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Dried Flowers
There are many ways you can have dried flowers. You can buy them at a craft store or at the
mall, but have you ever considered drying them yourself. It is not as hard as you may think when
it comes to air-drying flowers and greenery and can prove very rewarding when you're finished.
The easiest way to dry flowers is to tie them in bundles with twine or ribbon and hang them
upside down away from direct sunlight in a warm well-ventilated place. When doing this, always
put the same kind of flowers in the same bunches - do not mix them to dry. If the flowers are of
the large variety, then they should be hung individually, not in bunches and you will have to strip
all the leaves off shortly after you pick them. The leaves hold moisture and it will slow down the
drying process.
Hang all your flowers six inches from the ceiling on hooks or nails. Have them staggered so lots
of air can circulate through them. This will prevent them from getting mildew or rot. Make sure
they are in a warm place, but protected from sunlight with a dry atmosphere and plenty of
ventilation. The drying process can take from one to several weeks depending on the conditions
you have chosen to dry them in. Also, where the flowers were harvested has an influence on the
time it will take to dry them out. The stems tend to dry very straight and brittle, so if you want to
keep your flowers in one piece instead of losing parts of them spray them with hair spray or an
aerosol spray sealer to help prevent this.
There are some flowers that dry better when they are laid flat such as grasses, lichens, bamboo
and leafy branches. Lay a few newspapers down and spread out your flowers. Don't overlap
them. You will find that they may shrink a little, but they will dry with most of their original
color and shape.
So give it a try. It's not that difficult and you may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
After the drying process is over take them and use them in crafts or around your home. You add
a beauty that only flower can bring.
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