Drying Flowers from your Garden

11/21/08

There are several methods available for drying fresh flowers from your garden. The first and oldest method is to hang dry the flowers. It is also the least expensive method. The second method is to use a material called silica gel. This needs to be purchased at a craft store of flower shop. Before either method, the flowers need to be fresh and not wet.

To hang dry flowers, cut the stems to the desired length of the flowers you wish to dry. Remove most of the leaves and bunch like flowers together (i.e., roses with roses, lilies with lilies, etc.). Tie the bunch with string. Hang the flower bunches in a warm, dry, and dark place, such as an attic or an enclosed porch. The drying process will take a minimum of three weeks depending on the type of flower. After the third week, check daily to see if the flowers have dried. When dried in this manner, the flowers do lose some of their shape and color, but they are still pretty and usable. This is a fairly long process, which is why some people use the other method: silica gel.

The best way to dry flowers that retain their color is to use silica gel. Silica gel is not a gel at all, it is a soft, sandlike material. It can be purchased by the box or can at craft stores or florists. The gel absorbs the moisture from the flowers and gives them a crisp, dry, delicate feel. They do retain a lot of their color.

Using any air-tight container, fill it with silica gel halfway. Gently put the flower head into the gel. Be sure to completely cover the flower, especially between the petals. You can use your fingers (preferably while you're wearing gloves) or a small plastic spoon. Pour some additional silica gel over the flower to completely bury it.

The drying process with this method takes 3-4 days. Be sure to check daily after the third day. You do not want it to get over dried as it may make the flower break.

After the drying process is complete, you should store them in a dry, air-tight container. These dried flowers can be used in many different crafts. They can be attached to wreaths or gently glued onto invitations and cards. A special way to display your dried flowers is to mat and frame them.

 

QPR net Helguson as Flowers quits (BBC News)
Queens Park Rangers sign Bolton Wanderers striker Heidar Helguson on-loan as assistant manager Tim Flowers leaves the club.

Flowers Out Of QPR (Norwich City MAD)
Former Coventry City goalkeeper and Assistant Manager Tim Flowers has left Queens Park Rangers. The Kenilworth born keeper had been assistant manager at Loftus Road under first former City boss Iain Dowie and then caretaker Gareth Ainsworth.

Young Jewish-Bulgarians Offer Flowers to Cabinet as Sign of Gratitude (Novinite.com)
On Thursday young Bulgarians with Jewish background met with flowers the members of the Bulgarian Cabinet as they were gathering for their regular Ministries Council meeting.

Flowers Offended By Misheard Lyrics (Soundbuzz) (Yahoo!7 Music News)
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Flowers offended by misheard lyrics (world entertainment news via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is upset fans have been mocking the lyrics of his new single - because he laboured over the misheard line for weeks.

The Conservatini Debuts at the Conservatory of Flowers (SFist)
by Tiffany Maleshefski Instead of doing keg stands and shooters, the guests at tonight's gala at the Conservatory of Flowers will be sipping on the decidedly more appropriate Conservatini™. The delicious and just-invented beverage is the creation of Kevin Deidrich of Michael Mina's Clock Bar . It will be served at the Conservatory's gala tonight, celebrating the debut of the its ...

No flowers in Hanoi's flower village (Vietnam Net)
VietNamNet Bridge – The period from November 20 (National Teachers' Day) till the lunar New Year is normally the busiest time for Tay Tuu flower village , one of the two major sources of supply of flowers for Hanoi. But at this moment, Tay Tuu has no flowers.

The Killers - Flowers Offended By Misheard Lyrics (ContactMusic)
THE KILLERS frontman BRANDON FLOWERS is upset fans have been mocking the lyrics of his new single - because he laboured over the misheard line for weeks. Flowers has ...

Cut Flowers: All-natural Stress Busters (Carteret County News-Times)
(ARA) - Work deadlines, parenting struggles, family time pressures and relationship challenges -- modern life is full of stress. The good news is there is an all-natural, relatively low-cost way to relieve stress and beautify your home at the same time -- cut flowers.

Helguson becomes Sousa's loan Ranger but Flowers departs QPR (Daily Mail)
New QPR boss Paulo Sousa has made Bolton striker Heidar Helguson his first signing. The 31-year-old Icelander has moved on loan until the end of January and goes straight into the Rangers squad for the Coca-Cola Championship match at former club Watford on Saturday.

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