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SPRING TIME FRESH SERIES

Whether you plan to plant your own garden, dry flowers given as gifts, or purchase flowers to give as gifts, DRYING FLOWERS will keep them Spring Time Fresh year round.

There are several different drying techniques to experiment with. The key to beautiful dried flowers to use in arrangements is to experiment.

PLAN YOUR GARDEN

GROW YOUR OWN FLOWERS  –  Select an area of your yard where you can plant a beautiful variety of flowers. Planting flowers such as hydrangeas, zinnias, roses, dahlias and sunflowers and a selection of line flowers such as larkspur, delphiniums and liatris and baby’s breath will save money and allow you to enjoy live flowers that are also suitable to be dried. No room? CONTAINER GARDENING may be the answer.

PLANTING ANNUALS – annuals will bloom for only 1 season. You will need to buy new for next year. Several online nurseries have great deals. Save $20 on $50 order

Alyssum, Begonias, Geraniums, Impatiens, Lantana, Marigolds, Pansies, Petunias, Nasturtiums, Salvia, Snapdragons, and Zinnia are just a few of the annuals that are great for your garden or container garden.

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PERENNIALS – are plants that come back each year without have to reseed or replant. If you want really fragrant perennials, Snowflake, Phlox, Dianthus are a few of the good choices. Salvia, Coreopsis, and Shasta Daisy are easy to grow and require little care. They do well in full sun. Bachelor Button, Delphinium and Scabiosa ae also good choices.

PERENNIAL HERBS come back every year. Place them in containers where you can enjoy their fragrance. Pick them fresh and cook with them for some fabulours flavors. Consider Mint, Oregano, Thyme, Chives, Savory, Lavendar,Garlic Chives, Lemon Balm, Sage and Tarragon are a few great fragrant choices. Air Drying these herbs allows you to use in arrangements and potpourries.

All of these annuals, herbs and perennials are suitable for planting a garden or container gardening, allowing the opportunity of creating beautiful dried arrangements that are Spring Time Fresh.CONTAINER GARDENS – For those of you with little or no space for a garden, container gardening may be the answer. There are many advantages to using containers. Planters and containers used on your patio, deck or window sill will produce as wide a variety of flowers with which to enhance your home, pool area, patio or yard. Preserving these flowers will give you “SPRING TIME FRESH” beauty indoors year ‘round. BENEFITS OF CONTAINER GARDENS
  • Convenience – the flowers are within easy reach to cut and bring in.
  • You can match the containers to your lifestyle.
  • You can enhance the beauty of your home by placing containers on window sills, porches, patios or in a poolside area.
  • Portable containers allow you to move plants to other areas or bring them in when the weather is bad.
  • You can grow plants that may not normally be grown in your area due to weather conditions. They can be protected by simply moving them indoors.
  • Herbs and fragrant flowers can be used along walkways in raised boxes.
 THE CORRECT CONTAINER is required to grow annuals, perennials, and herbs. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are available for planting.
  • Avoid containers that have narrow openings. There will not be enough room for the plant to grow as it should.
  • Terra Cotta pots dry out quickly. Plants require more frequent watering.
  • Wooden boxes may rot over time unless you use redwood.
  • Plastic pots might not last in direct sunlight.
  • Ceramic pots that have been glazed are probably your best choice. Be sure they have drainage holes. Line with newspaper to prevent soil seeping out.
 POTTING MATERIALS – Your soil must have good drainage but retain enough moisture for the roots to absorb.There are many different types of soil. Check your plants to see if sand is needed in the soil. If you have a compost pile, you can use it or purchase potting soil from your local nursery. Check your plants regularly to see if they need water. They will dry out more quickly in smaller containers than they will in a garden that is planted in your yard. To help prevent water loss in your container garden, put ½” of mulch on top of the soil after planting.              

 

 HARVEST YOUR BLOOMS 

 Various drying methods are used to preserve flowers and foliage. Pick flowers that are at their peak, before they come into full bloom as they will continue to open in the drying process. Early morning, after the dew has evaporated, is the best time to harvest.  Trapped moisture can cause mold to form. Pick flowers and foliage at their peak because any imperfections will show even more after drying.  CONDITION YOUR FLOWERS – to ensure the long lasting life of your preserved flowers. The flowers you cut from your garden can form an air-lock causing the plant to wilt. Carry a container of water with you as you cut the flowers from your garden to prevent an air lock from forming and the stems from drying out. All containers used to collect and condition your flowers must be kept clean to prevent mold and odor. 

Cutting flowers in early morning, after the dew has evaporated, or in late evening allows the flowers to have the most water in their stems. This helps to make conditioning easier. Remove any leaves that would be under water as they can rot and may cause the water to have a foul odor. After you bring your flowers indoors, recut 1 ½” off the stems on an angle to get better water absorbtion.  Using a new clean container, fill it  about ¼ of the way up with warm water. Allow the flowers to remain in the water overnight before drying them.

SORTING THE FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE

Lay newspaper or a plastic protective cover on your work table. Group your flowers and foliage into like groups. Select the flowers that you want to dry. Decide which method you will use. There are various techniques to preserve flowers.

PRESERVING METHODS: 

AIR DRY HANGING - grouping flowers and tying them in bundle to hang upside down to dry.

AIR DRY UPRIGHT in a vase with some water. Yes, I did say with water

ONE OF OUR CONTAINER GARDENS

A beautiful "punch" of color appears at our entryway.

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Alabama Jones Act Injuries Counter

FRAGRANT BEAUTIFUL ROSES

Photos by Patricia Vawter