MY MONTH IN FLOWERS WITH WHITNEY BROMBERG HAWKINGS, FLOWERBX
July 2022
My Flower of the Month: Hydrangea
Welcome to My Month in Flowers, our column curated by FLOWERBX founder Whitney Bromberg Hawkings. At FLOWERBX, every month of the year is celebrated for its own unique floral beauty; from summer to winter - and back round again - there is something to be cherished in every season. This month, FLOWERBX welcomes the return of a floral favourite. Whitney shares her love and knowledge of all things hydrangeas, from styling tips to choosing the perfect variety.
For flower lovers, the move into the high summer months is always bittersweet; we wave goodbye to fluffy peonies for another year, but with their departure comes a new array of seasonal flowers. As we step into July, I have one variety at the front of my mind - hydrangeas, and you’ll be pleased to hear that they stick around for a little longer!
The joy evoked by summer hydrangeas is unrivalled. Full of bright irrevestant colour, in shades from Baby Blue to Pale Plum, hydrangeas are known to represent grace, gratitude, and beauty - making them the ideal gift for summer hosts or an act of self care to bring happiness indoors. Often associated with quintessentially English gardens and cottage-core styling, I believe there is a place for hydrangeas in any home, be it city townhouse or countryside abode.
Once you’ve made the difficult choice of which shade of hydrangea you want to try first (believe me - you will be back for more!), there are a few industry-insider tips to keep this cottage garden classic looking extraordinary.
Hydrangeas LOVE hydration. Re-cut your flowers as soon as you unbox them, snipping your stems at a 45 degree angle with FLOWERBX Floral Scissors, and then making one clean cut about 1 inch up the centre of the stem, splitting it in two. Hydrangeas are particularly woody, so this simple act will help your flowers draw maximum water towards all those glorious petals.
Choosing the right vase is imperative to hydrangea health. You will want almost the entire stem submerged in water, so something with depth will work perfectly. For showcasing five stems of hydrangeas, we recommend our Small Apothecary vase, and when doubling the dazzle, choose our Large Apothecary vase for ten stems. I couldn’t recommend them more; they are perfect to house hydrangeas!
Keep your hydrangeas out of the heat! Like all cut-stems, it’s all about location. Finding a spot with ample light but away from direct sunlight, drafts, or radiators is key to long-lasting hydrangea love. Of course, our Flower Food is also a must for optimum vase life.
Summer hydrangeas are so versatile, which is one of the reasons they are a seasonal highlight. They can stand tall, towering over a mantlepiece or centre stage on a console table, or trimmed down below eye-level to adorn alfresco dinner parties - a particular favourite for the warmest summer days!
My Hydrangea Picks
I adore all summer hydrangeas, but here are my top picks that will make an impact at every occasion. For gifting a friend, our Cherry Crush variety is the perfect pink shade and makes me smile everytime I see it! I would send this to share congratulations, good luck, or a simple I love you.
For setting a summer table, I love the choice summer hydrangeas offer, so I find it impossible to pick just one! I like to style more unusual shades that I might not yet have had the chance to celebrate earlier in the year. Our Pistachio and Lime Kiss varieties look particularly striking when arranged in single-variety bunches across an outdoor table, teamed with Ester +Erik candles and your best summer linens.
For a dose of wow-factor, all hydrangeas guarantee to please, with their extra-indulgent flower heads and beautiful colour palette. If you are looking for something even more eye-catching, our Rainbow Sherbet and Lavender Blush varieties both offer two-toned delight that will wow any recipient.
If you love hydrangeas but cannot choose, the FLOWERBX Hydrangea Subscription is your ideal match. Celebrating all the best summer hydrangeas - following their evolution into autumn’s jewelled tones - subscribe today from just £50. Choose a frequency and duration to suit your schedule and keep enjoying hydrangeas, month after month.
Discover more about all that our subscription services have to offer here.
