the supermarket every thing's in season year round' and we've gotten used to the convenience and wide selection of fruits and vegetables that are available to us. But at what price to our local farmers and our over all health? Locavores are coming out to the farmers markets and supporting local farms and businesses in increasing numbers all across the United States for a variety of reasons. Some people just want to feel better about what they put in their bodies. They KNOW eating fresh, local and organic, and GMO free is what's best for them. Others want to participate in the cycle of farm to table on a local level. They want to keep their hard earned dollars in the community by supporting local farmers and in turn reap the benefits of being able to choose fresh, local produce, dairy and meats over mass produced food and in- humane treatment of animals raised for food consumption. They want to KNOW their farmer.

I'm happy to report that last week I was introduced to 30 local farmers by two of my enterprising farmgirl friends, Pam and Charlotte of South Shore Organics, in Hanover, MA. After visiting their store a few weeks ago in preparation for an upcoming ( in depth ) article in MaryJanesFarm I just had to learn more!

Pam and Charlotte

  I attended a local locavore meeting where they spoke about their passion for organically grown, GMO free ( clean food ). They are pioneers in the concept of home delivery CSA and the only one of their kind in Southern Massachusetts. 

 Behind the farm-stand storefront is where all action is. 

 Local produce is picked and delivered the day of packing and boxes go out the following day to be delivered to your door!

 After getting the tour and tasting some of the yummy fresh produce I came home and immediately signed up for service. The website gives you several basket size options to choose from as well as how often you want to take delivery. Once a week, twice a week, once every three weeks or once a month. We chose to have delivery every three weeks to start.

I've already unpacked my box and stored my veggies away but this partially filled box ( pictured above ) gives you an idea of the variety of foods that go in to one delivery.

Here's what I got in my box called Humble Harvest

Humble Harvest - $45

2lb Sweet Potatoes (SG), Local

1lb Parsnips (SG), Local

1 head Celery (SG), Local

8oz Habanero Peppers (OG), Local

1 head Cauliflower (SG), Local

1 Butternut (SG), Local

1 bunch Kohlrabi (OG), Local

1 head Lettuce (OG), Local

5 Bananas (OG, FT), Imported

1.5lb Spencer Apples (IPM), Local

8oz Cranberries (OG), Local

1 bunch Tatsoi (OG), Local

1.5lb Zucchini (SG), Local

3 D’Anjou Pears (OG), US I am so excited about this service not only for the convenience aspect but because I  feel good about supporting my local farmers. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction knowing I play a small part in helping local farmers grow and sustain their livelihood. Everyone benefits! Plus, my teens are eating more veggies too.. I'll keep ya posted with some of the new recipes I'll be trying too! Oh, and did I mention I'm learning new things too! I had no idea what Tatsoi or Kohlrabi was until last week! I encourage you to do a little googling and see if you have such a service in your area! Even if you grow the bulk of your veggies and put up your harvest you could still EAT FRESH during the winter months!   Another great resource for finding out who your farmer is are the Edible Communities Magazines. Can't find one for your area?  Start one!

Dried Hydrangeas For Fall Crafting and Decorating

 Would you just look at the mixture of color in this bunch of Endless Summer Hydrangea blossoms? It's like spring, summer, fall and winter all rolled in to one! These minty green, pale blue, soft lavender and deep purply pinks with a few tinged flower petals beg to be enjoyed a little longer don't they? How many of you harvest and create with dried Hydrangea blossoms? 

There's really no big secret to harvesting them. If you cut them in summer when they are still brilliant in color, they will die like any other flower in a week or so. 

To harvest for drying simply wait until late summer to cut them. We northeastern gardeners cut in late August through September before the first frost.

You can dry them in a vase or bucket with a little water in the bottom or no water at all.

 At this point they are ready for crafting, displaying of gift giving!  

I was inspired to make some mini bouquet's to sell in my booth Burlap and Bling after seeing them for sale at The Vintage Bazaar I went too last weekend.

 I have one very large Endless Summer Hydrangea that provided me with enough dried blossoms to create 15 or so mini bouquets ( 3 stems each ). 

 I went outside in the cool of the evening and cut a cooler full of blooms and kept them outside over night. The following morning I went to work creating my bouquets!

 

 Here's how I put my bouquets together.

I gathered three Hydrangea blossoms and removed all the leaves from the stems.

Then I cut the stems even on the bottom.

 I tied them together in three places with jute.

I also included my business post card along with the price tag.

I tucked them into my vintage clam basket ( for sale at my booth for 65.00 ) and packed them into the car with a few other items.

 But, not before I took more photos of them! 

Don't they look pretty with the red backdrop or our shed?

Or how about posed in front of this pair of Antique shutters?

Well, as you can see it's not that difficult to harvest your dried hydrangeas...I've even seen them for sale in Etsy shops!

Next, I'm going to try making a cottage wreath with them and what ever else I can snip out of the garden! 

Do you harvest your hydrangeas? What do you like to do with them?
Please share your projects and tips below!