In a recent blog I touched upon how rewarding growing flowers intentionally for use in dried arrangements can be. Not only will they add a unique touch to your indoor decor throughout the winter, they can be entered at local fairs or other community events for added fun. The photo included here is of one that I entered at the York Interstate Fair here in Pennsylvania. When we went there and and found this big blue ribbon attached to my entry you can imagine the joy it brought. A summer of labor had paid off in ways I hadn't even imagined when I'd begun my new project that spring. The arrangement shown here is composed of white baby's breath, blue status and strawflowers in shades of red, orange and golden yellow. All summer long I'd been gathering these flowers, tying them with cord string into very small bunches and hanging them upside down on a line in our shed in the backyard. The shed has good air flow and works perfectly for fast drying. When thoroughly dry the strawflowers were attached to wires I'd gotten at the craft store. I kept them standing upright loosely in small jars, dividing them according to color. Likewise, the status. Soft green foam, also available from the craft store, was fitted tightly inside of the milk glass vase. First, lots of baby's breath was inserted into the foam all along the rim. Then the strawflowers, fitted tightly together, filled the entire center. Finally, just the right amount of blue status was added in here and there. From time to time stop, stand back and simply observe your creation. This will tell you what you need to do next to bring it all together in a beautiful way. The base may be covered with any variety of dry moss, or very small pebbles, also available at a craft store. Natural green moss is my favorite.
After creating more dried arrangements then I could use for gifts and to display in our own home, I had enough left to donate to a local auction being held to help single mothers and their children. A letter from the organization expressed gratitude for what they called a generous donation and stated that it had helped much. That was my greatest reward of all.
See another photo of one of my dried flower arrangements, that one using grasses, in my archives.
