Double Duty Flowers

Many of my flowers serve two purposes, for both fresh and dried work. This allows me to get the most from my blooms and prevents waste.

Obviously, some weeks are busier than others during the slower summer months as school is out and people are away on vacation. I often have a few extra blooms, so being able to dry them is a great alternative.

A few of my favorites for drying include...larkspur, pennycress, strawflowers, statice, celosia, frosted explosion grass, winged everlasting, craspedia, nigella, gomphrena, and many other grasses. These make great additions to wreaths, arrangements, ornaments, and more!

My drying process is fairly simple...

1. Cut and strip the stems of excessive leaves.

2. Bundle groups (rubberband) of 10 or less, depending on the stem size.

3. Hang bundles upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated space for two to three weeks.

4. Once dry, store in a container that keeps moisture out (I use plastic tubs with dessicant packets).

Statice