What to do with Annuals at the end of the Season
In the mid summer months your flowers are in full bloom. As your annual flowers are in full bloom this is the perfect time to think about what flowers you want to save and use in various ways. Looking around your garden, what are your favorite flowers? What types of crafts, displays, and things can you do with them? I want to give you a few ideas about what to do with your annual flowers as the seasons are coming to an end.

Posted Friday, April 21, 2006

One of the first things that come to my mind is saving seeds for next year’s garden. No matter what else you are going to do with your plants, be sure to leave a few flower heads so you can save the seeds for planting in the greenhouse in mid winter to get a jump on the spring season.

Another great way that you can use your annual plants is to dry the flowers and use them in displays. To dry flowers, you will need a cool dark area where your flowers will not be disturbed. Some flowers are going to dry nicely upside down, while others will dry better flat or even upright in a vase.

To dry flowers, dry them when they are not touching each other. You will need a lot of room to dry flowers if you are drying many at once. Most flowers will dry in two to three weeks; it does not take long at all.

Add salt or corn meal to the areas that you are drying flowers. For example, if you are drying them flat on a counter, place salt or corn meal on the counter to absorb the moisture from the air. The process will be quicker for drying your flowers if you try this.

Some of the best arrangements of dried flowers implement various colors. Using similar colors throughout arrangements can be drab. Combine whites, greens, reds, and even purples and oranges for great flower arrangements that will brighten your home.

Wires twirled around the stems of the flowers are going to make the drying process easier when you are drying your flowers upright. If you want to use your dried flowers for various arrangements in a vase, a basket or in a tied display, drying them with a wire attached helps to hold their shape. You can find thin, green, inexpensive wire in most craft stores.

Another thing that you might like to experiment with is pressing flowers for use in picture frames, to be painted or for use on book covers or scrapbooks. Pressed flowers are actually quite easy, but you will need a heavy book or object that can be used to flatten the flower for a few weeks while it dries out completely. Pressed flowers are types that have thick petals or leaves for great attention to detail and coloring.