HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-04-16, Page 43y not dry flowers
The National Garden Bureau
sent adds article by Amalie
Adler Ascher, 'author .and,
lecturer on flower arranging
and drying.
"Iviake' the most of garden
flowers by drying Them for
arrangements. The method
is simple and involves
burying blossoms in a drying
agent to preserve their
natural look.
"Most kinds of garden
flowers can be dried but the
most satisfying are zinnias,
marigolds, roses,• small
dahlias 'and asters, Car-
nations 'and chrysan-
themums tend to shrivel and
lose petals.
"The two best agents are
silica gel and sand,of the sort
sold for sandboxes. Sand is
the least expensive if you
want to dry in quantity. Any
box or pan with tight seams
• can serve as receptacle. 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
tightfitting lid.
"The technique of
covering is the same and
both agents are reuseable.
rest them, horizontally. Tap
Directions for drying silica
gel, are on the package; sand
does not need to be oven
dried.
"Gather flowers when
moisture content is low, not
following rain, nor when they
are wet with dew, or after
standing in an arrangement.
Pass upblossoms that show
signs of age; they'll shatter
whenyiry. Have equipment
ready so you can process
immediately.
"Remove the stems from
zinnias, marigolds and other
similar flowers. Replace
stems with a 2 -inch length of
19 -gauge florist wire inserted
into the blossom. Lay daisy -
type blossoms facedown on a
1 -inch layer of drying agent.
Be -gin bypouring—sand-_ or
silica gel around the edge of
petals, piling it up to the base
of the wire stem.
"Thicker and more in-
tricately shaped flowers like
marigolds should be placed
face up.
"As you build the outside,
fill in between the petals to
equalize" pressure, and
prevent mashing.
"Follow a similar
procedure with spiky blooms
such as snapdragons, but
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 ret toval.
"Never mix flowers of
different types nor stack, in
more than one layer.
"Drying time varies ac..,
cording 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 un-
covering until blooms are
completely dry. Premature
exposur-e,ca-uses ir.r-e-ver-sible
wilting. `Test first by
brushing off enough of the
agent to feel the tip of a
petal. If crisp, pour off the
rest. •
"Well -dried flowers will
-last—Dire -arm-twcr years if
carefully handled to avoid
shattering. Arrangements
should be displayed in a dry
room, out of direct sunlight
or high humidity that can
fade dried flowers or cause
them to collapse."
Pressing 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.
Herearesome hints.
Amalie A
lscher demonstrating drying with sand
Glorious.- glads
-Gladioli require daily
attention to win price 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
will soon result."
While staking the gladioli
rows, watch for diseased
plants. They should be
removed and destroyed.
To select spikes for
displ•ry, Mr. McNeill says
flowers with well -spaced
florets facing the front are
the best choice. One-half of
the florets 'should be in
bloom, with the• balance in
bud or showing color.
"Side shoots are common
on gladioli. If these are not
removed 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 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. .be pressed
separately from the stems
and leaves. .
You will need paper, press
and tweezers. Different
types of gaper can be used;
blotting paper, paper
toweling, newsprint. The
press can range frdi'n one of
masonite or plywood sheets
with clamps to using car-
dboard as separators. Books
orbricks din be the weights.
To press the flowers, lay
down 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 riot
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
Cutting . the flowers just
before the show, and stan-
ding them
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 gardening. en-
thusiasts, these flowers are
.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 Experimenting is the .key.
underground stem unique to Press different types of
gladioli and crocuses. flowers, wildflowers, stems,
Corms should be dug up leaves, grasses. When they
and allowed to dry indoors are dried and pressed, try
for one to two weeks. different combinations of
Spraying 'with .a fungicide, arrangements before you
such as benlate or benomyl, actually make up your ar-
•is adequate protection tides. Ideas for
against storage diseases arrangements can be found
during 'The winter months. in books, -greeting- card's,
Dusting with sevin, for thrip plaques and candles.
control, is recommended. Pressing flowers is a
Treated corms are likely simple, inexpensive method
to winter well in a storage of preserving nature's
cellar and have a head start beauty for longer than one
for next year's season. season.
m fresh, clean first'feew� ays -Eo ,absorb
moisture aril , 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.
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