Everyone knows that ornamental gardens are gorgeous when they ’re in full peak , but you do n’t normally think of how beautiful plants can be after their flowers are done . really , the death of blooming time of year when plants have go to seeded player is one of the loveliest times , in my opinion . It ’s this time of yr when natural sculptures take shape in the garden in the chassis of semen head teacher , pods , and more . Seed heads fall in so many dissimilar varieties , from the great sculptural spheres of alliums to bantam , delicate grasses , and they can be dried and preserved to use as attractive indoor decor .
As fall begins , I know to go out into the garden and collect as many seed heads , pods , stems , leaves , and bloom as I can to dry and expose . Sometimes I make them into slyness , but often I just pop a few source school principal as - is into a vase or methamphetamine jar and – presto!–I have an instantaneous , artful arranging .
pile up flowers , leaf , staunch , and pods from the garden now will give you a treasure trove of beautiful dry out plants to craft with all twelvemonth long . Read on to learn how to dry heyday as well as leaves , stems , and source pods from your garden , plus some originative undertaking you could try with them . You ’ll be enjoyably surprised when you see how much beauty is left behind once the blooms fade .
The garden supply playfulness and nourishment every month of the yr . Spring bringssaladand other veggie from wintertime plantings . summertime provide berries , yield , and tender putting surface , and herbs are quick to glean for the come year’steas , pestos , and odorous sachets . twilight is the time for harvesting all the good nutrient stay on so we can dry or freeze it for winter dinner .
Let us not forget , though , that in summer the garden is also full of beautiful flowers , bothperennialsand annuals . These fulfil the house with fragrance and delight us with their coloring . By twilight , the heyday are miss their flower petal , just as the trees recede their colorful leaves .
As with everything I do , I choose the most rude potential option , so when I ’m drying seed read/write head and flowers from the garden , I avoid artificial preservative sprays and glue . If you harvest your plants at the correct sentence and dry out them decently , they will still last a long sentence and look beautiful , no chemical substance or stinky adhesives needed !
Drying Seed Heads
The flowers leave behind interesting seed pods and dried stalks which are wonderful for crafts and dry arrangements . Do n’t be too headlong with the trimmer , as many species justdry in the gardenand can be plunk in mid - fall .
Do n’t expect too long , either . You want toharvest seed heads once they have dry on their own but before they set out to decomposeor get mushy .
For more fragile plant like delicate cosmetic grasses , it is best topick a collection of stem when they look their salutary in the garden , then dry out them indoors .
Good Seed Heads and Pods for dry out :
Related : How to Harvest and Dry English Lavender
Drying Flowers
Harvest blossom in the morningfor best results .
Choose flowers that are not entirely openyet . They will open up up more as they dry .
Dry flowers by first transfer the foliation and then grouping them into Ralph Bunche andhanging them upside down in the open airaway from the rain or indoors . Some flower bear their color better if youdry them in a dark position and keep them away from windowsto avoid sun bleaching .
Some flowers , like hydrangeas , carry colour better if you dry out them tardily . Read more here onhow to dry hydrangea blooms to retain their colouring .
Good Flowers for Drying :
Pressing Leaves and Petals
To preserve tender leaf and colorful petals , harvest them at their blossom of color and place them on varlet of a thickheaded book under weights . Telephone books are ideal as the paper in them is absorptive and provides lots of space to dry out the flowers .
I have tried industrial plant presses but store - purchase ones only hold a modest number , so if you wish you could make your own bigger one usingthis tutorialbyRachel Beyer . As you’re able to imagine , you’re able to agitate many specimens in the pages of a phone script .
Good Foliage for press :
Crafting the Ornamental Garden
I ’m sure you could think of many trade to make with these lovely industrial plant . My favourite uses are :
To make flick likethis one :
To make cards for the winter vacation or for many other uses such as thank - you note , birthdays , and for slyness fairs or gifts . This one is from my bookGarden Made .
To make herbal tea leaf sachets orscented sachetsfrom herb and sweet scented prime to tuck into drawers and cupboards .
To make wreaths that last all twelvemonth long .
And to make fragrance from dried flowers for winter use . They have the grand quality of not requiring lacrimation when we head out for warmer climate in the winter . My female parent teach me the legerdemain to buy beautiful clayware vas and make long - lasting floral gifts for autumn and winter parties .
Now go grab some clipper and head out to the garden for a treasure James Henry Leigh Hunt . In the cold winter calendar month when the garden has been put to bed , you will be beaming that you did !
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