How to Dry Wildflowers
By Erica Sweeney
Overview
Drying wildflowers can create a beautiful decorative piece. While dried wildflowers can be purchased, you can also preserve your own. While there are several ways of drying wildflowers, air drying is one of the easiest and most effective methods because it keeps the wildflowers' colors and shapes intact.
Step 1
Pick wildflowers just before they are in full bloom. Do not pick flowers that are starting to wither. Some good options when choosing flowers to air dry include daisies, roses, sunflowers, dandelions, poppies and other seed heads, dahlias, lavender, larkspur, marigolds, geraniums, teasel, thistle and even some grasses. Wildflowers that do not work well with air drying include lilies, anemones, tulips, violets, buttercups and wild flax, which tend to work better when pressed. Experiment with different types of flowers.
Step 2
Pick wildflowers with much of the stem still intact.
Step 3
Snip the end of the stem at an angle.
Step 4
Gather the flowers in bunches of no more than 10. Gather them together at the base of the stem.
Step 5
Tie the stems together securely but not too tightly. Do not break or damage the stems.
Step 6
Hang bunches of wildflowers upside down in a dry, airy place for a couple of weeks. Set up a rod or clothesline to hang the flowers on, if needed.
How to Dry Wildflowers by lilypondplants.com