Dried Flowers for Everlasting Bouquets
You can turn your summer blooms into everlasting bouquets by planting flowers that are easy to air-dry. These would include bells of Ireland, cockscomb, Edelweiss, globe amaranth, larkspur, scarlet sage and blue sage, sea lavender, statice, strawflower and yellow yarrow.
To get the best dried results, pick flowers that are in prime condition but a little on the immature side. Remove all the foliage from stems. Group the flowers into small bunches and secure with a rubber band. Hang the bunches upside down in a warm, dry, dark area, such as an attic, closet or furnace room. Avoid damp rooms or direct sunlight on the flowers. Good air circulation is very important.
Allow the flowers to dry thoroughly. This normally takes two to three weeks. If stems are weak or become brittle after drying, remove them and attach the flowers to stiff wires before arranging. |