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Drying and Preserving Valentine
Roses
by Jill Black
Roses are a popular flower for giving at any time of the year but none
more so than on Valentines Day for which the Red Rose has become an
expression of love.
The Rose, in all its shapes and sizes, is well worth the trouble of
drying although the flowers do tend to shrivel a little and the color
tends to turn darker especially with the true red roses.
To preserve your roses try one of the following methods.
Air Drying Roses
The best results are obtained when all the petals of the bud can be
seen.
Pick roses only on a dry day after any dew has evaporated. Roses with
firm buds that are just about to open are best for air drying, To air
dry hang the roses in a dark, dry, cool place with good ventilation. The
buds will open up over a few days the the whole process takes couple of
weeks.
When dry a little hair lacquer sprayed on will protect the rose and make
it last longer.
Preserving Roses
This can be done using a desiccant such as silica gel alum, sand or
borax. Place your desiccant into a bowl making sure that the desiccant
is entirely dry. Remove the stem of the rose and push a short length of
florist wire through the centre of the rose and replace the stem.
Push the wire stem into the bowl of desiccant and carefully spoon the
desiccant over the rose. Seal the container and leave to dry out. Silica
takes about 48 hours, but alum and borax take about 2 weeks and sand can
take up to about 4 weeks.
Your desiccant can be used again by carefully drying out in an oven.
When cooled it should be ready to use again.
Dried and preserved roses are also nice to use when making potpourri as
they nearly always retain their scent. Add extra scent with a drop or
two of rose oil into the potpourri mix then displayed in open bowls of
petals with similar coloring or in or use in sachets mixes for clothes
drawers or the airing cupboard.
Courtesy of Jill Black
More articles and ideas for creative living can be found online at
http://www.netwrite-publish.com
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