Create an easy flower arrangement using hydrangeas and lemons. You’ll also find flower longevity tips and additional floral inspiration incorporating citrus.
Happy Monday!
It’s one of my favorite days of the month, when I join my blogging friends
for some flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms!
You can find my blogging friends’ links to their floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our common theme for this week’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘citrus’
and incorporating it in a flower arrangement.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.
For my arrangement, I used a blue and white glass vase, found at Target a couple of years ago.
To conceal the flower stems, I used a favorite vase-within-a vase method, placing a smaller vase
inside the larger blue and white vase, with sheets of white printer paper between walls of the vases.
The white of the paper covers the clear glass areas of vase so the stems
don’t detract from the design of the vase and arrangement.
Big beautiful blue and white hydrangeas from the grocery store provide some welcome flower therapy,
while waiting for Endless Summer Hydrangeas to bloom around the Potting Shed.
Endless Summer Hydrangeas begin to bloom in May in our zone 7b garden. . . 69 days away!
I love all varieties of hydrangeas, especially the Bigleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla,
also referred to as French or mophead variety.
The advantage of these large ball shape blooms, is they don’t require any arranging,
just plop them in your vase.
Another advantage is it only takes 6 – 8 stems to fill a vase!
The downside is that Bigleaf hydrangeas are notorious for wilting.
They need a lot of water to keep them hydrated both while growing and when cut.
I used a favorite tip I discovered a couple of years ago, to keep cut hydrangeas
from wilting, using alum!
The alum allows the flower stems to stay open to draw water.
When using cut hydrangeas in an arrangement, I remove all of the leaves, except for maybe 1 per stem,
as the large leaves take moisture away from the flowers.
To prepare your hydrangeas, cut each stem at a 45 degree angle for maximum water uptake
and to prevent the stems from sitting flat in the bottom of the vase.
Dip 1/2 inch of each cut stem in alum powder, found on the spice aisle.
Place your dipped hydrangea stems in your vase of room temperature water.
Always add floral preservative packets to your vase water that come with your flowers from the grocery store.
If you don’t have any floral preservative, you can make your own with this easy formula.
Hydrangeas are heavy drinkers so check your water level in your vase to keep it topped off,
changing the water every other day if possible to reduce bacterial growth and extend their vase life.
Give the stems a fresh cut when changing the water and redip in alum.
Hydrangeas can hydrate through their petals, so giving the petals a spritz of water
with a spray bottle will help keep them fresh.
If they begin to wilt despite your TLC, plunge the blooms in a sink of cool water
for 20 minutes or so to help revive them.
I choose lemons for my citrus element and sunny color, to pair with the blues of the hydrangeas.
Whole lemons were added to the arrangement using bamboo skewers
and were tucked in among the big hydrangea blooms.
Citrus fruit adds a welcome burst of sunshine in winter, at its peak of freshness,
and when it’s at its sweetest and most juicy!
Help yourself to a slice of Lemon Loaf Cake with Lemon Syrup!
Moist and easy to make with a doctor-the-box recipe and
Nordic Ware Citrus Blossom Loaf Pan.
Find the recipe, HERE.
The lemons can be used for juicing and zesting after my hydrangeas are spent
as the bamboo skewers are food-safe.
If you have a surplus of lemons or citrons :) and need some culinary sunshine,
I highly recommend Microwave Lemon Curd!
It’s easy to make and ready in 15 minutes with only 5 to 6 minutes of cooking time.
I’ve created two camera hounds. . .
When Lola and Sophie see me on the porch with my camera, they don’t want to be left out!
In their world, photos = treats 🐾🐾
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their citrus and floral inspiration:
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Pam at Everyday Living
Find more floral inspiration incorporating citrus from my Monday Morning Blooms friends:
Floral Arrangement with Tulips, Roses and Citrus + Pink Transferware Table
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Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Mary, oh how wonderfully you have captured the feeling of Spring on your porch today! Nothing better than the combination of lemons 🍋and hydrangeas. The vase, truly perfection…. shall be on the lookout for one such as this beautiful one. I have created a recipe card for your lemon loaf cake…Lemon, one of the fav flavors in this household! I have a large bowl filled with lemons and will be re-creating your lemon loaf 🍋 and lemon curd recipes soon….I have also purchased some ice trays to juice my lemons and freezing them. I cannot wait to see your hydrangeas in bloom again..They are magnificent. I so enjoy seeing Lola and Sophie on the porch…they truly have their own fan base!..So happy to be creating blooms with you today … Happy Presidents’ Day!!!
Perfect dose of sunshine today! I love the idea of hydrangeas blooming in 69 days!
69 days ’til May and less than a month until spring providing Mother Nature cooperates. :) Thanks for your visit Rita! 🍋💙
Thank you Shirley! I always look forward to sharing blooms with you! 🍋💙
Blue and yellow are always pretty and fresh. Consider your prolific garden, you had to buy hydrangeas ( summer will come, eventually)
Hi Gail, Spring will be here before we know it! Thank you for your visit and comment!
Stunning arrangements from all this morning! I believe we are all anxious for warm spring days and blooms to appear.
Happy Monday Ann! I hope things will warm up soon in your neck of the woods. ♥
Mary, I love the combination of hydrangeas and lemons. Blue mixed with yellow is always a winner. The vase was the perfect find from Target, unfortunately the nearest Target is a 50 mile drive. Sharing all of the helpful hints of keeping hydrangeas hydrated is much appreciated. I am still wanting a slice of the lemon loaf cake with lemon syrup. It looks moist and delicious. The girls look so happy and content to enjoy porch time. It is always a treat to join you for floral inspiration. Happy Monday 🍋💙🍋
Thank you Pam, I feel your Target pain. :) I’m lucky that there is a SuperTarget about 20 minutes away. I so enjoy sharing blooms with you on these Mondays. 🍋💙
Wonderful tip about using alum! Thank you!
Thanks Maria, it works!
Well that was glorious fun! Just planted another lemon tree yesterday and sharing lemons with a friend today so this is a VERY welcome sight! I love lemons, they represent happiness to me! Sadly you have me wanting to shop now too… I don’t have time for fun like this! Beautiful vignette and love the girls joining in for fun. GREAT start to my day 😊🙏
Thank you! You need staff to help you with your gardening chores. 😀 Wish I could take some surplus lemons off your hands and join you and Linda today. 🍋💙
The alum trick really works. Love the photos and the flowers are great too. So ready for a warm change in the weather.
Thank you Donna! Yes alum is a miracle worker. Hope your weather warms up for you. ♥
Oh my goodness, your “camera hounds” are the cutest ever!! The hydrangeas with the lemons are such a stunning combination, especially on your porch with the lemon pillow and your blue throw. Is that one of your afghans that you made, Mary?? Happy Monday 😊💙 🍋
Thank you Kitty! Yes, I made it this winter, post coming this week. Wishing you a Happy Birthday Week! 🍋💙🎉🎂
I’ll look forward to seeing that post!
Happy Monday, Mary. Two of my favorite things, hydrangeas and lemons. Just lovely.
Thank you Pamela, Happy Monday! 🍋
I love the blue of that afghan with your hydrangea/lemon vase. It is perfect! Did you make it? If so, do you have the pattern and/or color of the yarn used?
Good Morning Vee, Yes I made it, post with directions and details coming this later week. Thank you for your visit! 🧶🍋😀
Such a beautiful way to start my day. Lovely florals and seeing your sweet camera hounds. I love blue and yellow together. Your porch looks so inviting. Hydrangeas are such a graceful flower. Thank you for sharing your flowers tips. I hope to plant some hydrangeas. I need to find some that take sun. I would love a slice of your lemon loaf with my cup of coffee. P.S. meeting Jain this morning to get some lemons 🍋and spend a little girlfriend time.😊
Thank you Linda! Wish I could join you two, hope you girls have fun! 🍋💙
Good morning. What a treat to feel the refreshing spring like day on your porch. Love the lemons and hydrangeas. Your cake looks and sounds delicious.
I read somewhere recently you can freeze lemons and thaw them in the microwave. Can’t remember where.
I adore your blue and white vase filled with blue and white hydrangeas accented with lemons and placed on a yellow check cloth.
Lola and Sophie look adorable and right at home in your vignette for MMB.
Thank you Bonnie! I was just getting ready to email you. :) Happy Monday to you!🍋💙
Mary, I have several vases that I’m going to use the white paper trick! Thank you for that idea! Love the arrangement! That lemon dessert not only looks beautiful but delicious too. I’m going to use the dust the pan with sugar idea too. You always bring us a variety of wonderful, useful, doable ideas! The blue and white mixed with lemons is always a favorite. Always love seeing the girls; they’re adorable! Happy Monday! Clara ❤️
Thank you for your visit and sweet comment Clara, Happy Monday to you too!🍋💙
Simply Gorgeous Bouquet. I love the beautiful photo’s in this post. Very inspiring.
Thanks so much Rebecca, Happy Monday! 🍋💙
Love this! The blue/yellow color combination is one of my favorites and I already have alum thanks to this tip that you’ve given previously. Would love to know where you got the pretty towel(?) with the lemons and lettering on it! What a great accent to the arrangement!
Thank you Donna! The towel is available from Amazon, HERE. Happy Monday 🍋💙
Thank you Mary! I thought it would be a ‘found at Home Goods several years ago’!! It’s on my Amazon wish list!
As usual u r my favorite blog! Can’t wait to see each new design!
You’re so sweet Clair, thank you for your visit and comment today! 🍋💙
What a sunny breath of summer! Yellow and blue are so bright and fresh and adding lemons takes it over the top! I love that you’ve counted down the days to Endless Summer blooms! The vase is so pretty and so clever to line it with white paper, and the fluffy hydrangeas mixed with lemons really grabs attention. Too funny that your little posers are always up for a photo shoot and I am dying to make your lemon cake. Thank you for the beautiful eye candy Mary! 🍋
Jenna
Thank you Jenna! Spring will be here before we know it and I’ll be cursing the pollen. I need to stock on Zyrtec! Hope you’re enjoying some ocean breezes and sunshine. 💗
I would love to sit on your front porch enjoying those sweet girls… lemon pound cake… and the beauty of your centerpiece. And let’s not forget how you brought Spring to all of us here in BlogLand! Thank you!
Happy Monday!
Awww, thank you Nancy, I would love to have you join us! Happy Monday to you. 🍋💗
Beautiful flower arrangement and lemon lovely tablescape! And those adorable puppies! Icing on the lemon loaf…lol!
Thank you Linda! Icing on the lemon loaf made me laugh! :) Happy Monday. 🍋💙🐾🐾
Oh how this makes me long for Spring! Here in MI it’s a beautiful sunny but very windy cold day. The sun will be short lived as ice is expected tonight sadly. But I know Spring is coming and your beautiful posts will help me get there.
Hang in there Amy, I know your winters in MI are as long as our summers are here. Thank you for your visit! ♥
Lemon loaf cake! I may need to be in the kitchen baking this evening! I love blue and yellow together, they are colors of my beloved Quimper, and also the south of France. The citrus always please. I adore anything lemon. Beautiful as always, Mary. I’m ready to move on to spring if the weather will cooperate. There is another chance of very cold weather, but I’ve already begun cleaning up the garden, getting ready to replant, repot containers, etc. Thanks for always delighting and inspiring me, my friend. Love to Sophie and Lola!
Thank you Sarah! We’re on a warming trend this week in the mid 60s and low 70s. I’m keeping my fingers crossed those budding trees and shrubs won’t be zapped by a cold snap before spring officially arrives. Doggie kisses to Miss Sadie 🍋💙🐾🐾
Nothing could be prettier than spring on your porch, dear Mary. Bring in white, blue and lemons, and hooray!! it’s everything cheerful, fresh and bright. The cake looks delicious, and your little assistants look very happy to be out on the porch assisting you. Blue and yellow were my Mom’s favorite colors, and they always make me have fond and sweet memories of her. Thank you for bringing us such a cheerful post today, it’s always a joy to join you for our Monday Morning Blooms! Happy Monday 🍋💙🍋
Thank you Lidy! I so enjoy our ‘blooming’ Mondays :) Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. 🍋💙
What a beautiful blog post! Hydrangeas are my favorite flower and I love anything lemon! I would love to participate in your Monday’s Blooms. – My instagram is @finishingtouches84. – I did a yellow and blue (lemon/blueberry) themed brunch last year for Easter – everyone loved it! I am getting ready to host a little Mardi Gras party and plan to use purple and yellow pansies for my tablescape! Might have to try your muffaletta salad recipe too!