How to Preserve and Use Your Spring Flowers - All Year Long

Enjoying Spring Flowers

There’s nothing like the first blooms of Spring to brighten your day. The only trouble is that many perennials, like lilacs and peonies, don’t last very long. That’s why it’s very important to preserve them quickly if you’d like to use them in the future.

What You Can Do With Preserved Spring Flowers

• Create a Dried Bouquet or Host A Dry Bouquet Bar

• Create a Dried Arrangement or Host A Dry Arrangement Bar

• Create a Dried Wreath or Host A Dry Wreath Bar

• Create a Floral Memento or Host A Floral Memento Event

Fresh Hydrangea

Dry Hydrangea

How to Host A Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar

Hosting a Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar requires a fairly large room or outdoor space, depending on the size of the event, because you’ll need a table for displaying your flowers, as well as a workstation for each guest.

What You’ll Need

You should have at least one long table to display your dried flowers and greens, and at least one long 6-foot table per 3 guests. Arranging dried flowers does take up a fair amount of space, and it can get quite messy, so prepare with tablecloths. I like to stash big rubber bins under my tables for easy cleanup.

Provide each guest with a vessel or vase, and a flower snip to easily cut the stems.

And just like arranging with fresh, start each arrangement with your greens and work up to focal flowers. It’s much more difficult to design with dried flowers, as they are brittle and stiff. They fall apart easily, so be gentle when handling them. In shallow vessels, it’s a good idea to use a frog for stability. In the colorful arrangement above, I used chicken wire and shoved it into the iron, vintage vessel. It does a great job holding everything in place.

Host A Dry Wreath Bar

Wreath Bars are fun anytime of year, but especially around a seasonal change or holiday. Everyone likes a new wreath to hang on their door or wall.

What You’ll Need

All you have to do to host a wreath bar is display all of your previously made dried flowers and greens in attractive vessels and group items accordingly. Set up a few work tables or stations and invite guests to bring a wreath of their choice and a glue gun.

You can alternatively provide glue, glue guns and wreaths for everyone if you are hosting a bridal shower and want this to be a creative activity. But if this is just a fun event for friends, I recommend the “bring your own” wreath bar to keep things simple. This also enables each guest to choose the size and style of wreath they’d like to make.

Glue Guns

Grapevine Wreaths

Photos of the event are crucial so be sure to take lots.

Host A Dried Flower Framed Momento Bar

Framing a cherished memento is so satisfying. It’s a way to preserve a memory from a wedding, a birth, a precious handwritten card or note, or a photograph you just love with all your heart. Framed mementos make meaningful gifts all year long, so why not use your spring flowers and showcase special memories.

What You’ll Need To Create a Memento Bar

For this each guest will need only pressed, dried flowers, a memento, glue dots, and a frame. To prepare your flowers, you can use the pressing technique outlined below.

Arrange all of the flowers and green options on a big table, and give your guests an area to freely create their masterpiece. Provide each guest with a frame slightly larger than their memento. These floating glass frames work very well and they come in many sizes.

First, clean both pieces of glass. Then, use double-sided, clear tape or glue dots to place the memento wherever you want it on the first layer of glass. Now you can begin adhering the flowers. Be very careful, as dried, pressed flowers can be very delicate. You may want to provide some craft tweezers for precision.

When the design is finished, place the second piece of glass on top and assemble the frame.

Floating Glass Frames

Clear Tape

Craft Tweezers

There are Various Ways to Preserve Flowers

Here are four ways you can preserve your fresh Spring flowers.

• Dry Flowers in Silica

• Hang Flowers Upside Down

• Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

• Flower Pressing

Flower Drying in Silica

To dry fresh flowers in silica, first you must prepare your containers and fill them with Silica Gel Flower Drying Crystals. I prefer using these Rubbermaid Containers with Lids to prevent spills. I normally have five containers going at once. Just line the bottom of each container with silica crystals and lay the flowers so that they are not touching or overlapping. Then pour more silica over the top until the flowers and stems are covered. Place the lid securely on the container and store for about a week in a cool, dark (but not moist) place.

Silica Gel Drying Crystals

Containers with Lids

When you remove the flowers from the silica, be careful not to break the flowers and stems, as they will be dry and brittle, but remarkably in tact. I always use a small spatula.

Hang Flowers upside Down

A very old and simple method of drying fresh flowers is simply hanging them upside down.

Game Changer Hooks

I have bunches hanging all around my home in the springtime, and I find the little, black hooks pictured below are especially helpful. They are typically used to hang utensils, but I’m able to attach flower bundles to almost anything with these little hooks - game changer.

Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

There is nothing wrong with just placing your flowers on a flat surface and waiting for them to dry, but I would only do this if you prefer the crunchy look. Flowers typically shrivel when they dry this way while they retain their shape and texture with the silicon method above. However, with some flowers like lilac, I really like this look. I think it will be pretty when I use it on a wreath.

See the Difference

The lilac above was dried with the flat surface method, while the tulips below were preserved in Silica Gel Crystals. You can clearly see the difference.

Flower Pressing

You can also preserve your flowers by pressing them until they are dry.

For this method, carefully flatten and layer flowers between thick sheets of watercolor paper, then press them between heavy books, or buy a flower press and do many layers at once.

A Flower Press

I use this sweet Flower Press. What I love about it is the small profile. It’s only 11” square and fits nicely on a small table in my workspace and it would be right at home in a greenhouse. It comes with all the tools, papers, cardboard layers, and a travel bag.

Thanks for visiting. When preserving your Spring flowers, choose the method that works best for you and enjoy your flowers for as long as possible. I’d love to hear what you’re doing with your garden. Comment below.

What to Plant for Mesmerizing Spring Blooms

Hellebore: One of my favorites!

Hellebores are known commonly as The Lenten Rose because they bloom in the winter, generally between February and April, around the time of Lent. And although they are somewhat rose-like in appearance they belong to the buttercup family. Their colors range from white to dusty pink, pale yellow, muted green, burgundy, purple and I’ve even seen coral.

they must be shy

Interestingly the flower of the Hellebore faces down in the garden so I had to position my camera underneath to get these photos. I like to think they are just timid and shy but Hellebores face downwards to protect the internals of the flower and to allow successful pollination.

Easy to Grow

Hellebores are shade perennials that naturalize easily. I planted a few little baby springs about 3 years ago and my garden is now bursting. Hellebores spread rapidly thanks to their extensive root systems and self-seeding habits. I dedicated a side garden in the shade for them and I hope they eventually cover the whole thing. Some people regard them as invasive, but I don’t think I could ever get enough of them here at Windy Hill. They are among my favorites.

Pretty but Poisonous

As with many flowering plants, the Hellebores are poisonous if ingested, so be sure to keep them out of the mouths of young children and pets. But on a positive note, deer do not go near them!

Hellelore

The Hellebore flower has a dark and mysterious reputation in folklore. They are often associated with rituals of protection and banishment. In ancient times, the plant was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and protect against witchcraft. Click here if you want to read more about the legends and myths surrounding Hellebore.

Use as Sculpture

Last year I didn’t want my beautiful Hellebores to end, so I preserved a few stems in silica-drying crystals and displayed them with my dried Hydrangea. This arrangement lasted all year and still has some life. I love the sculptural aspect of it and the way it contrasts with the white pot.

If you fell in love with Hellebore long ago, or are just learning about them now, I hope you take the time to plant some this spring. By next Lent you should see some beautiful blooms. I’ve provided a few links below for your convenience.

3 Hellebore Starter Plants

Silica Drying Crystals

Hellebore Seeds

I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means I’ll make a small commission, but the price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website. Thank you.

Narcissus AKA Daffodil - What's Blooming at Studio Sprig

Almost everyone is familiar with the common Daffodil, whose scientific name is Narcissus. These flowers seem to pop up everywhere in early spring. They’ve become a very popular bulb to plant in autumn and I always look forward to seeing them on cold, chilly, April mornings at Windy Hill in Pennsylvania.

what’s interesting about this common flower?

You may not know that the name Narcissus comes from a Greek myth about a handsome youth who fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water. He was so obsessed with his reflection that he tried to grab it and fell to his death. When Daffodils sprung up on that site, they were named Narcissus in remembrance of the boy. Fun stuff.

So diverse

Narcissus is a diverse genus with over 50 species of flowering plants, including daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites. They are a bulbous, perennial plant which means you’ll see them year after year. They also naturalize very well, meaning they will spread around to other areas of your garden if you want them to. I always leave my daffodil bulbs in the ground and each year I see more and more. Here are a few varieties growing on our farm.

Did you know?

Historical texts and archaeological digs reveal that daffodils were cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed that the sap from daffodil bulbs contained healing powers. This belief carried into medieval Europe, where daffodils were used in various remedies. As interesting as that is, they are also very toxic.

Toxicity

All parts of the narcissus plant are toxic if ingested, especially the bulb. They can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and even death in extreme cases. Keep them away from children and pets. Likewise, when placing stems in water, it’s best to separate daffodils from other cut flowers, as they could poison the vase.

On The Bright Side

Daffodils are the official 10th wedding anniversary flower and it is also the national flower of Wales. You can read more about that here. I have included some Narcissus links for your convenience. If you are not already growing some, please give them a try. Thanks for visiting, come again. - Kim

Yellow Dutch Master Daffodil Bulbs

Ziva Paperwhites

Jersey Lace Narcissus Bulbs

Glory-of-the-Snow - What's Blooming at Studio Sprig

Glory-of-the-Snow

This tiny purple flower named Chionodoxa, more commonly known as Glory-of-the-Snow, is popping up in two of our flowerbeds here at Windy Hill. Hundreds of them spring up every year from hardy, little bulbs planted by the farm’s previous owner many years ago.

Interesting Features

The name, Chionodoxa, comes from two ancient Greek words, chion meaning snow, and doxa meaning glory.

The Glory-of-the-Snow flowers are only about an inch wide and very low to the ground, each reaching less than 4” in height. They have 6 star-shaped petals and the anthers of the stamens are yellow, with pale yellow pollen. Look closely because the stamens have flattened stalks or filaments, which resemble a cup in the center of the flower.

Chionodoxa Colors

Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs are available in blue, pink, and white shades and create a beautiful carpet in very early Spring. Ours bloomed the last week of March this year in Pennsylvania.

Click here for the pink bulbs

Click here for the blue bulbs

Click here for the white bulbs

How To Grow

The Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs prefer to be planted in fall about 3” deep and 2-3” apart. Place them in the ground with their pointy ends up. They enjoy ample sunlight and well-drained soil and look spectacular covering hillsides or sweeping drifts. They are hardy nearly everywhere from Zone 3 to Zone 9 and they naturalize very well for your enjoyment year after year.

Give some a try if you don’t see them in your yard already. I’ve provided links just under the color photos for your convenience. And please comment below if you grow these already and love them as much as I do. Thank you.

The Mighty Crocus - First to Bloom - What's Blooming at Studio Sprig

Finding the small, but mighty, crocus peeking out of brown grasses is one of the first signs that Spring has sprung. These photos were taken on March 11 at my farm, Windy Hill, and although Spring does not officially arrive until March 20th, we can fake it til we make it.

Masses of wild crocuses have been consistently popping up here every year since we moved in, 18 years ago. They brighten up the brittle, dry grasses and leaves and seem to scream “Wake up people, winter’s over”.

What Is A Crocus?

Believe it or not, crocuses belong to the Iris family and are native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The history of crocus cultivation dates back to the Bronze Age, although the exact origin of crocus remains a mystery. They are small perennials, and they grow from corms, not bulbs. And if you don’t know what that means, take a look at this chart below. Source: brainly.in

Crocuses can poke out of the ground even when snow is present, but I have noticed they will only open if the weather is warm. Yesterday, all of my crocuses opened, but today the temps in Pennsylvania are dipping back into the 50’s, and the crocuses decided to stay closed.

Crocus Petals and Colors

Crocus flowers have six petals, three inner petals alternating with three outer petals and some believe they resemble a cup or chalice. The flowers are available in yellow, purple, white, pink, blue, orange, and even some striped varieties. They are low to the ground and only grow between 3 and 6 inches tall. The stamen are bright orange, the perfect color to attract bees.

Crocus Varieties

Carl Linnaeus originally included two species in his crocus findings in 1753. Today the estimated number of species of Crocus varies widely, anywhere between 80 and 160, with new species continuing to be identified all the time. Crocus Sativus, shown below, is a variety known for producing saffron, a spice, food coloring, and medicine that comes from the stamen of only the Crocus Sativus. Saffron has chemicals that might affect mood, kill cancer cells, decrease swelling, and act like antioxidants. It’s important to note that other types of crocus are known to be toxic, so if you’d like to harvest saffron, be sure you are growing Crocus Sativus. If you would like to try growing Crocus Sativus for a saffron harvest, keep in mind, that around 150 flowers produce only one gram of saffron.

The Meaning of the Crocus

The spiritual meaning of the crocus flower is centered around awakening, renewal, and transformation. In some cultures, the crocus flower is considered lucky. For example, in ancient Greece, it was believed that if you came across a crocus flower while walking, you would have good luck in the coming year. - source: foliagefriend.com

Pollination and Spreading

Bees pollinate crocuses. In early spring they provide a fantastic source of much-needed nutrition for bee colonies emerging from hibernation. When the crocus flowers bloom, they produce seeds that can be dispersed by wind or animals. However, it's important to note that crocus corms primarily reproduce through corm division rather than seed propagation. - source: shuncy.com

Preserving Crocus Blooms

Like any flower, there are three ways to preserve the crocus's beauty.

1. Submerge them in Silicone Drying Crystals (link below)

2. Lay flat on an air-circulating tray or surface (link below)

3. Press the flowers flat in a flower press (link below)

Helpful Links

If these little gems are not popping up in your yard already, why not try your hand at it? If you’d like to buy crocus corms, or items to help you dry, press, or display your perennial crocuses, use the convenient links below. If you want further instructions on flower drying, please read this blog.

Flower Drying Crystals

Herb and Flower Drying Rack

Crocus Variety Corms for Planting

Flower Press Kit

Saffron producing Crocus Sativus corms

Mini Crocus Vases