Preserving Flowers

As evidenced by the discovery of preserved flowers in ancient Egyptian tombs, people have for centuries engaged in the art of preserving flowers. Today, a large variety of annuals, biennials and perennials are successfully preserved. Because properly dried flowers can persist for years after harvesting, they are often referred to as everlastings or immortelles. To ascertain the optimum growing conditions and harvesting time for a particular species, one should not rely solely on books or …

…likely they are to become moldy and the more vivid their colors remain. The drying process can be further accelerated by placing the container in a microwave oven or by applying heat. Depending on the method chosen and the particular plant material being preserved, drying time may take between one and four weeks. The uses of preserved flowers are limited only by one's imagination. They are popular in floral arrangements, wreaths, bouquets, potpourri and corsages.