HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-04-16, Page 37F'ressing flowers, is easy,
say crafts specialists with
the home economics. branch,
Ontario- Ministry of
Agriculture and Food. It is a
hobby you can enjoy and use
to make attractive gifts.
Pressed flowers can be
placed in frames as pictures,
used_in greeting cards and
candles, or cast in resin.
here are Some hints
-ziOravr"-a
Amalie A, Ascher dernans.trating drying with sand
TIRES .
BY. DUNLOP * ROAD KING * GOODRICH
- * GOODYEAR *
Radials - Belted - Polyester Ply
AT SPRING SALE PRICES!
SUN0d1 AUTO WRECKERS
482-3211 Highway 8, three 'mi. west of Clinton
The National Garden.Bureau, rest them norizentelly, Tap
sent Usti& article by Amalie : Directions' for drying silica
Adler Ascher, author and gel are on the package; sand
lecturer on flower arranging does not need to be oven
-add drying. . dried.
"Make the Most of garden • . "Gather floWers when
flowers by drying them' for moisture content is low, not
arrang_ernents, The method following rain; nor when the
is simple and involves are wet with dew, or after
burYing blossoms in a drying• standing in an arrangement,
agent to preserve their Pass up blossoms that show
naturallook: signs of age;. they'll shatter.
"Most kindS of , garden when dry. Have. equipMent
flowers can be dried brit the ' readyso you can proCess
Most satisfying are Zinnias ""1:`W diatelY'
marigolds, roses, small "Werriove the sterns from
dahlia and agars, Car- • zinnias, marigolds and other'
nations apd chrYSan- similar flowers. Replace
ther,numS tend to shrivel and sterns with a 2-inch length of
lose petals, 19'•gaUge florist wireinserted
into the blossom: Lay daisy-
silica gel
two
and sand of the soft 1-inch layer of drying agent. sold for sandboices, Sand Is
the least expensive if you Begin hYpouring sand or . silica, gel arpund.the edge of
Want to dry in :quantity,AnY petals; piling it up to the base. box or pan with tight seams of the wire stem, can serve receptacle. Line "Thicker and more ..in- the 'Container with wax. , - tribately shaped floWers like
paper
"Silica gel reduces dg
ryin ,racriughlssho be Placed. •
tittle and produces the a"eAs''Yo .build the, outside,
color. For 'this fill in l4 ,between the petals to
you'll need a cake tin with a equalize pressure and
tightfitting lid: prevent mashing.
"The technique of a similar
covering the dame and procedure' with spiky blooms
the edges Of' the box to
eliminate air pockets. Cover
any exposed parts of
blossoms. You can leave the
box open if using.sand. Mark
• the date and flower name to
estimate thne for removaL
"Never mix, flower,,s of
—.different types nor stack in
more than one layer,
• "Drying time varies ac-
cording to floWer bulk or
thickness, In Sine& gel,,
sirriple, open • flowers may
take only two or three days'
while thick, bulky marigolds
May require five, days, to a
week;' or more dependin# on
size. In sand, flowers lase
moisture more slowly.
"In any case avoid Un-
covering until blooms are
completely dry. Premature
exposure causes irreversible
wilting. Test firSt by
brushing off enough of the
agent 'to feel the tip of a
petal. If crisp, pour-off the
zest.
"Well-dried flowers.,' will
last one or two years if
carefully handled to avoid
shattering. Arrangements
should be displayed in a dry
roam, out of direct sunlight
or' high huinidity that can
fade dried flowers or' cause ,
GO IVIOTHER NATURE ONE BETTER! Designing your own landscape is a great
Nature's work can be improved. Once you've worked out your landscape design, be
sure to keep it permanently beautiful with a regular program of watering, pruning,
and protective maintenance.
both agents are renseable. such as snapdragons, but them to collapse." deal of fun.: And, it offers.many challenges to creative gardeners, since even
Cutting the flowers just
before the show, and stan-
ding them in fresh, clean
water ensures a longer life.
A colorful, Well-balanced
array of gladioli is a likely
candidate for prize ribbons
at floWer exhibitions.
Affectionately known as
"glads' by-
a
gardening en-
thuSiasts, these flowers re
striking additions to 'floral
decorations.
After the shows, care is
needed for gladioli
remaining in the garden.
Withered flowers and leaves
indicate that food has been
stored for next year's growth
in the new corm - a thickened
underground stem unique to
gladioli and crocUses.
Corms should be dug up
and allowed to dry indoors
for one AO two weeks.
Spraying with a fungicide,
Stich as benlate or 'benOrnyl,
is adequate potection
against storage .diseases
during the winter months.
Dusting with•seVin for thrip
control, is recommended,
Treated. Corms are likely
to Winter well in a storage
cellar and have a head start
for next year's season.
Gladioli require daily
attention to win prize ribbons
at horticultural shows.
Gardeners can train their
flowers by tying them to
stakes, says Burke McNeill,
Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food ex-
tension horticulturist. This
produces the long, straight
Spikes that judges prefer.
"Check the spikes every
day, loosening the ties, to
prevent, crooked stems," he
says: "If this is not done
regularly, crooked flowers
wilt soon result,"
While staking the gladioli
rows, watch for diseased
plants. They should be
removed and destroyed.
To select spikes for
display, Mr, McNeill says
flowers with well-spaced
florets facing the front are
the best choice. One-half of
the florets shotild be in
blotrn, With-the-b alance- in
bud or showing color,
"Side shoots are common
on gladioli. If these are not
rernoved prior to cutting,
snip them before showing,"
says Mr. McNeill,
Stems' 20 inches long are
ideal for a fanlike bouquet.
Yellow and pink • flowers
seem to, retain their color
best. Pick flowers just before
or at full blossem: Buds can
be picke.d at any stage s
Some flowers, that press
well are 'pansy, violet,
Cosmos, daisy, heather,
lavender, Queen Anne's lace,
zinnia and buttercop. Queen
Anne's, lace is abundant in'
fields in surnmer,. It presses
and dries :easily. .Try it on
candles as • part of your•
design. The petals of but-
tercups can be pressed
separately from the stems
and leaves.
You ,will need paper, press
and tweezers: Different
types of paper can, be used;
blotting-- pa ne.r.,___p_a_pei•
toweling, newsprint, The
press can range from one of
masonite or plywood sheets
with Clamps O. using car
dboard as separators. Books
or bricks can be the weights.
, To press the flowers, lay
tlown your masonite or
cardboard and place your •
blotting paper or layers of
toweling on this surface. The
flowers should be placed
individually so they do not
overlap. Plate another piece
of paper down, then another.
board. Repeat layers. You
can press five to six layers at
once. On top of these layers.,
place heavy bricks or books,
or use clamps. Change
toweling every day for the
first few days to absorb
moisture and preserve the
color.
If a flower has a' high
center, place it face• up.
When sheets are placed on
top, prevent flattening by
cutting a hole to allow' for the
depth of the centre. Press
'until dry. Small flowers may
take three weeks;' large ones
,will normally take one
Check periodiCally
for dryness, When ready to
remove from the• paper, use
, tweezers as the flowers will
be brittle,
Experimenting is the key.
Press different types ,of
flowers, wildflowers, stems,
leaves, grasses, When they
are dried and pressed, try
different cornbinatiohs of
arrangements before you
actually make up your ar-
ticles, Ideas for
arrangements can be found
in books, greeting cards,
plaquesanci (candles,
Pressing flowers is a
simple, inexpensive method
of preserving nature's
beauty for longer than one
season,
WE PAY SPOT CASH FOR WRECKS
IS THE PERFECT TIME TO
00t1.•••• DISPOSE OF OLD FRIDGES & STOVES
•••°— AND ALL OLD APPLIANCES
WE'LL TAKE SCRAP METAL TOO.
' . FOR LATE MODEL CARS &:THHCHS
Both rebOlt eind.sed
* Installallon.serviCe' by
Merited mechanics