Flower Power

I love flowers; they always brighten up a room and fill the air with their delightful fragrance. The sad part is that they whither after a certain amount of time and disappear in the garbage.

I think we all know how to dry roses. Hang them upside down in a dry spot for about two weeks. They keep their color and can be used in flower arrangements or simply by themselves. Sometimes a single rose draws more attention then an entire bouquet.

It is not just the roses and babies' breath which can be dried; all kinds of other flowers can as well. It does require a special technique to dry them and still keep them in shape.

Hydrangeas are a good example. The best way to dry them is the following: find a box in which the entire flower will fit. Put some dry sand on the bottom and place the Hydrangea on top of it.

Then carefully fill up the box with dry sand, making sure it gets all up, in and between the petals. Repeat this step until the entire flower is covered and let it sit for about two weeks. Remove the sand with care and you will end up with a beautiful dried, colorful wonder of nature.

This technique can be used for all kinds of flowers which would loose their shape or form when being hung upside down. Don't forget to spray them with hairspray after the drying process. This will keep the petals from falling off and enhances the colors.