DRIED FLOWERS
Ancient Egyptians preserved elaborate garlands and made detailed
preparations using grains and herbs for their dead to enjoy in the next
world. Medieval monks harvested and dried flowers and herbs for medicinal
purposes. Victorian ladies considered floral garlands to be an essential
fashion accessory. They displayed dried flowers in glass domes and designed
clever pictures using dismembered cones, lavender, barley and ribbons.
The interest in dried flowers comes in waves bringing all the old
applications and techniques along with fresh inspirations and ideas. Today,
dried flowers are very popular. They are long lasting, tolerant of most
temperatures and offer a wide range of subtle and striking colors.
Growing Your Own
You don’t need a large area to grow enough plants for several large
arrangements. Plan your garden so you can enjoy it year round by planting
evergreens, deciduous plants, annuals and perennials. Plant rows of flowers
in your vegetable garden.
Herbs are easy to grow, and can be planted in pots and window boxes. They
transform simple cooking into gourmet dishes, and delicately scent a room
when dried and used in a wreath or an arrangement.
You can usually find a wide selection of weeds, grains, seed-heads and
pods in craft stores. By drying your own focal flowers such as; hydrangeas, zinnias, roses,
dahlias and sunflowers; and a selection of line flowers such as: larkspur,
delphinium and liatris you can save money and have a greater variety of
flowers in your arrangements.
Harvesting
Successful drying depends not only upon the preserving process, but also
upon picking the fresh plants at the right time. Cut the flowers in the
early morning or late evening. At these times the flowers are fully
saturated with water. Enjoy cut roses as they open. Just before they reach
full bloom, remove them from the water and hang them up to dry. Delphiniums,
larkspur, foxglove and lupin should be gathered when the lower buds are
flowering, but the very top ones are still closed.
Select flowers and leaves that are perfect specimens. Visible pollen
seeds and wilting or missing florets on flower spikes indicate an
over-mature flower. Drying flowers that have tears, holes in the petals or
foliage is a waste of time, because the drying process will only emphasize
imperfections. Cut flowers when the heads feel firm, just before they come
into full bloom.
When preserving in a solution of water and glycerin, collect foliage in
the summer when the leaves are at peak maturity. Young green leaves will not
absorb the glycerin solution, and autumn leaves have stopped drinking water
and sap. So, both are unsuitable for absorbing glycerin.
Stem Supports
Many flower heads are too heavy for the dried stems to support during
the
drying process.
Cut the stems and wire them before hanging them out to dry.
Cover the wire stems with floral tape after the flowers are dry.
Some
flowers can be wired after they are dried, but it is easier to wire them
when they are fresh, because the wire slips through the moist heads more
easily.
Wire several stems of one type of flower or seedpod together for a
more dense, brightly colored effect. Use two to four sprigs of flowers in a
bunch.
floral wires and floral tapes
Sturdier flowers like bells
of Ireland, roses, statice, gypsophila. yarrow and larkspur dry well using the
air dry method. Strip off most of the leaves as soon as possible. The leaves
retain moisture and will slow down the drying process. Dry large flowers like
dahlias and sunflowers individually. The air drying process usually takes two
to three weeks.
The flower heads of many of
the straw flowers are too heavy for the dried stems to support them. Cut the
stems and wire them before hanging out to dry.
If a flower head falls off
during the drying process, hot glue a floral stem wire to the head or calyx of
the dried flower, and cover the wire stem with florist tape.
Adding Wire
Stems
1.
Cut each flower head from the spray so that the stem is approximately
1-1/2" long.
2. Using 20-gauge wire, cut the
wire to the desired length, allowing extra for bending and for the part of the
stem to be inserted into the floral foam. Bend the tip of the wire with pliers
to form a 'shepherd's hook'. 
3.
Hook the wire around the calyx, where the flower head joins the stem, and
squeeze tightly with needle nose pliers.
Storing Dried Flowers
and Foliage
The
safest way to store dried flora is in long, shallow cardboard boxes. Poke
holes in the sides and top so the air can circulate, and add small packets
of desiccants to absorb any moisture. Wrap bunches of like-flowers in tissue
or newspaper, and lay them in a head and foot arrangement.
Don’t overcrowd. Label the box and store where the temperature is
relatively constant. Very delicate material can be stored hanging upside
down with an umbrella of tissue paper to protect the flowers from light
(which fades) and dust.
Continue with "Different Flower Drying Techniques"
in "Arranging and Drying Flowers and Greenery"
