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Flowers represent all sorts of positive messages that a person may fail to convey in words. Their beauty is unmatched and they are truly heaven-sent.
But like all good things, they must come to an end. Dried flowers is a way of preserving their beauty effortlessly and with a little time and attention, the memories that the flower holds are sure to bring you joy for many years to come.
A History of Dried Flowers
Dried flowers were once used for medicinal purposes during ancient Egyptian times. They believed that some flowers can be used to treat certain ailments. Dried flowers were also used for cosmetic purposes. They would add flowers to oils and use this as a perfume. It goes without saying that dried flowers were also heavily used during funerals. Garlands of dried flowers adorned the coffins of the dead. This was a good choice since the flowers won’t wilt. Its beauty and integrity are maintained, being presentable enough to be sent to the afterlife with the dead.
The tussie-mussie was a famous combination of dried flowers and during the Middle Ages, a time when the disease was so rampant, the decrease in population was alarming. The tussie-mussie was believed to keep certain diseases at bay and also mask any pungent smells. For nursing mothers, the sap of dandelion was believed to be helpful during this time.
In Asia, the Japanese developed the art of Oshibana, an art that involved pressed flowers. True to Japanese form, the Oshibana made use of pressed flowers in a very unique manner: petals and leaves would represent different forms of nature. This hobby requires patience and creativity and is almost always meticulously done.
It wasn’t until the Victorian era that the preservation of flowers became a hobby, even for ordinary folk. Women would use dried flowers around their homes for decoration, as an accessory, or to design letters and journals. It is not surprising that the hobby spread across Europe and has since been enjoyed by people all over the world.
Best Flowers For Preserving
Unfortunately, not all flowers are well suited for drying. There are certain types of flowers that will continue to hold their color and form even after preserving:
- Roses
- Lavender
- Dragon’s Breath
- Starflower
- Hydrangea
- Salvia
- Pansies
- Baby’s breath
- Globe thistle
- Herbs
Get a bunch now by online flower delivery or simply visit your local florist. Cut stems that weren’t used for bouquets can usually be bought at a discounted rate.
How to Preserve Flowers
Prepare your flowers first by cleaning them and making sure they don’t have any dirt or debris or even pests. Lightly mist the flowers and leaves and leave it to air dry. This will remove any pesticides left by means of evaporation.
Preserving flowers is easy and takes little effort. There are a few ways which you can employ to dry your flowers:
Pressing: the most basic and easiest way to preserve flowers is through the art of pressing them in between heavyweights such as books. This method works best on flowers that are already flat, to begin with, like violets.
Line the flowers on a page and make sure that they’re not on top of each other. Place a piece of paper on top of the flowers. Close the book and place a heavy object on top of it. Leave it alone for two to four weeks.
Air drying: another method that is easy to employ is simply leaving the flowers left to dry in a dark place. Simply tie a bunch of flowers together, hang them upside down, and leave them to dry. Usually, 7 days is enough; check whether the flowers are all dried and crisp and they’re ready! Herbs are also good for preserving in this manner. They leave a pleasant aromatic scent.
Desiccants: desiccants are those small packets inserted inside newly bought products. They’re meant to absorb moisture. You can buy desiccants in huge amounts when you want to use this method to preserve flowers. Simply cover flowers in gel desiccant. Give it a week and they will be all dried up. Hobbyists like desiccants because they are reusable: simply pop them in the oven to dry and remove any moisture.
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