It’s late August; the Limelight Hydrangeas are in magnificent bloom. Cut a few and plop them in an old rustic crate. The contrast is extraordinary. Enjoy them on the porch or wherever you like until their pink fall hues arrive, and then we can do it all over again. At least, that’s what I’m planning on doing...
Fresh Blooms
I was back in Vermont this past weekend to restock and refresh my vintage window booth, collect some mail, work on some fun upcoming collaborations coming your way very soon, and get a few unfinished necessities wrapped up before we finish our summer in Maine.
Sunday was a warm yet cloudy day, perfect for styling and photographing content from our Vermont porch. My neighbor strolled over and dropped amazing fresh-cut blooms off from her garden.
After I finished photographing on our porch, I moved these fresh blooms inside to enjoy in the craft/sunroom space. They were so fresh and brilliant in color that I couldn’t get over it!
And don’t these blooms represent the change from summer into fall so tastefully?
As a home decor ambassador with MacKenzie-Childs, you may enjoy the Summer Desserts with MacKenzie-Childs Check Designs post.
The Rudbeckia and Coneflowers were in their seasonal bloom, showing off The Green Mountains in their backdrop. And the feel of fall was most certainly in the air.
And truthfully, I can not wait for it! It’s my favorite time of the year. You may also enjoy the 7 Ways to Add Autumn Spirit to Your Front Porch this Fall post.
I deadheaded and trimmed up our own sunflower plants while I was here. They aren’t nearly as beautiful as my neighbors, but a small bouquet of fresh blooms in a vintage pitcher is still so charming.
You may see more in the Refreshing Weekend Junket Home to Vermont post.
Enjoy the Fall Decor 2023 Trailblazing in Blue and White post, see the 5 must-haves, and why creating first and consuming second is this year’s fall trend.
Limelight Hydrangeas
The Limelight Hydrangeas, well, let’s say they were ready for cutting and displaying. We usually cut our limelight trees back at the end of each blooming season, but we decided to let them go last year. They must be 8′-10′ feet tall now, easily doubling in their size.
I prefer the Limelight Hydrangea trees, short and stout, but they are truly handsome either way. Which way do you elect? Tall and wild, or short and trimmed? Let me know in the comments below.
Limelight Hydrangea trees have a mountainous display of soft green cone-shaped blossoms each summer that transition to soft white, cream, and finally, pink through the fall. Limelight Hydrangeas are exceptionally low-maintenance and yield gorgeous blooms perfect for cutting, drying, and displaying.
My friend Skye over at Hamilton House Designs on Instagram is my go-to for all things Hydrangeas. If you don’t follow her, you should be!
Getting back to our place in Vermont for just the weekend and seeing these amazing Limelights in full bloom now has me holding on a little bit longer to summer, well maybe just a little bit longer… Aren’t they just amazing?
You may also enjoy the 6 Best Foraging Basket Arrangements for the Off-Season post.
Old Vintage Crates
And this old vintage crate that was in our basement, well, are you thinking what I’m thinking?
To fill this old crate to the brim with summer-to-fall Limelight Hydrangeas to bring back with me to enjoy in Maine for the next couple of weeks.
The best of both worlds, truly.
And when we return, these Limelight Hydrangeas will be a delicate shade of pink that I’m looking forward to embracing, too, when the time comes.
You may also enjoy our Vermont Fall Foliage Home Tour from last year.
Ella Update
And let me give you a little update on our sassy Berner, Ella. Ella had ACL surgery seven weeks ago now and was doing great. But she’s a rambunctious one, and during her healing, somehow, nobody knows how Ella broke a bone off her tibia on the same leg. Her ACL is fine, but she now needs another small surgery scheduled this Monday to repair her tibia… She is not in any pain and gets around just fine. She walks around like, “Nothing going to keep me down.” The challenging part is keeping her still and calm for the two weeks again while she has her sutures in. We had to reschedule our anniversary vacation, too. But we love this little sassy pants!
Oh, did I mention today is our 25th wedding anniversary? 25 years ago today at the Dockside Restaurant in York, Maine.
So, for now, I’m going to be enjoying this time between summer and fall with my Limelight Hydrangeas in this old rustic crate and my time tending to Ella before we head back to Vermont to usher in our favorite autumn season.
If you like this post, you may also enjoy Fall Hydrangeas in an Old Crate post. Where I decorated with these same fall Limelights in a vintage United Farmers crate the first year we planted these Hydrangeas.
Old crates pair so well with all styles of hydrangeas; another favorite is filling old crates with evergreens in the wintertime. Which will be here before we know it… See more in my favorite, “Vintage Ski Lodge Decor Series.”
You may also enjoy How to Repurpose an Oil Lamp into a Unique Flowers Vase post.
See you back in Maine, friends!
I hope you found lots of summer-to-fall decor inspiration here today among the Limelight Hydrangeas, old crates, and fresh blooms!
Back in Maine and in need of some fresh water, but still beautiful.
Did you see this pea stone patio we designed and built for this teak table set in less than two days?
I’m so glad you dropped by, and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you enjoyed your visit with us today at our Home in Vermont.
Be sure to check out our Home in Coastal Maine, too, where we spend summers and weekends when we are craving a walk on the beach or a visit with old friends.
I’ve created the above custom pin just for this post! Hearing from you makes my day; your comments mean so much! Please join me over on Instagram & Pinterest to see more!
This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
SHOP THIS POST
Happy 25th Anniversary Ann! What a wonderful picture of you two. Your limelight hydrangeas are so beautiful. I hope sweet Ella feels better after all this work on the poor girl. Sending her lots of hugs and well wishes.
Thank you Kim, I know! I think we have a long road a head of now unfortunately.
Have all your Berners had ACL issues? We’ve never had Bernese Mountain dogs but our neighbor is raising one now. We have rescued many Spaniels and currently have King Charles Cavaliers. Ella is fortunate to have you and I’m sure she isn’t a vet fan about now:0)
Lovely anniversary photo. I bet your wedding was just as beautiful. We just celebrated our 29th. I wonder what the special “gift” is for 30 years? Ha!
I love hydrangeas and have many in our yard. Growing 4 Pee Gee trees now from tiny starts. It’s a bit of a struggle in our clay soil but they are coming along. A crate is the perfect vessel! The blooms get so large.
Good luck to Ella’s poor tibia and keeping her still.
No, they’ve never had ACL issues, this is our first experience with it. Happy anniversary Lori! Ours here in Maine struggle in our soil too but in Vermont they grow like crazy. Thanks so much for all the well wishes Lori!
Do you put them in water, or just let them dry out?.
I let these dry out as I was traveling with them. But normally yes I would put them in vases of water inside the crate.
Hi Ann,
I just loved looking at these gorgeous hydrangea! So beautiful!
So sorry to hear about Elle’s surgery and hope she recovers completely from the next one.
HAPPY ANNIVERARY!!! You and Steve are a great couple and I am grateful to have you both as neighbors.
Susan
Thank you so much Susan. You should stop by and cut yourself a nice big bouquet. There’s so many of them. We are grateful to have you as a neighbor too. Best to you and see you soon.
Each fall I fill my Gram’s old wooden sugar barrel with my PeeGees—love that look!. Happy 25th—you were a beautiful bride!
Thank you so much that sounds so beautiful. I would love that look too! Thanks for your kind note.
Oh those Hydrangeas!!! Spectacular. An early Spring freeze destroyed just about every hydrangea here on Cape Cod. The white ones like yours are the only ones that survived. (Of course, we don’t have that kind so NO flowers in this yard. None anywhere arounds us and I really miss them.)
Oh precious Ella!! She must love visiting her vet!! Please give her an extra tummy rub from me!
A VERY HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARY TO YOU TWO GORGEOUS PEOPLE!!! Beautiful bride and Handsome hubby. Time flies, doesn’t it?
Aww thank you Kathy. Wow I didn’t realize that happened out on the Cape. Such a bummer. Ella doesn’t like the vet too much these days unfortunately…
Happy anniversary! Such a sweet picture of the two of you.
Thank you so much Kathie!
It wonderful to enjoy all the summer flowers during our off season here in Florida. ❤️ we don’t grow hydrangeas but one year a friend brought some dried ones to me that I loved and for a few years I would stick them in the bare spaces of our Christmas tree. Poor Ella! And Happy Anniversary, you made a beautiful Bride.
What a great idea Pamela. I bet they looked so cute during the holiday season. I’m so glad you enjoyed todays’ post and thanks for your sweet note.
Happy anniversary and many more. Here in central Ontario, Canada my hydrangeas have already changed to pink and the sedum is starting to bloom it’s deep pink. We seem to be about a month early this year. Hope Ella’s surgery goes well and good luck keeping her quiet for a couple of weeks.
Thank you so much Linda. I’m really looking forward to the change myself. You’ll be getting snow soon😂
Hopefully no snow for a while but Mother Nature will rule the day. I totally enjoy seeing your Limelight display and mine will look something like yours in a few years. All the best from Canada.
Oh no snow yet, all in due time I agree Linda. I bet you are excited for your limelights. They are such beautiful flowers. Thanks so kindly for your sweet note.
Congratulations I pray Ella gets better.
Thanks kindly Marlene🫶🏻
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you kindly🫶🏻
Happy Anniversary. 💐
Thanks so much Carolyn💕
I love your site! I have begun incorporating time looking at your posts and my self care time. Thank you for sharing.
Awww that’s so sweet Marlene. I’m so glad you are here🫶🏻
Beautiful!!!
Thank you so much Mariya!