How to Preserve Flowers for Creative Projects

Dried flower & Dried Lime Grapevine Wreath. This wreath features some Wooden Flowers.

After designing and creating something special with flowers, I always hate to see them wither and eventually fade away. Recently, I began preserving the flowers I love so I can enjoy and use them again in future creative projects. This year, I’ve been experimenting with one of my favorites—the beloved dahlia—and the results have been wonderful.

I’ve even been known to disassemble a special bouquet and transform its individual flowers into a small everlasting wreath, creating a meaningful keepsake that helps commemorate a beautiful occasion.

Preserving flowers this way gives them a second life, turning something fleeting into a lasting piece of art.

Different Methods for Drying and Preserving Flowers

There are several simple ways to dry and preserve flowers, and the best method often depends on the type of flower. When I have abundant, sturdy stems like lavender, I typically use the traditional method of hanging small bunches upside down to air dry.

For flowers such as hydrangeas and tiny spray roses, I’ve found that an even easier method works beautifully: simply place them in a vase without water and let them dry naturally. As they lose their moisture, many flowers take on a wonderfully sculptural quality, creating a beautiful piece of dried-flower art with almost no effort at all.

Experimenting with different flower-preservation methods is part of the fun. With a little patience, flowers that might otherwise be discarded can become lasting materials for wreaths, arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

Dried spray roses in simple vase.

How to Preserve Flowers with Silica Gel Crystals

One of my favorite methods for preserving flowers is drying them with silica gel crystals. Silica gel gently draws moisture from the flowers, helping them retain much of their original shape, color, and delicate details. It’s an especially effective method for preserving flowers for wreaths, floral arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

I like to begin by removing any excess foliage and stems using my favorite Micro Pruning Snips. If you’re planning a project that requires the stems, you can certainly leave them intact.

Next, add about 1 inch of Silica Gel Crystals to the bottom of a Rubbermaid container, making sure the crystals create an even layer across the entire surface. Carefully place your flowers on top of the silica gel, either face up or face down, depending on the shape and type of flower. Arrange them closely together, but make sure the flowers aren’t touching one another.

Once all of your flowers are arranged, slowly pour more Silica Gel Crystals over the top. Continue adding crystals until each flower is completely covered and the silica gel has gently filled in around every petal and detail.

Secure the lid tightly and place the container in a cool, preferably dark location for approximately one week. The exact drying time will vary depending on the type and size of the flower. Some delicate flowers may be completely dry in just a few days, while larger, moisture-rich flowers can take longer.

The wonderful thing about drying flowers with silica gel is that you can experiment with different varieties and drying times to see what produces the best results. With a little trial and error, you’ll discover which flowers preserve beautifully—and you’ll have a wonderful supply of everlasting blooms ready for your next creative project.

Delicate dried Dahlia Flowres.

How to Remove and Store Flowers Preserved with Silica Gel

Once your flowers have finished drying, it’s time to carefully remove them from the silica gel. For this step, I recommend using a small slotted spatula, which makes it much easier to gently retrieve smaller, delicate flowers without damaging the petals.

I carefully slide the spatula underneath each flower and lift it slowly, allowing the Silica Gel Crystals to fall back into the container. Once the flower is removed, I gently tap it on all sides to release any crystals that may still be tucked between the petals.

I then arrange all of my newly preserved flowers side by side on a tray and allow them to sit for a little while longer, making sure they are completely dry before storing them. This extra step is important because any remaining moisture can lead to mold.

Once I’m confident the flowers are completely dry, I store them in a container with air vents to allow for some circulation. Properly dried and stored flowers can last for a long time, giving you a beautiful collection of everlasting blooms to use in wreaths, floral arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

Gently scooping dried Dahlia Flowers out of the Silica Gel Crystals.

Creative Ideas for Dried Flowers

Once you’ve preserved a beautiful collection of flowers, the fun really begins! There are so many creative things to make with dried flowers, from everlasting wreaths and floral branches to small decorative pieces that can be used as table cards, place settings, or gift toppers.

I especially love turning little pieces of wood into unique dried flower decorations. They make charming table cards or thoughtful gift toppers and are a wonderful way to give preserved flowers a second life. Another favorite in autumn are dried flower pumpkins. Hot gluing your dried bounty to the top of a pumpkin is simple and it makes a great centerpiece.

Or, you can keep it wonderfully simple. I often arrange small groupings of dried flowers in a pretty vase and let their natural beauty speak for itself. Unlike fresh flowers, dried floral arrangements can be enjoyed for months or even years, making them a lovely way to preserve a special moment, bouquet, or season.

If you’re planning to make dried flower wreaths, floral decorations, or gift toppers, I highly recommend investing in a quality glue gun. Because I do quite a bit of designing, I purchased a professional-grade, cordless Ryobi Glue Gun, and I absolutely love it. It gets very hot, so be careful when working with it, but not having a cord to maneuver around makes creating so much easier. The battery and charger are included, too.

With a collection of preserved blooms and a few simple supplies, you can turn dried flowers into beautiful, lasting pieces for your home, entertaining, gift wrapping, and creative projects.

Mini spray roses glued to a tiny piece of wood.

I hope this inspires you to start preserving all the beautiful flowers you encounter and turn them into something you can enjoy for years to come. I’d love to see what you create, so feel free to drop me a line and share your dried flower projects!
Your Supply list:

Hearty Fresh Flowers (without a lot of delicate & loose petals)
Micro-Tip Pruning Snips
Rubbermaid Storage Containers with Lids
Silica Gel Crystals
Mini Slotted Spatula
Professional-grade Glue Gun

How to make your own flower confetti

Flower Confetti for Styling Summer Tables

Forage from your gardens

• Take a walk around your gardens or a nearby meadow and bring your shears and a small bag or basket. Whenever I come across a flower with great color, I try to snip a few to use for flower confetti. Many cut flowers like to be cut regularly because this promotes new growth, so don’t be afraid to snip a few. If you are foraging in a meadow, make sure the petals are large enough, and if they are not, like with a wild daisy, snip the entire flower head.

Choosing flowers with colorful petals

Save every petal

• After foraging, lay everything out on a tray or towel to see what you have. Shoosh away any small insects and gently begin to remove the petals from the larger flowerheads before they turn brown

• You can separate and leave the petals to dry as is on a flat surface or …

• Place the petals in your dehydrator and set it to the lowest setting. Dehydrate for only about 1 hour or until all petals are completely dry but not brown. Be careful not to over-dehydrate; watch closely. All flowers are different, so this step needs to be monitored

Separating the petals from the centers

Store After Drying

• Separate and place the petals on a white plate so you can easily see the array of colors, and if necessary, wait several days to make sure they completely dry

• Discard any petals that have turned brown

• Store the dried petals in a wide-mouth jar without a lid or use a lid with air vents to allow air circulation and prevent molding.

Dried Peony Petals

Style Tables and Give Confetti Gifts

• Now on demand, you can create flower confetti jars to give as gifts. They make lovely summer picnic gifts, and they pair so nicely with baskets full of fresh herbs, vegetables, and homemade sourdough bread.

• Style pretty summer tables by sprinkling the flower confetti around candles, place settings, or amidst flower arrangements. Here is the list of all the supplies I use to create my own flower confetti. Enjoy!

Simple jars of Flower Confetti make wonderful gifts

Creative Ideas For Your Valentine

Valentines Gifts: Not Just Flowers & Candy

Fun fact: According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine's Day spending reached $25.8 billion overall — an average of $185.81 per person in 2024. I think this is because Valentine's gift-giving has evolved to include ALL THE LOVES of our lives: Spouses, Special Friends, Parents, Kids, Co-workers, Teachers, and even Pets. Therefore, it’s only fitting that our gift options evolve as well.

Alternative Valentine Gift Ideas

I like to encourage giving flowers, but as you know, I try to support local growers and not many local Pennsylvania flower growers have blooms in frigid February. So I’ve written a short list of sentimental alternatives that should help you think outside the candy box and express your Valentine LOVE more creatively.

Give A Pressed Flower Frame

Framing a sentimental piece with pressed flowers is a nice way to remember an event. Pressed flower frames can be propped on a small shelf, a mantle, or hung over a photo commemorating the actual experience. Wedding invitations, baby ultrasounds, engagement photos, and small mementos like rings become elevated keepsakes when surrounded by pretty flowers and a simple frame. And it’s even better if the flowers are unique to the event, so consider drying and pressing your own.

Shadow boxes are best for three-dimensional objects but floating frames work well for flat art and pressed flowers. If you are creating a three-dimensional frame and want dried flowers, learn how to dry your own here. And if you’d like to press your own fresh flowers, I recommend this flower press. It’s the one I use and it works nicely and looks even better sitting on the table.

Give A Flower Farm Tour or Photo shoot

Did you ever think about contacting a local farm and arranging a walking tour or photoshoot? This is more of a “for the future” gift and would be perfect for someone who loves gardens or summer strolls, has a special event coming up, or for someone who has everything tangible and needs nothing more.

I’ve teamed up with local flower growers here in Pennsylvania and hosted several pre-wedding flower farm tours. During the tours brides, grooms and their guests see all of the flowers that will be growing on or near the date of their wedding. They can choose a specialty flower to be grown especially for them or just ask questions and speak with the grower about the different varieties available. But this unique type of gift does not need to be reserved for newly engaged couples. Think about taking a friend and a bottle of wine for a tour of a local sunflower field or arranging a family photo shoot at a local lavender farm or vineyard. All of these ideas make wonderful Valentine's gifts that can be enjoyed well past February.

Give Something Evergreen and Unique

Did you ever receive a potted plant and think, this I so wonderful because it will live much longer than a week? That’s the joy an evergreen gift brings. An evergreen gift is a gift that keeps on giving long after its moment in the sun. There are so many evergreen ideas out there but here are a few that involve nature itself. Consider a Terrarium, Moss Wall or Nature Experience as a gift for your Valentine this year.

Terrariums can be assembled using a few small plants, some rocks that you find in your backyard, a little bit of soil, live moss, and some natural embellishments that you hunt for outside. And don’t think that you need to build yours in a glass bowl. Terrariums come in many shapes and sizes these days. I search thrift shops for large gravy boats and interesting pedestal compotes to make mine. Terrariums are great because they will last a really long time, are gender-neutral and they can be custom-built for your special someone. They are perfect for any space in the house, dormitory, or office and require very little care.

A Moss Wall is a popular nature wall hanging that uses preserved moss and requires no care at all. They are easily created with a base tray, some reindeer moss, hot glue, and nature embellishments of your choice. They are fun to make and will certainly make your Valentine smile if you gather supplies and arrange a Moss Wall Creation day just for them.

Another idea is to surprise your Valentine with a custom-designed Nature Experience. A Nature Experience is just as it sounds, an experience created around a nature workshop of some sort. There are so many workshops to consider. There are Bouquet Bars, Terraium or Plant Workshops, Dried Flower Workshops and Wreath Workshops to name just a few. But really, anything you can think up can be used to create a unique gift of a Nature Experience. This gift is fantastic because it allows the recipient to essentially build their own gift by doing something they enjoy with people they like, and it’s perfect for almost any time of year. So don’t rule out giving a practical and special Evergreen Gift. And if you need ideas, see this page.

I hope these ideas inspire you. Happy Valentine’s Day all! - Kim

How to Design a Valentine Tree

Why I Designed a Tree FIlled with Love

As the Christmas season was coming to an end, I decided I wanted to enjoy our pretty tree a little longer. I knew I could get away with keeping our faux Balsam Hill Pine up through January dressed in its wintery guise, but what excuse did February have? That’s why, this year, I created a Valentine's Tree. Read on to see how I did it.

Transitioning a Christmas Tree

We created a pretty simple Christmas tree this year so the transition was easy. I first removed all of the Christmas balls but kept all the white lights and icicles. This step was very quick and with a semi-bare tree, I was able to then plan for February-appropriate decor.

Making a Valentine's Tree Topper

I considered keeping our glowing Moravian Star tree topper but decided that a Valentine's tree needed to better reflect Valentine’s Day. I considered a grapevine heart wreath covered in dried flowers but decided I’d like to just use found materials and make my own. This is how I did it.

Start with a basic shape

I took an old cardboard box and cut two identical free-form hearts. I then hot-glued a 10” doubled-up piece of floral wire about 4” deep inside the two panels and extended it out the bottom, so that I’d have something to wrap around the tree’s top branch. If I do it again, I will also extend the wire from each side so the heart has more stability when topping the tree.

Once the wire is secured, hot glue the hearts together. This step helps the topper to be more ridged and stable.

Designing the front of your heart topper

Start by designing one side of the heart with your dried flowers and moss. I used my professional-grade Ryobi glue gun, some reindeer moss, and the dried flowers I harvested this year. If you want to learn how to dry your own flowers, see my blog: Learn how to dry your own garden flowers. I didn’t have much of a design or plan, but I just kept filling in the cardboard as I went around the heart and eventually, one side of my heart was completely covered.

Designing side 2

When I finished side 1, I realized leaving the second side of the heart blank wouldn’t look very nice from the side view, so I cut up a coloring book, quickly glued it to the surface of the heart, and glued some leftover moss around the edges to finish it off. In retrospect, I would cover this side first with contact paper or something simple to make the job easier. You could also fill the back side with moss if you have it.

The Heart-Shaped Tree Topper

Here is the result. Not bad for a trial run. Later I’ll show you how it looks on the tree.

Hanging hearts on the Tree

Now the rest of the tree needed some LOVE-ly decor. I found these pretty heart ornaments in rose gold online. They are sold in sets of 45 so I only ordered one set. You can also get them in silver, pink, gold, red, and a pink, red & white combo.

Accenting with Vintage Valentine Cards

I also found some vintage Valentine ornaments to add some character to my tree. There are many types of interesting card ornaments to choose from on Amazon, so look around. Some are more childish which would be nice if you are creating this for your children or grandchildren.

The Unveiling

When all the little rose gold hearts and vintage Valentines were hung, I added a few large dried flowers and some colorful felt ball garlands that I had lying around.

I am very pleased with how this turned out and I’m happy I started a new tradition for our home. Don’t worry, if you’ve already removed your Christmas tree this year, you can plan for next February or grab some fallen branches from outside and place them in a garden pot to make a smaller Valentine’s Branch Tree. Anything is possible. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How to Enjoy The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show Water Feature

If you are from the northeast or live anywhere near Philadelphia, I am sure you've heard of The Philadelphia Flower Show. Flower enthusiasts come from far and wide to this grand event every year. Many of them probably do not even realize it's the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world!

The Flower Show is produced by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society annually at the beginning of March and is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center which provides the show with 2.3 million square feet of exhibition space, the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast. During the two years of the pandemic, the show was moved outside to fdr park and it was moved to the month of June.

PA Convention Center - Photo: www.discoverphl.com/

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, that uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. They use the funds to provide low-cost gardening programs, create community gardens, support neighborhood programs, design and maintain free public gardens, and plant trees. This year's show began on Saturday, March 4, and it runs until Sunday, March 12, so there is still plenty of time to get there. If this is your first time I hope this encourages you to go.

The hours are:

March 4, 10, 11: open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

March 5 - 9: open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

March 12: open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Philadelphia Horticultural Society Photo: phsonline.org

Flower Show Themes Through the Years

Every year the Horticultural Society chooses a new theme. The 2023 theme is "The Garden Electric". Some creative themes through the years have been:

• 2022 In Full Bloom

• 2021 Habitat

• 2020 Riviera Holiday

• 2019 Flower Power

• 2018 Wonders of Water

• 2017 Holland: Flowering the World

• 2016 Explore America

• 2015 Celebrate the Movies

Flower Power Theme 2019 - Photo: PhillyVoice.com

The Flower Show Exhibitors

Floral designers and exhibitors are carefully chosen. You'll find professionals, nonprofessionals, universities such as my alma mater, The University of Delaware, and locals like Temple's Tyler School of Art and Architecture and Delaware Valley University all represented. And keep in mind it's not only about well-known floral studios and their gorgeous displays, you'll also see fascinating exhibits from The Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators, The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society, and The Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia to name just a few. The full 2023 list of exhibitors can be found here.

Florastruck: The 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show Entrance Garden

Find Your Favorite

My favorite exhibit this year has to be “The Cerebral Garden”: Look for a giant brain with electrical synapses emanating from a large white tree. Designed by Jennifer Designs, this full immersion experience is truly unique and one I did not expect while waiting in line. The designer invites visitors to step inside the lobes of the brain. There is an interactive feature explaining how electrical impulses shape our thoughts and perceptions. In my opinion, it's a great interpretation of this year's theme Garden Electric.

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

The Cerebral Garden Exhibit - Photo: Kim Bensing

Don’t Skip The Student Exhibitors

Do yourself a favor and keep your eyes open for the Pressed Plant Art exhibit, Bugging Out Over Color, in the Design Gallery portion of the show. These works were created by the 5th-12th grade students from Tredyffrin/Easttown School District under the supervision of the brilliant fine artist and my dear old friend Khara Flint. These little framed delights really exemplify the beauty that pressed flowers can and should provide. I wanted to buy one for my home. Thank you, Khara!

“Bugging out over color” -Pressed Paper Student Exhibition led by Artist, Khara Flint

Take Advantage of Some Special Events

Throughout the entire week, you'll find various events to keep you busy no matter what day you go.

On March 5-12, you can participate in an Early Morning Tour where you can buy a separate ticket for a two-hour tour with a longtime attendee ($110 fee). Early Morning Photography Tours are also available from March 6 to 10 ($130 fee). Both start at 8 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.

Floral Tutus

When you first arrive, you'll walk right through Artisan Row. Here you can make candles, and botanical jewelry, create handbags and flower crowns, design succulent terrariums, and even participate in a dried flower bar. These events have an additional fee depending on the event you choose.

The Dry Flower Bar at the Philadelphia Flower Show

There is free live music at the flower show every day beginning at noon. Every year the show features a flower crown Bloom Bar ($33 fee). On March 5th you can enjoy Design & Dine: Create your own floral arrangements while sharing a meal ($40 fee). With the show's Potting Parties, you can learn the art of container gardening with flower designer Tu Bloom ($10 fee). There's even a dance party called Flowers After Hours on March 11 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This year the theme is Garden Noir; participants will wear all-black attire and masks. Must be 21 and over with an ID ($75 fee).

Take Your Kids & Pets

There is a Kid's Cocoon featuring a play area for children to learn about pollinators, plant seeds, and take them home. On March 12, children can partake in face painting, giveaways, mascot visits, and more with Family Frolic. On March 10, they are offering Fido Friday where you can bring your furry friends to the Flower Show. Each day the Butterflies Live experience lets you enter a butterfly habitat, enjoy the experience and respectfully take pictures. ($5 fee).

Butterflies Live at The Philadelphia Flower Show - Photo: phsonline.org

Talk to a Few Vendors

I always look forward to the spark of joy I get when I visit the vendor section of the flower show. The show hosts many interesting vendors each year, so many that they take up almost half of the entire convention center. The full is can be found here.

I have a few vendors I always hunt for whenever I go. This year I stopped by booth #116 to visit my social media friend and vintage jewelry designer extraordinaire Jill Schwartz. I've been following Jill to the flower show for years and I own several of her designs. She studied design at Pratt and she just has such a warm, kind personality. She also has an exciting presence on Instagram if you indulge. Check out Elements Jill Schwartz.

Elements Jill Schwartz - Photo: Kim Bensing

My other go-to vendor is Glenda Gies (booth #809). Glenda is a local handbag designer from Philadelphia. I was first drawn to Glenda's designs a few years ago when I purchased my first bag at the flower show. Glenda uses the most exquisite tactile fabrics on her handbags which come in many stylish, vintage-inspired shapes. I met Glenda for the first time this year, and I own two of her fabulous handbags, which you can purchase at a discount only at the flower show. Check out Glenda Gies.

Glenda Gies Handbags - Photo: Kim Bensing

I was very happy to find Doylestown’s own Bluestem Botanicals among the vendors this year at The Flower Show. Bluestem is an herbal farm collective that connects people with plants for food, and medicine. I had the pleasure of participating in a tented potluck dinner and farm tour this past summer in Doylestown. Here at the show, founders Eric and Linda are serving guests a sample of a refreshing blueberry mocktail, spritzed with one of their herbal hydrosols. Check out their yummy “Drink Your Garden” farm-crafted, botanically-focused cocktail/mocktail kits when you visit them at the show.

Founders of Bluestem Botanicals, Eric Vander Hyde and Linda Shanahan Photo: Kim Bensing

How to Buy Tickets to The Flower Show

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society produces the show, so you must buy your tickets on their website provided here.

Adult tickets: $43.50

Student tickets: $30.00 (with a valid student id)

Child tickets (5-17): $20.00

Children under 5 are free

There are two packages: two adults and one child ($100) or two adults and two children ($120)

If you order online there is a small fee, but I recommend doing this in advance of your trip to avoid long lines, especially if you choose to go on a weekend.

If you become a member of the Philadelphia Horticultural Society online, you can get discounted tickets and Member’s Preview Day tickets are also an option. This preview takes place the Friday before the show opens. Everything is very well explained on their website above.

Garden Electric…

Ice Cream Cone Man

How to Travel to The Flower Show
I happen to live in a Philadelphia suburb, approximately 20 miles from downtown Philadelphia, so each year I hop on the regional rail (SEPTA) just a few blocks from my home and it takes me to Jefferson Suburban Station which conveniently is underneath the PA Convention Center. The train ride is easy and stress-free because I do not have to find parking, walk in the city at all or even wear a coat as the outdoor regional stations have heating lamps. And Jefferson Suburban Station is one of the main hubs in center city, Philadelphia, so if you have rail service where you live, download the SEPTA app and find your best route. In addition, I found this handy guide in the Philadelphia Inquirer. I hope it helps.

Bike: 19 minutes from South Philly, 30 from North or West Philadelphia.

Buses: Take lines 4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 21, 23, 33, 34, 36, 38, 42, 47, and 48.

Subway: On the Market-Frankford line, the 11th Street Station leaves you within a three-minute walk from the Convention Center. On the Broad Street Line, the Race-Vine Station will leave you a minute away from the venue.

Regional Rail: Get off at Jefferson or Suburban Station.

If you choose to drive into the city, the address is below. There are plenty of city parking garages nearby so the Convention Center should only be a short walk.

PA Convention Center
1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Giant Paper Flowers from Ukraine

Peace Doves

How to Eat at The Flower Show

In years past there were various local establishments like Philly's iconic Di Bruno Brothers sprinkled throughout the convention center for easy eats. This year Aramark Hospitality took over that function. The Convention Center's Overlook Cafe is another option if you prefer to stay inside. But if you want to experience the local flavors Philly has to offer check out Philly's famous Reading Terminal Market located just across the street or walk over to Chinatown, another nearby option.

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA

I hope you enjoyed this blog. Please leave comments below if you’ve experienced The Flower Show firsthand and if it’s still on your list, I hope this inspires you to go this week. If you live far away, consider a trip to Philadelphia next March. The Show certainly prepares you for the beauty that is spring! You can subscribe to this blog here. Thank you. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

Hellebore Detail - Photo Kim Bensing