A bouquet is a wonderful gift, and it sometimes represents a particular memory or moment in time that we would love to keep forever. However, flowers, by their very nature, are ephemereal. There is nonetheless a way to transform and reuse them. A bouquet of dried flowers is easy to take care of, and will make it possible for you to preserve that memory for a very long time.
How to dry flowers
For the most effective and simple way to dry flowers, you will need 4 items: the flowers, scissors, string, and a coat hanger. You can choose to dry a full bouquet or to separate de the flowers, dry them individually, and rearrange them once they’ve properly dried.
- Cut the stems at the desired length.
- Attach or detach them, depeding on whether you want to preserve the whole bouquet or select flowers.
- Attach them to the bottom of the coat hanger, so that they hang upside-down.
- Tie the coat hanger in a dry place, where it will not receive direct light.
- Let dry for 2 to 3 weeks.
You can then place them in a vase for a special arrangement, give them to a loved one as a present, or put them up on a wall!
How to press flowers
Another way to preserve flowers is to press, which offers a different effect from simply drying them. You wil need scissors and a varying number of heavy books.
- Cut the stems at the desired length. Keep in mind that the stems and flower have to be thin enough to be place in a book.
- Place them in the centre of a thick book, that is heavy enough to stay closed.
- Arrange the flowers in the desired position.
- Close the book, and keep it closed for 2 to 3 weeks. In the case of particularly thick flowers, wher the books doesn’t flatten completely, add more books on top of the one already used to create a bigger weight on the flower.
You will then be able to frame them, or use them in collages!
The best flowers to press include daisies, baby’s breath, greenery, gerberas (with the stem cut very short), and much more.
