Like the Slant of the Sun, Hydrangeas and Sunflowers Signal the End of Summer

When the pulse of the season changes, we're so aware of time passing...Despite the burst of heat this week, we're reminded autumn is less than two weeks away by how much earlier darkness falls and by the slanting shadows cast by the low-lying sun. 

The flowers change so quickly as the solstice approaches..hydrangea petals turn leathery and color up, and sunflowers grow so large their heads droop heavily on the browning stalks....as much as I love summer, I love autumn more, and am so happy to feel the chill in the morning and evenings, pick hydrangeas for drying, and watch the birds splurge on sunflower seeds. 

When hydrangea heads start to look like this, it's time to cut them and bring them indoors to dry. Just stick the stems in an inch or so of water in a jug, jar or vase, don't crowd the heads, and as the water evaporates, they'll dry beautifully in place without withering...

I should have left these sunflowers out in the garden to ripen up for a bird banquet, but I couldn't resist picking them for the house....I'm not sure which sunflower this is - it looks like 'Ring of Fire' but the tips of the petals are lemon yellow rather than golden - a perfect contrast to the mahogany inner petals dark chocolate centers.

Comments

[Mary Dolan]

hi, I tried to find a e-mail address but no luck. I am interested in your piece in the times on the Swanson's. I amm interested in their root cellar and green house. Do they have a website where they have more pictures. Do they allow for visitors?

[valerie Easton]

Hello Mary,
I don't believe the Swanson's have a website, and their garden is a private one. They do open it once a year for the Whidbey Island Vegetable Garden Tour, which is a benefit for WIN (Whidbey Island Nourishes), which is run by Mary Fisher at Cultus Bay Nursery. You could contact Mary to see when the Swansons might be opening their garden...Mary's email is maryfisher@cultusbaynursery.com
Val

[Chris Fleck]

Hi - I have some volunteer sunflowers this year for the 1st time. About 7 of them each about 8 ft tall. Do I let them die off, cut them back or what? I would like them to return next year. They look like they are going away, leaning over quite a bit.

Thanks

[valerie Easton]

Hi Chris,
The trickiest thing about saving sunflower seeds is keeping the birds from eating them all. You may need to put a paper bag over some of the flowers, or wrap them in cheesecloth to protect the seeds from birds.

When the back of the sunflowers turn from green to yellow, the petals start to fall off and the seeds show a black stripe, it's time to cut the heads off. One way to get the seeds off is to rub them off with a towel; some gardeners use a clean paint roller. Or you can hang the cut flower head in a garage or shed, and let the seeds dry in place. Store in a paper bag with holes poked in it to dry the seeds and prevent them from getting moldy - the plant the seeds out next spring when the soil warms...
Hope this helps -
Val

[Chris Fleck]

Hi Val - that does help answer a question I did not know I had! I will follow that suggestion. However, what do I do with the rather tall stalks? Cut them to the ground, dig them up, leave them alone? An enquiring mind wants to know.

Thanks
Chris