Dried and Gone to Heaven

Dried and Gone to Heaven

August 28, 1993 | JULIE BAWDEN DAVIS | SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Fresh flowers with an afterlife, dried flowers are gaining new respect for their versatility as well as staying power. They impart their own particular look to a room and are being used in a wide range of interior designs from the most modern to the most traditional.

The Growing Popularity of Dried Flowers

Dried flowers hit the design scene a couple of years ago and have continued to grow in popularity. RoxAnn Johnson, an Orange-based interior designer and owner of Faux Foliage & Florals, says:

“People like dried flowers for many reasons. While fresh flowers are wonderful, they don’t last long and are seasonal. A dried arrangement can brighten up a house in the middle of winter when there isn’t much in the garden.”

In addition, dried flowers are more eco-friendly. “Unlike silks, when you dispose of dried flowers, they naturally decompose, which is important in this age of environmental awareness,” Johnson adds.

Techniques for Drying Flowers

Drying flowers and foliage requires experimentation and patience. There are three basic and relatively simple approaches:

  • Air drying
  • Glycerin absorption
  • Silica gel crystals

Each of these methods works best for different types of plants. While there are few hard and fast rules, the results always vary somewhat, just like flowers themselves!

Flowers and Plants Ideal for Drying

Many gardeners love drying flowers because it allows them to preserve some of their favorites. Doris Loeffler, a Villa Park gardener, shares her enthusiasm:

“It’s really exciting to cut beautiful flowers and then wait to see how they will dry. It’s also a lot of fun to see flowers you grew in your garden on display indefinitely in your home.”

Loeffler’s favorite flower for drying is statice, which remains bright and vivid in color. Other great choices include:

  • Roses (especially two-toned varieties)
  • Larkspur
  • Queen Anne’s lace
  • Lavender
  • Coreopsis
  • Gaillardia red plum
  • Sunflowers
  • Wax flower
  • Strawflower
  • Heather
  • Baby’s breath
  • Mustard
  • Yarrow
  • German statice

Herbs like marjoram, oregano, mint, and poppy pods are also excellent for drying. Dried fruits and vegetables, such as apricots, onions, apples, and pomegranates, can be great additions to floral arrangements.

Considerations When Drying Flowers

Before cutting flowers from your garden, be aware that their appearance will change once dried. For example, rose heads shrink and change color:

  • Deep red roses turn dark grape
  • White and pink roses become pale yellow
  • Yellow roses turn mustard-colored

Using Dried Flowers in Home Decor

Dried flowers are versatile and fit various interior styles. According to RoxAnn Johnson:

“Dried flowers give a friendly atmosphere to any home. They fit in modern and Southwestern decors, and are especially attractive in Victorian, country, and traditional interiors.”

Here are some ideas for using dried flowers in home decor:

  • Entryway or Dining Room: Create an arrangement in a shallow terra-cotta pot with crushed Styrofoam, adding roses, heather, or German statice.
  • Flower Basket: Fill a basket with crushed Styrofoam and a variety of dried flowers. For a country look, add raffia bow.
  • Cut-Flower Basket: Use a large oval basket and arrange flowers as if freshly cut from the garden. Good flowers for this include larkspur, roses, and eucalyptus.

Final Tips for Decorating with Dried Flowers

When using dried flowers, consider your home’s decor. For instance:

  • Roses with baby’s breath are perfect for traditional and Victorian homes.
  • Sunflowers complement a country look.
  • Statice works well in Southwestern designs.
  • Larkspur and dried artichokes can make a stunning addition to contemporary interiors.

Dried flowers can also be used to soften masculine or heavy decor, such as in a bedroom with wood and dark colors.

Conclusion

Whether you’re creating a seasonal display or a permanent decor element, dried flowers offer both beauty and practicality. With proper drying techniques and a bit of creativity, you can enjoy nature’s blooms long after their growing season has passed.

Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a bestselling journalist, novelist, blogger, and YouTuber. A prolific author, Julie writes in several genres. She enjoys creating page-turning suspense served up with a dose of romance, garden books that turn any brown thumb green, and spiritual books meant to enlighten and inspire. Widely published, Julie has written 45 books and more than 4,000 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sunny, blue skies most days and year-round gardening. Julie gains inspiration from being surrounded by plants when she writes.