Has anyone every left your larger ornamental onion (Allium sp.) varieties to dry out in the garden and then given them the “spray paint treatment” for extended interest?  Many alliums dry well for interior arrangements but if staked in place or dried and then put back out in the garden, they can add a longer season of interest when given some “supplemental color”. The photos below show the variety ‘Globemaster’ at the Edgerton (WI) Hospital Healing Garden that I manage. We’ve left them in place and these colors coordinate with a garden party event we’re having soon (“Flower Power” – 70s theme!).  We’ve had lots of folks asking about these…”Are they real!?”…”What did they look like at peak bloom?”…”When are they planted?”….This approach isn’t new or novel but certainly catches the eye!  We’re going to leave ours up as long as possible to catch the eye and invite further inspection (and conversation!).