People in the Northern Hemisphere are entering the winter period. Things dry out and die off, but you can still get a lot of pleasure from your garden and even make some money. Why not dry and wax some flowers, or preserve them, in lovely designs?

You can enjoy the freshness of a flower garden, throughout the year, by cutting and drying your favourite 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 flowers with many petals, use glue instead of wire. Diluting the white glue, with a drop 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 colours. 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 colours 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, all 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.

Tomorrow, we will continue with this hobby and take a look at how to preserve cut flowers and how to change the colour of the flowers. We also look at how to make some money from Pine cones.

Not all gardening has to stop with the colder weather. Why not take up the art of Bonsai? Discover insider secrets to creating stunning Bonsai trees, with this ebook, titled Bonsai Gardening Secrets. All you need to know about Bonsais. Find out more here http://dersalsites.com/bonsgs/

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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