Scatter Kindness ~ #sktrkndns ~ WW

A little late posting these photos

(yeh, they're pre-Christmas) :/

More hidden from Merced to Westley :)

UPDATE:

Before I could get this posted one was found! :)

Maxine ~ WW (kinda)

When guests come to visit,
I just put down drop cloths and say,
"We're painting."

Give me a sense of humor, Lord,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humor out of life,
and pass it on to other folks.

How To Dry Hydrangea Flowers

Drying Hydrangea Flowers is Easy!

Large showy hydrangeas are spectacular in the garden and even more so when dried and preserved. Knowing when is the right time to cut the flowers needs to be determined so they dry at their peak.

Dried hydrangeas will last a very long time and hold their color if they are kept out of direct sunlight.

Steps

1.  Examine the hydrangea flowers heads at the end of their blooming season. There are actually two types of flowers on each head. You will see that the larger flowers have a tiny flower on top.

2.  Wait until the tiny flowers on top have almost opened. The color will just have begun to fade. This is the prime time to cut them.

3.  Cut stems 12 to 18 inches down from the base of the flowers.

4.  Remove any leaves on the stems.

5.  Place the flowers in a deep vase filled with clear, fresh water. The stems should be submerged at least half way.

6.  Place the vase in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. You can enjoy the flowers during the drying process.

7.  Allow the water to evaporate naturally from the vase. Once the water is completely gone, your hydrangeas should be dry and ready for use in your floral arrangements/decorations or craft projects.

Tips

Cut the dried hydrangeas into small segments for use in craft projects.

Wire the small segments onto twigs, branches, or wreaths. You may also use a hot glue gun to attach them to floral arrangements.

Smaller flowers, segments or individual, can be used in potpourri.



Use to make dried arrangements. 

Give meaningful mementos special embellishments 

Such an assortment of colors!

Enjoy!

Dog Tired ~ WW

Growing Sunflowers from Seed to Harvest

Sunflowers remind me of Summer with their bright colors and bees buzzing around.

One of the best things about sunflowers is how easy they are to grow!

Sunflowers add so much color to the garden.  They're so bright and beautiful, naturally attracting bird and beneficial pollinators, including bees.

An annual plant, sunflowers have big, daisy-like flower faces of bright yellow (or red) petals.

Sunflowers grow best in locations with full sun. They are hardy flowers and will grow in any kind of soil as long as it is not waterlogged.

Sunflower seeds, leaves and stems emit substances that inhibit the growth of certain other plants. They should be separated from potatoes and pole beans.

It's best to sow sunflower seeds directly into the soil after the danger of spring frost is past. Ideally, the soil temperature has reached 55 to 60 degrees F.

Space seeds about 6 inches apart in a shallow trench and sow 1/4 inch to and 1 inch deep depending on the seed size.  Smaller seeds don't need to be planted very deep while larger seeds should be planted 1 inch deep.  Make rows about 30 inches apart. (For very small varieties, plant closer together.)

Cover and keep watered until seeds sprout in 7 to 10 days.  When first true leaves appear (the second set of leaves); thin plants to about 2 feet apart.

Feed plants sparingly; overfertilization can cause stems to break in the fall. You can add diluted fertilizer into the water, though avoid getting the fertilizer near the plant's base; it may help to build a moat in a circle around the plant about 18 inches out.

Harvesting for flowers:

Cut stems early in the morning. Harvesting flowers during middle of the day may lead to flower wilting

Handle sunflowers gently. The flowers should last at least a week in water at room temperature

Harvesting for Seeds:

To harvest seeds, keep an eye out for ripeness. The back of the flower head will turn from green to yellow and the bracts will begin to dry and turn brown; this happens about 30 to 45 days after bloom and seed moisture is about 35%. Generally, when the head turns brown on the back, seeds are ready for harvest.

To protect the seeds from birds, you can cover the flowers with a light fabric (such as cheesecloth) and a rubber band.

Cut the head off the plant (about 4 inches below the flower head) and remove the seeds with your fingers or a fork.

Feeding Birds 

A lot of people leave a few plants to share with the birds.

It's a nice way to give back to nature.

and of course, they love them.

You can even plant a smaller head variety for them specifically. 

Whatever size they do make for beautiful arrangements also.