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You can enjoy the freshness
of a flower garden throughout the
year by cutting and drying your favorite flowers. The two
easiest and least expensive methods are sand-drying and
air-drying.
Sand-drying can be used to dry a wide variety
of flowers, such
as roses, tulips, dahlias, marigolds and snapdragons. Flowers
which last only one day, like day lilies, do not dry well. Do
not dry asters, azaleas, chrysanthemums, geraniums, petunias,
phlox, pinks, poppies or violets. But feel free to do your own
experimentation.
To prepare for sand-drying, cut the flowers
at the peak of their
show as any imperfections will be exaggerated by drying. Pick
the flowers after the dew has fully evaporated. Make sure the
stems are dry.
Prepare the flowers by reinforcing the
stems and blossoms with
florist's wire or with white glue. For daisy-type flowers and
flowering shrubs, push a 6" piece of wire through the stem
and
right through the flower head; bend the end of the wire into a
hook over the flower head and then pull it down, thus securing
the head to the stem.
For flowers such as roses and tulips which
are dried face-up,
cut off most of the stem except an inch or so and insert the
wire as above.
For many-petaled flowers, use glue instead
of wire. Diluting
the white glue with a drip of water and using a toothpick, dab a
thin coat of glue at the base of each petal, working the glue
into the base of each flower to attach each petal to the base.
Dry completely.
To dry the flowers, slowly cover them with
white sand in deep,
open boxes. Cup-shaped or rose-shaped flowers should be dried
face-up. Make the sand deep enough to hold the flowers in an
upright position, position the flower carefully and slowly pour
the sand around the base of the flower, then around the sides
and under and over the petals. Pour the sand evenly and slowly
in order to preserve the natural shape of the blossom.
Daisy-type flowers should be dried face
down. Make an even base
of sand in the box and make a little dip in the sand the same
shape as the flower. Hold the flower steady and carefully build
up the sand around the blossom until it is fully covered.
Snapdragons, lilac, elongated flowers and
flowering branches
should be positioned horizontally in the sand, flowering
branches face up. Carefully pour the sand around and between
the flowers and into individual blooms. A soft artists' brush
will help you in lifting the blossoms slightly as you pour the
sand so that they won't be flattened by its weight.
When all the flowers are completely covered
with sand put the
drying box in your drying area and leave undisturbed for one to
three weeks. Rapid drying in a very warm, dry and brightly-lit
place will produce bright blossoms; slower drying in a more
humid spot will produce more muted colors.
Removing the sand should be done very carefully,
tipping the
container slightly, allowing the sand to flow slowly from one
corner of the box. As each flower is released from the sand,
lift it gently out.
If you wish to store your dried flowers
for later use, seal them
in airtight containers such as tins or plastic boxes sealed with
masking tape, or in sealed cardboard boxes enclosed in airtight
plastic bags.
Air-drying can be very successful with
herbs, everlastings and
ornamental grasses. Choose perfect plants with long stems,
removing the lower leaves. Put the flowers in small bunches,
fastening them together with an elastic band; then open each
bunch into a fan shape. Hang the flowers head down from nails
in a dry, dark place for one to three weeks until they are
completely dry. The colors will usually be muted. Display your
flowers in the house or store them as above.
You may want to experiment with waxing
fresh flowers. This too
is simple; just melt some paraffin wax and plunge each
individual flower into the wax. Remove and shake the excess wax
off each flower. Put it into the refrigerator to set and harden.
Having dried, preserved flowers in your
home year-round can
really brighten it up. You may want to give dried flower
arrangements as Christmas gifts. It is a wonderful, satisfying
hobby to preserve your own flowers. You can also make lovely
cards by pressing your flowers and covering them with clear
mac-tac on a piece of construction paper. It's easy to do and
looks lovely.
