Best blooms for drying

As the years pass I’m leaning towards growing more flowers that are as beautiful dry as they are fresh. There’s something deeply satisfying about knowing flowers that would otherwise hit the trash or compost pile are being put to good use as everlastings. And while dried flowers may evoke a certain kind of image for some people (dusty, dead old things sitting on an antique dresser), I have a particular fondness for their muted, vintage tones and delicate fragility. They remind me, especially during the long, dark days of winter, of the abundance of summer and all the beauty that surrounds us during its short appearance here in the north. Drying flowers, in a way, stops time in its tracks. A new-old state of being. Fresh flowers remind us that beauty is fleeting, that life is in a constant state of change, and everlastings tell us, “I am beautiful and worthy, despite the passing of time. Look, just look, and you’ll see.”

With my love of everlastings undeniably clear, let’s move on to a list of the best flowers for drying you’ll find in your bouquets this summer. After enjoying as a fresh simply remove the chosen stems (before the blossoms wilt and start to fall off!) and hang to dry in a dark, well-ventilated area. I have a room in the basement specifically used for dried flowers and run a fan for circulation (and to speed up drying) but that’s not necessary when drying in small quantities. Drying flowers in a darkened room will ensure the blooms retain their colour, though if you’d prefer a more “bleached” look flowers can also be hung in direct sunlight.

By the end of the season, you’ll have gathered and dried enough flowers for a lovely arrangement to enjoy throughout the fall and winter; an ode to the summer and the blooms we nurtured from seed to vase with a lot of care.