HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-04-26, Page 45Page 11
Why not dry your flowers
The National Garden Bureau
sent us this article by Amalie
Adler Ascher, author and lec-
turer on /loner arranging and
drying
"Make the most of garden
flowers by drying thein for ar-
rangements. The method is
simple and involves burning
blossoms in a drying agent to
preserve their natural look.
•;Host kinds of garden
flowers can be dried but the
most satisfying are zinnias,
marigolds, roses, small dahlias
and asters. Carnations and
chrysanthemums tend to shrivel
and lose petals.
"The two best agents are sil-
ica gel and sand of the sort sold
for sandboxes. Sand is the least
.xpensive if yua want to dry in
quantity, rim, box or pan with
tight seams can serve as recep-
tacle Line the container with
wax paper.
"Silica gel reduces drying
time and produces the brightest
color. For this you'll need a
cake tin with a tight fitting lid.
"The he technique of covering is
the sarne and both agents are
reuseable•. Directions for drying
silica gel are on the package:
sand does not need to be oven
dried.
"Gather flowers when moil•
ture content is low, not follow-
ing ram. nor when they are wet
with dew, or after standing in
an arrangement. Pass up blos-
soms that show signs of age:
they'll shatter when dr f lase
equipment ready so you can
process immediately.
"Remove the stems from zin•
nias, marigolds and other sim-
ilar flowers. Replace stems with
a 2 -inch length of 19 -gauge
florist wire inserted into the
blossom. Lav daisy -type blos•
soms tacedown on a 1 -inch
layer of drying agent. Begin by
pouring sand or silica gel
around the edge of petals, pil-
ing it up to the base of the wire
stem.
"Thicker and more intri•
cately shaped flowers like
marigolds should be placed
face up.
"As you build the outside, fill
in between the petals to equal-
ize pressure and prevent
mashing.
"Follow a similar procedure
with spiky blooms such as -snap•
dragons. but rest them horizon-
tally. I•ap 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 time
for removal.
"Never rnix flowers of dif-
ferent types nor stack in more
than one laver.
"Drying time varies accord•
ing to flower bulk or thickness.
In silica gel, simple. open
flowers may take only two or
three days while thick, bulky
marigolds may require five days
to a week or more depending
on size. In sand, flowers lose
moisture more slowly.
"In any case, avoid uncover•
ing until blooms are completely
dr. Premature exposure causes
irreversible wilting. Test first
by brushing oft enough of the
agent to feel the tip of a petali
If crisp. pour off the rest.
"Well dried dowers will last
one or two years if carefully
handled to avoid shattering.
Arrangements should be dis-
played in a dry room, out of
direct sunlight or high humidity
that can fade dried flowers or
cause them to collapse."
Amalie A. Ascher de
monstrattng drying with sand
Pressing also saves flowers
Pressing 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. Yellow
and pink flowers seem to retain
their color best. Pick flowers just
before or at full blossom. Buds
can be picked at any stage.
Some flowers that press well
are pansy, violet, cosmos, daisy,
heather, lavender, Queen Anne's
lace, zinnia and buttercup. Queen
Anne's lace is abundant in fields
in summer. It presses and dries
easily. Try it on candles as part of
your design. The petals of but-
tercups can he pressed
separately from the stems and
leaves.
You will need paper, press and
tweezers. Different types of
paper can be used; blotting
paper, paper toweling,
newsprint. The press can range
from one of masonite or plywood
sheets with clamps to using
cardboard as separators. Books
or bricks can be the weights.
To press the flowers, lay down
your masonite or cardboard and
place your blotting paper or
layers of toweling on this surrace.
The flowers should be placed
individually so they do not
overlap. Place 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 month. 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 com-
binations of arrangements before
you actually make up your ar-
ticles. Ideas for arrangements
can be found in books, greeting
cards, plaques and candles.
Pressing flowers is a simple,
inexpensive method of preser-
ving natute's beauty for longer
than one season.
See them now...at our
tis�is
special display in the
/uncoci/t moll
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•