DECORATING WITH

DRIED FLOWERS

A step-by-step guide to cultivating, drying, and arranging dried flowers and plants

MALCOLM HILLIER
Photographs by Andreas Einsiedel

GARDENING/HOUSE AND HOME

$19.95
(Higher in Canada)

DECORATING

WITH
DRIED
FLOWERS
A step-by-step guide

to cultivating,

drying, and arranging

dried flowers and plants

MALCOLM
HILLIER
;

Photographs by Andreas Einsiedel

Decorating with Dried Flowers

course

in

is

both a practical

the principles and techniques of arranging

dried flowers and a sourcebook of inspirational

arrangements created with characteristic

originality

by noted

floral

flair

designer Malcolm

Ideal for both the beginner

and

Hillier.

and the more

advanced flower arranger, Decorating with Dried

Flowers contains step-by-step drawings and lush

four-color photographs illustrating the basics of

working with dried flowers: wiring flowers, preparing containers

and making flower bases, construct-

ing circular and hanging arrangements. Also

included are complete instructions on the various

methods
such as

Most

of drying

and preserving

air drying, pressing,

floral

all

types of plants

crystalization.

arrangements are created

home, and Malcolm

flowers

and

Hillier

for the

maintains that dried

must complement

their surroundings (furni-

and

carpet), as well as their

ture, wall coverings,

container and each other. Accordingly, Decorating

(Continued on hack flap)

3LdZJ

DECORATING

WITH
DRIED

FLOWERS

If

>-^

DECORATING

WITH

DRIED

FLOWERS
A step-by-step guide
to

cultivating, drying, and arranging

dried flowers and plants

MALCOLM
HILLIER
Photographs by Andreas Einsiedel

CROWN PUBLISHERS,

INC.

-NEW YORK

For Peter Day

An

Editor Sally

Smalhvood

Project Editor Jane Laing

Editorial Consultant

Susanna Longley

Designer Tim Foster

American Editor MarjorieJ. Dietz

Douglas
Roger Bristow

Editorial Director Jackie

Art Director

Copyright C 198" Dorling Kindersley limited. London

Text copyright C 198" by Malcolm Hillier
reserved. No pan of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or

All rights

mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information or

retrieval system,

in writing

without permission

from the

publisher.

Published in the United States of America

by Crown Publishers. Inc.. 225 Park Avenue South.
New York, New York 10003
and represented in Canada by
the Canadian manda Group
Originally published in Great Britain

by Dorling Kindersley Limited, London

CROWN

is

a trademark of

Manufactured

Crown

Publishers, Inc.

in Italy

Library of( ongressCataloguing-in-Publication Data

Hillier.

Malcolm

)ec< (rating

with dried

fh

>wers.

Includes index.
1

Dried flower arrangement

SB4493D7H545 1988
ISBN0-517-56923-X
first

American Edition

Title

"'45.92

8 7- 27411

Contents

6 Introduction

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING 8

10 Ingredients

Wiring ingredients 14
16 Simple arrangements

18 Arrangements in containers
Preparing containers 19

Arrangement shapes 20
Dried-flower trees 24
26 Arrangements with bases
Circular arrangements 27
langing arrangements 30
34 Design guidelines
Color 36
I

Texture 40
Style

44

DECORATING WITH ARRANGEMENTS 48

50
54
58
62

Cottage

living

Farmhouse

room

attic

Romantic bedroom
Period dining room

^66- Dramatic studio room

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS 70
72
75
78
80
83
89

Valentine's
April Fools'

Day
Day

Easter

Hallowe'en
Christmas
Birthday

DRYING AND PRESERVING TECHNIQUES 92

94 Air drying
98 Pressing
100 Using desiccants
102 Using glycerine
104 Crystallizing
106 Coloring
108 Storing

ARRANGEMENTS FROM YOUR GARDEN

112 Red, orange and yellow border

1 18 Pink, blue and silver border
1 24 The picking garden
1 29 Sunny and shady beds
132 Wild-flower border

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT

GUIDE 134
136 Finishing touches
140 Tools, materials and containers
144 Plant guide

156 Index
160 Acknowledgments

10

Introduction
I

memories

have been obsessed with plants and flowers

since early childhood. It never ceases to

spicy

me that seeds, varying only a little in size,

should produce such an extraordinary variety
of different flowers; that one plant can have
amaze

ferns

How

long.

can

know, to let
drous magic.

it

it

continue to

their

green

fill

room

the

all

with their perfumes

when dry. All evoke beautiful memories of high

summer - the garden path leading between

choose never

floweiy borders towards a stream and water

always be simple and won-

meadows beyond. With autumn, the ceilings are

be?

shall

more

full
is

one of the most

of drying flowers again, deep with

colors of the rainbow.- turning leaves,

fortunate experiences possible. Each season

its

growing between the stones,

feet

To work with flowers

brings

me. Lavender and yarrow, great

aromatic artemisia foliage,

silvery

smell lying close to the ground, and roses will

leaves that are only a sixth of an inch long,

while another has great leaves six or

to

for

lilies,

all

the

wood

smoke, hydrangeas, Chinese lanterns, seedheads, and the last roses.

new excitements. Even on the grayest

of winter days, my ceiling glows with hanging

bunches of dried flowers. Outside, the first

The drying process

Christmas rose and some winter jasmine hint at

what is to come. Spring gathers pace with its

prefer to air dry plant material by hanging the

stems in bunches on the walls and from the
I

scudding clear yellows and showery blues and

then suddenly a warm stillness settles and the

ceiling. In this

peonies and roses are scenting the early

summer garden. It is again time to start prepar-

course, there are other ways of preserving plant

first

The pleasure of dried flowers

An enormous amount of plant material can be
preserved so that it retains much of its fresh,
It is

wonderful to be

able to capture summer, perhaps in the shape

of a full-petalled peony, or with a perfect rose,

knowing that it will still be perfect all through

a testament to those lazy days of

delphiniums

the colors of the sky; there are corn-

tainers, getting together interesting collections

sunshine. Roses and peonies are only the

summer

tall

spires of cream

pink astilbe followed by even

all

first

be
and

flowers and leaves that can

preserved. There are the

in

Of

Arranging dried flowers

All this is only the beginning. Because now
comes the wonderful job of combining all the
dried ingredients. Deciding on where arrangements are going to look best, choosing con-

the winter

of the

they provide decoration as

material. Some people enjoy the delicate task of

drawing out the moisture from flowers with
desiccants like sand and silica gel, alum and
borax. Others like to press flowers in a press or
book. Foliage like beech and eucalyptus can be
preserved with glycerine and many flowers and
leaves can be crystallized with sugar and gum
arabic or egg white and used to decorate cakes
and biscuits.

ing a glorious succession of flowers for diving.

glowing color and form.

way

they dry, and are often too beautiful to move.

taller

flowers and love-in-a-mist; there are

more roses:

of dried material

in exciting

and

combinations of

sweet-scented yellow ones and deep-scented

colors, shapes

red ones.

therapeutic. Time, any worries or troubles, the

textures: arranging

is

so

pressures that surround you are gone and you

love

all

The fragrance of dried flowers

the summer scents. For scent, more

are aware only of the simple joy of working with

And for me
wondrous magic.

than

flowers.

the other senses, triggers the happiest of

that

is

always going to be

INTRODUCTION

Ferny arrangement

andfemaleJerns,
and mabonia lew. es

Pressed royal
bosta

desiccant dried Christmas ros

and air dried cone tings are

brought to life with the addition of

some miniature red roses in this
beautiful Chinese COOtwr bowl

TMF
PRINCIPLES

OF
ARRANGING

spring-tike posy of'Helichrysum bracteatum

Acacia decurrens dealbata.

and

great many elements eombine to make an

arrangement of flowers, be they dried or fresh, and
the most important part of flower arranging is the
creative part of it. We all have our own preferences
concerning shape, color, texture and pattern, in the
same way as we have different tastes in food, and
there are no hard and fast rules about how to arrange
dried flowers. There are, however, a few guidelines to
bear in mind when creating an arrangement.
Arrangements fall into several categories. There are
the simplest arrangements of all - bunches of flowers
gathered together to make a bouquet or posy. Then
there are the more elaborate arrangements without
containers, such as wreaths, ropes of flowers, garlands or even brides' or bridesmaids' headdresses.
These arrangements are all built on a framework,
from a single wire for a headdress, to a moss-filled
chicken-wire tube for a wreath. Finally, there are the
arrangements created in containers: baskets, bowls,
urns, dishes, boxes, jugs, vases in myriad shapes,
colors, textures and sizes, can all be used to hold

dried plant material.

What then

of shape? Shape should be strong and well

defined. Curves should be generous and lines ob-

they are partly masked by the informal

nature of the plant material. The overall shape of the
arrangement should not appear cramped, either in
itself or when placed in position. Color guidelines
are more difficult to give. Any flowers can look
beautiful in any combination, although you are less
likely to create an arrangement that does not work

vious,

even

if

colorwise if you combine flowers of colors that are

near to each other in the spectrum. As far as texture is
concerned, it is more interesting to offset different
textures against one another.

Ingredients
per cent of all plants - flowers,
foliage and seed-heads - can be preserved
to give an enormous variety of plant material
that can be used in dried-flower arrangements.

At

least eighty

its

l\

Air drying, pressing, chemical drying

and

all

of eucalyptus, copper beech leaves and

state,

or in autumn,

good specimens
just as

is

it

important to pick them

has a chance to spoil them. Poppies, love-in-amist, corn-on-the-cob, the seed-heads of grasses

look beautiful

and

cereals

them
need

sweet-

Lavender absolutely must

be cut and hung to dry four or
so days before the flowers

der.

out;

if it is

picked

cones are

pampas

grass both

be picked well before

the seeds mam re and start to
drop, when they should be
fixed by spraying with hair

smelling flowers such as laven-

come

fir

in a cool, dry place. Bul-

rushes and

Scented flowers for drying

and

simple to dry: simply store

all

the

gold or yellow.

they reach perfection, before the weather

flower arranger.

are

just as the leaves

rust,

Seed-heads add interesting textures to an

arrangement. Many seed-heads will dry on the
plant without any help from you, but if you want

dried and are therefore

there

as a

many

all

of invaluable use to the dried-

Then

marjoram

try

reach their peak of red,

when dried. Alchemilla mollis, baby's breath, all

the well known helichrysum, onion flowers and
when

can

green

borax or sand. Delphiniums, including

larkspur, most species of yarrow, hydrangeas in
their many colors, although the blue and white
hydrangea heads are more difficult to dry than
the pink and red, are all extremely attractive

gel,

all

pretty, delicate,

leaves of

p. 102)

The hybrid tea rose is

keeping its color very
94
p.
well, while single or open double roses
can be dried chemically (see p. 100) with silica

seed-heads, and statice also

The

be preserved using glycerine (see

and you can air dry eucalyptus if you
hang it up. You can press most foliage (see
p. 98), and ferns, beech, oak, maple and poplar
are ideal subjects. You can pick them in high
summer when the mature stems are in their
ivy

dries very well.

see

and

for the flowers. Bells of Ireland, the

varieties

takes pride of place for flower arrangers. For-

elusive.

Foliage and seed-heads for drying

Most arrangements require foliage to act

and arranging
one of the most common, and
The rose
special, plants grown throughout the world it

and roses

adding some stems of the herb to

an arrangement to give it a special, lingering,
aromatic perfume.

dry well:

pre-

Ideal plants for drying

easy to air dry

dried. Peonies

is

rust-colored flowers

foil

tunately,

it

fumes are more

extend the "life" of

flowers, leaves and seed-heads for at least a year.
Of course, some dry more successfully than
others: chrysanthemums, carnations and most
bulbous plants do not dry well at all.
serving with glycerine

scent once

also retain their fragrance, although their per-

to

lacquer.

later,

You might

like

to

paint

them

make

a striking feature in an

a bright color to

Poppy

the flowers will certainly drop

arrangement.

while

heads look wonderful sprayed

bright red and fir cones are
eye-catching sprayed a spark-

it

is

drying.

It

will

con-

tinue to emit a beautiful scent

for

many months

dried.

Mimosa,

after

too,

being

Red rose
Rosa Christian Dior'

ling silver (see p.107).

retains

10

seed

INGREDIENTS

Silver cypress

Kocbia sp

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus paudflora

nana

Corn on the cob

A'ci mays

Old man's beard or

Clematis vitalba

11

traveller S joy

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

Silver strawberry

Leptospermum sp

Nodding catchfly
Silene penduia

12

INGREDIENTS

Mimosa or wattle
Acacia pravissima

Sandflowcr or

winged everlasting

Anwwbium

simr.n
Helipterum cotula

Marjoram

Origanum majorana

Strawflower
Helicbrysum bracteatum

Sunray
Heticbrysum miljbrdim

13

alatuni

Wiring Ingredients
Before making

purposes, although you

an arrangement of dried

flowers or foliage

it

frequently necessary

is

may need

to use

to wire the flower-heads, leaves or seed-heads.

select florist wire to suit the thickness

You may need

strength of the stem you

to

strengthen fragile

stalks,

extend stems, or create stems, perhaps for

cones. You may also need to wire bunches of
plant material. Florist wire

is

ideal for

all

cane

for a particularly heavy-headed flower. Simply

need

to wire

and

and

insert

into a hollow stem or bind it to a solid stem, or

stems with thin rose wire. Finally, cover both
it

these

florist

and rose wire with

floral tape.

Wiring flower-heads
You will need a pair of
florists scissors, the

required length of

m ediu m -ga uge florist

and a

wire

spool offline
I

rose wire (place

cup

to

keep

it

it

in

from

unravelling).
1
Cut the fragile stem
about 3- 5cm fljin)

/v

*vy

V \&
\

'

*\
1

down from the flowerhead and discard

it.

Hold

the florist wire

against the cut stem so

that

it

touches the

underside of the flowerhead. Pull

some

wire from the

rose

Hold the end of the

rose wire at

the bottom of the cut stem.

spool.

Loop

it

around the stem and florist wire,

bending it under the flower-head.
Lengthening hollow stems

fit
I

-i-^wl

(Xx
1

W %A

Wind the rose wire tightly

around the stem, florist and
rose wire. Cut and wind end

To wire a heavy-headed flower,

7.5cm (3in ) below the flower.

substitute
in

florist

florist

apiece of cane for

the

wire and medium gauge

wire for the rose wire.

14

Insert florist wire

5-7.5cm

(J-Jin ) up the inside of the

stem to fit snugly.

INGREDIENTS

Wiring cones

iftj^

You will need heavygauge florist wire cut into

##

appropriate stem lengths

and a pair
1

Push

ofpliers

f* ftft

the Jlor/st wire

m^9rV^m

JUihi \*3S

through the bottom scales

until 5cm (Jin ) juts out.

/
/

<

2 Bend the ends of the

wire around the cone.

3 Twist the ends of the

it ire together to secure

and bend under the

cone. Trim the shorter

end

with pliers. The long

wire forms the stem and

/ ^'SfOo?

should start from the

center of the underside
of the cone.

Wiring bunches

Concealing wire
1

Hold a medium gauge

length of florist wire next

to the stems,

aligning the

ends. With the other

hand take

the wire 5cm

(2in) up the stems and

bend

it

behind them

1
Place the end ofa spool of floral
tape behind the top of the wired stem at

an angle of 45
2

Wind the

florist

long

end of

down over
end and the

wire

the short

hunch of stems

until you

reach the bottom of the

stems. The rest of the
uirc forms an extension
to the flower stems. SO
cut

irs

when you bare

1

sufficient length

up

Twist the wire SO that the tape spirals

it.

making sure that the tape Overlaps

no wire is showing

itself so that

15

Simple Arrangements
only are bouquets and posies the simNot
plest arrangements of dried flowers to

make but

they also

make

beautiful presents.

Bouquets have a flat back and consist of a fanshaped bunch of flowers, leaves and seedheads. These are firmly tied together with wire,
which is then covered with ribbon or raffia,
lea\ing a group of stalks below the tie. Posies
have a circular head of flowers and can be
arranged formally, as the Victorians were fond
of doing, or in a wilder manner.

Bouquets
Choosing dried plant material for a bouquet is a
very simple matter: most flowers look attractive
in combination. Keeping a sense of proportion
in your arrangement is crucial. In a small
bouquet, such as the one below, the flowers
must not be too large and, if you are including
foliage in your arrangement, it too should be
small scale. Moreover, its shape, texture and
color should act as a

foil

for the flowers,

emphasizing their delicate beauty.

All the colors of the rainbow are available to

choose from
material can

in dried flowers

be used

in

an

and the plant

infinite

number of

combinations. Mixed bunches always have an

natural quality and you can buy
bunches of dried flowers to use in many different mixed bouquets. You may be limited to

attractive

A small,

you have grown and dried yourself

will probably find that you can
create a wide range of flower combinations.
When making a bouquet, always start with
the longest piece of plant material and place it in
the center. Fan out the flowers from this to
produce a curve, overlapping the stems where
the tie will be made. Bare stems showing above
the tie should be avoided, so make sure that the
flowers or leaves descend to the tying position.
Use either ribbon, colored string or raflia for
the tie and ensure that you tie the stems
together firmly so that none can fall out and all
plants that

but even so, you

the flowers are held in position. Finally, trim the

stems to a "V" shape.

Posies
little

difficult to

consist of pieces of dried material

by one,

all-round arrangement with a curved top. Again,

scale

important

is

and

flowers with spiky material

offsetting

rounded

makes an

attractive,

eye-catching posy.

Once

all

the flowers are wired together

it

is

usually a good idea to add a ribbon or raflia tie

and bow to suit the arrangement. This can be
used either to cover the wire or to replace it: any
unsightly wire can be carefully cut away once

the

final tie

exquisite bouquet

makes a

more

make and
bound in one
preferably with spool wire, to make an

Posies are a

lovely present

or

bow is

in position.

SIMPLE ARRANGEMENTS

Informal posy
Rosa 'Golden Times', spires of
mimosa, lemon Helichrysum
bracteatum andW. angustifolium,
a cream scabious and budding
golden rod burst from tins

informal posy (left). A filigree of

Spanish moss encircles tbem
poetically.

Simple bouquet
Deep red roses are beautifully set
off by the 'Bristol Fairy gypsapbtia
(below).

Arrangements
considering
When
rangement most

creating a flower ar-

people

immediately

in Containers
material,

container and location should be

considered equally

when planning

think of arranging flowers in a container rather

arrangement. Usually,

than making a garland, a wreath or a driedflower tree. Perhaps container arrangements

position for the arrangement

ing in

are the most popular because they require

carpet,

less

preparation than arrangements with bases; perhaps it is because of the diversity of container

it

is

a container

best to decide

on

the

Then, bearmind the colors and patterns of the wall,

first.

curtains and furnishing

choose the container.

fabrics,

to

Choosing containers

arrangements that can be created; or perhaps

are simply anxious to display a particularly

Dried flowers tend to look their best in con-

Whatever the reason, it

and excepcannot be
tional arrangements can be created in con-

The colors of dried flowers tend to be slightly

muted compared with fresh flowers and con-

long as the proportions, shape,

sequently look extremely attractive in baskets,

we

container.

attractive

disputed that beautiful

as

tainers

tainers that

have a natural quality about them.

wood and

color and texture of both the plant material

earthenware, terracotta,

and the container are

tainers. If you particularly want to

When

carefully considered.

Planning arrangements
creating a container arrangement

most important
container should

that the plant material

combine

porcelain vase then pick a more primitive piece

without a high-gloss surface and with a soft,
it

is

and

to create a single

new identity. A successful arrangement is one in

which plant material combines so well with the
container that
flowers,

it is

impossible to imagine the

seed-heads and foliage without the

container and vice versa.

Of course, not only should arrangement and

container look stunningly natural together but
they should also look wonderful in the location
you have chosen for them. In fact, plant

low.

stone con-

use a china or

rather than hard-edged pattern.

you dry your own plant material, then the

you have grown or purchased as
fresh bunches for drying will affect your choice
of container. However, as more and more
flower shops are stocking interesting dried
material, you can add to your own home-grown
selection or even buy everything ready dried.
So, if you wish, you can collect only the plant
material that features the colors and shapes
that work well with your decorative schemes
and your range of containers.
If

varieties that

ceramic bowl with streaks of colors becomes

a /longer border in microcosm.

18

Preparing Containers
Every

container needs to be well prepared

Preparing baskets

before you can begin to create your driedflower arrangement. For containers with nar-

row tops, push

mound of chicken wire inside

support the stems. Otherwise, wherever

use dry green styrafoam. Fix the
foam to the bottom of the container and then
cover it with dry moss so that it cannot be seen
to

possible,

when the arrangement is completed. It is a good

foam to stand
proud of the container if you intend the flowers
to hang over the sides, as this will lend extra
idea to allow the moss-covered

stability to the

on top and form a mound

2.5cm (lin) above the basket rim.
Make a needle out of the florist
wire by turning one end back on
sit

an

"eye".

Preparing deep bowls

a plastic prong to the bottom

of the bowl with adhesive clay Cut
a block of styrafoam to fit tightly

Stick

inside the

on

bowl and fix

the prong.

arrangement.

2 Cut the block to fit snugly inside

the basket. Cut a second block to

itself to form

You will need

it

firmly

styrajbrm, a knife,

medium gauge

adhesive tape and sphagnum moss

Indent a styrafoam block with base ofthe basket.

florist aire,

Thread the adhesive tape

through the eye and pass the
needle through the top of the
basket rim. Pull enough tape
through to cover the width of the
basket, allowing an extra 15cm
(6in) to secure the ends.

4 Cut the tape and turn 7. 5cm

(3in) back on itself and around
the cane to secure. Pull the tape
across the dry foam and thread
through the opposite rim. Secure
the tape as before. Cover ivith dry

Preparing shallow bowls

Preparing glass containers

Shape two blocks ofstyrafoam so

that they form a mound over the
rim of the bowl Hind together
with adhesive tape

underside

and glue

Affix to the bowl.

19

the

sphagnum

moss.

Stick two plastic prongs to the

bottom of the container with
adhesive clay and fix blocks of
foam to them The foam sln>uld
1

2mm

[in

5cm (2in

short of the sides

short of the top

sit

and

Poke

pot-pourri or moss around the

sides (Old on top ivith florist wires

Arrangement Shapes
A rrangements in containers can take many
/A. different shapes. They can be short and
squat,

tall

and narrow, perfectly semi-spherical,

lop-sided, well-rounded or flat-backed to

seen from the side: in other words, the width of

the arrangement should always be greater than
the depth.

name

just a few. However, although the range of

shapes you can create might appear to be huge
they are mostly related to the shape of a fan.
The shape of a fan can be applied to the curve
the arrangement makes when seen from the
front and from the side. The dimensions of the
curves should be in proportion to each other
and relate to the shape of the container. For
example, when seen from the front, the sweep
of the curve of an arrangement in an oval
container should be broader than the curve

It is

useful

when creating an arrangement in a

container to keep the fan shape in mind, but

important not to follow the shape too

it

is

rigidly.

Look at the way plants grow in the garden. Mamshrubs grow naturally into a roughly domed fan
shape, but they are rarely perfect.

It

is

also

helpful to think of the container as the place

from which the arrangement grows.

So, in the

simplest of all-round arrangements, the stems

of the plant material should seem to spring

from the center of the container in a natural and
livelv

manner.

Fan shapes
The gently curving,
flat-backed flou er

arrangement

is

the

of a
making a quarter
segment of a sphere. A
closest to the sl^ape

fan,

circular bowl
perfect for

is

a compact

lip

and make a low

curie on

top.

Furthest

from the shape of a

fan is the tall, lopsided, all-round

arrangement 4. Such

an arrangement
needs

to

be tall to
overhanging

semi-spherical

offset the

arrangement!. In a

stems.

rase that curies in

elongated, all-round

and out. a

arrangement 5
ideal for a low.

tall, all-

round fan shape looks

good 3- The stems
follow the line of the

20

low.

shaped bowl.

is

oval-

ARRANGEMENTS

Making

IN

CONTAINERS

arrangement

a flat-backed

Standing in front of the container, outline the fat.

1
fan-shaped hack of the arrangement with stems of
meadowsweet. The central stem - the highest point should measure twice the height of the container.

Make a quarter

circle

curie from the center back

of the arrangement. Following the angle

curve. Jill in the quartet segments tilth more

to the front

of this

meadowsweet

to

create

a half dome

shape.

Is
\

/
t

"

Now fill out

the

dome

still following the curies of the arrangement, add

pink roses complete with foliage and uired
hydrangea florets < see p 14 > to make a full but ai/y.
flat backed, fan shaped arrangement

shape, roughly keeping to

arrangement First add pink

then white statice. making sure that the tiro

the curies of the basic

larkspur,

/loners are evenly distributed

21

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

Tall

summer

This colorful,

basket
tall,

half-

shaped arrangement

is

composed

of larkspur, achillea. helipterum.

helichrysum. miniature roses.
myrtle, eryngium, poppy
seed-heads and leucodendron
foliage.

22

ARRANGEMENTS

IN

CONTAINERS

Elegant arrangement

Hydrangea, larkspur,

statice.

and senecio
airy and delicate,

gypsophila. achillea

foliage form this

tall, flat hacked, fan shaped

arrangement < ahore uhich
).

takes

ofpearl

Compact arrangement
This low, all round, soft

arrangement

>"^1

statice.

larkspur huds
is

pink

of dahlias,
belicforysum, hydrangea,
( left

and anigozanthos

ideal for the squat, gently

curving basket

23

its

colors
rase.

from

the

mother

Dried-flower Trees
Nam
making
re

is

most helpful guide when

and it is best to

the

a dried -flower tree

have a good look at living trees before deciding

the sort of shape that you would like to
create. Some have dome-shaped heads and
look rather like umbrellas, while others, like
many conifers, have pyramid-shaped heads.

on

Making

Once you have decided on the shape and size of

the tree you wish to create you must decide on
the container. The choice of container is very
important and for the best effect you should
select

one

large

enough

to

create the im-

pression that the dried flower tree might actually

be growing from

it.

a dried-flower

tree

You need a clay pot.

a knife.

styraform.

plaster-of-Paris pou der.

water,

a spoon, a

miniature trunk, a styra-

foam

cone, short thin

gauge florist wires d)y

sphagnum moss,
alchemilla. red roses,

wired celosia and twigs.

1
Line the pot with
angled slices of dry
sty ra foam.

Mix

the plaster-of-

Paris powder with

water. Quickly spoon the

mixture into the pot

until

it is

two-thirds full.

Insert the miniature

trunk in the center of the

pot and. holding the
trunk with one hand,
spoon in the plaster to
within 12mm fjinjof
the rim.

3 Press a styrafoam cone

on

to the trunk.

Bend

the florist wires in half

and pin clumps of

sphagnum moss
cone.

Push

to the

the flower

Tree shapes
Let nature be your guide

stems through the moss

and into

the cone,

beginning with the

when making a dried-flower

alchemilla then the

tree unless you especially

roses,

uired celosia

twigs until the cone

an

and

want

is

ornamental slrnpe.

completely cote red.

24

to

create

ARRANGEMENTS

IN

CONTAINERS

Mop-headed

tree and copse

Dec/) red belicbrysum flowers and

pieces ofpurple Celosfa cristate

make

this

striking,

mop

headed.

trunkedtree (above).
A foam lozenge covered in
golden rod impaled on several
thick

birch twigs create

25

this

copse

(left)

Arrangements with Bases

Many
to

types of arrangement do not need

be set in a container but require
some son of framework on which to be made.

stronger, plastic-coated garden wire,

base can be as thick as you

shape that you wish, too.

Circular arrangements

A circular arrangement such

as a wreath can

be

based on either a copper-wire frame, purchased ready-made from a flower shop or

garden center, or a chicken-wire frame constructed by yourself. Alternatively, you can mist
stems of woody vines, clematis, honeysuckle
or grape, or supple twigs such as birch or
willow, into a circle, entwining them and working in the ends so that the finished framework is
firm enough to be used as a base for attaching a
variety of dried flowers, should you wish. In fact.
if carefully done, such a stem wreath can look
beautiful in

its

own

right (see p.29).

Dried-flower ropes
Another type of dried-flower arrangement that
does not require a container is the dried -flower
rope. Whether a small, delicate affair measuring
just a few inches long, such as a circlet for a
bride's headdress, or a long garland of flowers

made

to festoon a fireplace, table,

archway or

door, or to entwine the banisters or balustrade,

or perhaps even to encircle the

poles of a tented marquee,
dried -flower ropes are

using the

though

strength, type

More

bases

they are

w ell worth
r

the pressure of intricate, last-minute

making fresh-flower garlands

form the top of a

spearing

piece

in

right

last.

of dried flowers are fixed to

by-

and suspended from the

More

and

of mossing

For a longer, more

tree,

to a miniature

complicated

base

shapes can also be made using

chicken wire. Each of the April
Fools' Day rabbits on pages "6

77

are

several shapes

(spool) wire, each overlapping

the

on

center of the ceiling.

dramatic garland the bunches

it

trunk, or it can be used as

an arrangement in its own

al-

flowers and foliage are attachto

that

involves.

before fixing the dried flowers in it. A driedflower sphere can be used to

wire base. Small bunches of

ed

the head-

made on

w ork

Dried-flower spheres
Chicken wire is very easy to mold and can be
used to create the base for many differently
shaped arrangements. A sphere shape is probably the most straightforward to make. You
simply pile pieces of styrafoam, or clumps of
hay or moss, on a strip of chicken wire then
draw- up the wire into a spherical shape, working the mesh around until the foam is firmly
contained within it. The sphere can then be
covered with damp moss to disguise the wire
framework and allow ed to dry out completely

delicate flower ropes

dress are usually

the trouble. Moreover, as

you are working with dried flowers, you can

prepare them in advance of the special occasion
for w-hich you have made them, thus avoiding

and thickness.

like the circlet for

and, indeed, any

Wire-based ropes of dried flowers are cernot the easiest arrangements to make, but

all

vary

like

tainly

made

same technique,

the

and even

more substantial swagging is based on a framework of chicken wire stuffed with moss. Such a

Tf.ns

informal, twisted birch twig

and catkin wreath glows with rust

and cream leucodendron cones.

26

composed

of

formed out of

chicken wire, stuffed with hay

and joined together with spool

mossing

wire.

Circular Arrangements
There

are

several

making bases

different

methods of

Making

wire-frame-and-moss base

for circular arrangements.

The simplest method

is to bind clumps of moss

wire
frame, using string.
shop-bought
to a
Alternatively, you can weave supple stems together to form a circular frame, or roll chicken
wire around sphagnum moss to form a long
sausage and sew the ends together to make a
circle. Chicken wire is very useful for driedflower arrangers: it is also used for the base of a
dried-flower sphere or a thick flower rope. For a

You will need a wire frame, a

delicate circlet of dried flowers florist wire

damp sphagnum moss and a pair of scissors

all

you need

is

for a base.

spool ofstring,

Tie the string to the frame, leaving

beyond

the knot. Place

some

short length

some moss below

the tie

string firmly

3 Continue to bind in clumps of moss, maintaining

a constant thickness and overlapping each clump

while folding the moss in place with the other. The

moss should he about 2.5cm Clin) thick on all sides.

and tie

Bind the clump of moss to the frame. Wind the

around frame and moss with one hand,

Making

Overlap the
it

last

clump with the first. Cut the string

end beyond the Joining knot

to the short

chicken-wire-and-moss base

mm

^.'

>

1
Cut the chicken wire to the length oj the
circumference of the base you require. Lay the
sphagnum moss along it and roll the wire over the
moss to form a sausage shape 5cm < 1 [in ) thick
.->'

'^flL
IB**.

'

p\ "*%&<
You will need chicken wire JOcm < I ft ) aide,
damp sphagnum moss and spool wire

fc^A

scissors,

mmm
V>

litck in any protruding sphagnum moss and

bend over sharp pieces of chicken wire at the ends

Bend

sausage shape gently to form a smooth

end of the Spool wire to one end oj the
chicken wire and sew the two ends of the tube
together Cut the spool wire and secure the end
the

circle Tie the

27

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

Making

stem base

You will need supple stems, a pair ofpliers,

and a pair of scissors.

spool

wire

1 Cut the stems into lengths of 13m (4\ft). Bend one

stem length into a circle, overlapping the ends.

Making

Bind the ends together with spool wire. Twist

another stem length around the first and secure.
Continue winding in lengths of stem until you
achieve the thickness you require.

a delicate circlet
1 Join two florist wires and twist
a loop at one end. Trim to 5cm
1 Jin ) longer than required
cover with floral tape. Bind
on bunches with spool wire.

and

When 2.5cm (1 in) from the end

of the florist wire, bend to form
a fxx)k and ease the flower rope
into a circle. Hook the wire
through the loop to secure.
2

Making

moss-covered sphere

You will need chicken aire 30cm ( lft) wide, a pair

of scissors, styrafoam. spool wire and diy moss.
1
Cut the chicken aire a little longer than the
planned circumference of the sphere. Pile slices of
styrafoam in the middle of the wire, and lift and bind
the cfyicken wire into a sphere around the foam.

Tie the end of the spool wire to the chicken wire,

leaving a slxjrt end for finishing. Place a clump of
moss beside the knot and wind the spool wire
around the sphere and moss. Bind on clumps of
moss until the sphere is covered, then tie the spool

wire

28

to the short

end and

trim.

ARRANGEMENTS WITH BASES

Eye-catching wreath

A chicken-wire-and moss base

with a froth o/'Alchemilla mollis

(belou

proi vs the perfect

foil for

Carlina acaulis 'Caulescent

ant/Rosa

'Silva'.

Decorated twig circle

An

actinidia twig base

shows through bunches

of dill, nigella seed-heads

and Helichrysum
angustifolium (above).

A plaited raffia
rope
in

is

'

A',

entwined

order

to

hang

the wreath.

Circlets

A mossed Hire base

is

covered in acbiUea
flower heads, pompon
dahlias

and loose

knots

of raffia (far left) Behind

sits (Di evenly wound

vine wreath, attractive

without decoration

29

Hanging Arrangements
Dried-flower garlands, ropes and hanging
bunches can transform a room or stairwell
and are ideal when decorating the house for a

Making

a chain-link garland

special occasion. Sturdy, chain-link garlands

made on

a wire-and-hay base are ideal for

hanging along a wall. Plaited ropes decorated
with bunches of wired flowers and ribbon make
an extremely attractive feature either side of the
fireplace or along ceiling beams. More delicate
garlands made with spool wire can be hung

around doors and pictures and also look lovely

adorning the banisters. A striking combination
of bunches when wired together to make a
globe shape and hung from the ceiling makes a
truly grand centerpiece.

You will need heaiy-gauge florist

the florist

circle.

wire with hay

and bind with

raffia

at

intervals of 7.5cm (3in) to secure.

Bend the hay-covered

into

some

wire,

hay, raffia and your selected flowers.

1 Loop the wire at one end to make an "eye". Cover

Thread

the

wire

end of the

wire into the loop and twist. Tidy

ends and conceal the join with

the

raffia

tie.

3 Decorate the circlet with dried

flowers.

Form another link,

decorate

and thread through

the

Continue until you have

completed the chain.

first link.

Making a plaited rope

You will need raffia,
florist wire, some blue
hydrangea flowers and

SW*

yellow Helichrysum

If

italicum.
1

Take a good bunch of

raffia

strands

$4
$
V.

and attach
j-

at the top to

a firm

and weave the left

portion and then the

W^\

support. Divide the raffia

into three equal portions

\f

right portion alternately

over the center portion

until you reach the
bottom of the strands.

Bind the ends firmly with raffia. Wire

several small bunches of Ijydrangeas and
helichrysum (see p. 14). Insert the wire
of the first bunch into the raffia at the top of
2

fj

|y
^

30

the plait

and bend back. Add the

bunches

in the

same way.

rest

of the

ARRANGEMENTS WITH BASES

Making

a spool-wire

garland

You will need spool

hydrangea

wire, scissors,
florets, roses,

oats

and

gypsophila.

Make a

loop in the

spool wire at the point

where

the

garland will
hydrangea

end. Wire the

florets

and small

bunches ofgypsophila
(seep. 14). Make a posy

2 Hold the wire just below the

loop and position the posy over it.
so that the loop is completely
covered with flowers. The garland

with all the ingredients

and trim

the stems.

hang from

will

this

loop

when

it

is finished.

Making

a hanging

globe

You will need a

5cm Cljin)
diameter curtain

3-

ring,

florist wires, scissors,

red bottlebrush, pink

helichrysum, pink

yellow

roses,

and

green

amaranthus,
bupleurum, sea
lavender and
Leucodendron
meridianum.

3 Bind the posy to the wire with

the attached spool wire. Continue

binding on posies the length of the

garland, overlapping the stems.
i

Making

<J_

Hk

m
^O.

Hang the

curtain ring at a
good working height or place in
its final position. Wire separate
bunches of each ingredient and
then uire each bunch to the ring

\A

2 Continue

to

attach wired

bunches of ingredients
curtain ring until
Finally, if not
lift

its

it is full

banging position

31

k^

'

X J\

to the

already in place.

the globe to

\(

38
1

spool-wire rope

/'or

a wispy-looking

rope,

posies to spool wi re in the

way

bind

same

as above but using material

with longer stems

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

Autumn rope
Leaves of beech, oak

arranged

into

and fern are

circular, chicken-

wire pad filed with moss

(lefi).

Fir cone twigs, helichrysum

gypsophila

lie

between

and trail into a

hangs from

32

and

the leaves

raffia plait that

the center of the pad.

ARRANGEMENTS WITH BASES

Delicate garland

Small bunches ofammobium,

helichrysum, gypsophila

and

leptospermum together with

dumps of Spanish moss, are
wired on to a length of rope
create a delicate garland
(below).

to

Design Guidelines
Nature

the best guide

is

when

creating

arrangements of either fresh or dried

flowers. There are no hard and fast rules. No
two rose bushes look alike, no two oak trees are
identical. In the same way, no two arrangements

same

using the

ingredients will look exactly

alike and, indeed,

very different,
tical

is

it

even

if

easy to

make them look

they are created in iden-

containers.

Considering the location

Before choosing your plant material or container, or deciding on the shape of the arrangement,

it

is

against a wall?

What

sort of

background

will

it

against: wallpaper? curtain material?

attractive when \iewed singly or

These are the shapes and groupings

balanced and
in groups.

ou should bear in mind when creating

your dried-flower arrangements.
Balance is important in an arrangement. An
arrangement should never look as though it will
fall over, never look uncomfortably crammed
with flowers and never contain flower-heads
that are much too large in proportion to the
container. If in doubt, try it - you can always
take them out and start again.
that

The importance of the container

best to consider the position the

arrangement will take. How large does it need to

be? Will it be seen from all sides or will it stand

be seen

nature produces plant shapes that are well

The container

is just

rangement as the

as important to the ar-

flowers. Natural

and simple

containers are the most suitable for dried-

flower arrangements. Baskets are particularly

a patterned carpet or rug? All

well suited, because they are actually made from

these elements should affect your choice of

dried material. Often the shape and texture of

- and

the basket will suggest shapes and textures for

Will

it

stand

flowers

container,

you

on

their

colors and textures

and also the style of arrangement

that

the arrangement. So, too, with other types of

container.

create.

The design on

a ceramic vase

may

well inspire the design of an arrangement,

Following nature
Allow your garden, or someone
that

you

perhaps
else's

especially admire, to give

garden

you ideas

for

your arrangements. Look at the countryside:

notice the shapes of the trees, and the way that
plants and flowers grow into each other. Mostly-.
Exciting colors

and textures form

arrangement

in

just

because of

its

colors, or

perhaps

due to its shape and form. Dried flowers with

warm, glowing colors look sumptuous in
copper, brass and terracotta containers, while
cool white and pale colored flowers look well
in silver and stone containers.
this simple,

a bark container.

34

scented

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Bold mixture
This rustic primrose
basket contains Erica
arborea andE. carnea,

Echinops

ritro,

some

skeletonized leaves

and

red fungi: a bold mix of

es

35

and

textures.

Color
plant material can be preserved that
Sothemuch
color palette available to the dried-

flower arranger

is

Tones and shades

muted tones of primary and secondary colors. If you were creating a pastel color with paint you would add
Pastel colors are simply

spectacular: bright reds, fresh

greens, a wonderful range of pinks, clear yel-

and
and lavenders, purples and violets,
and deep and pale blues. In fact, all the colors
of the spectrum are represented and can be
used in an infinite number of combinations to
create a wide range of different effects.
lows, hot oranges, cool creams, whites

white, the color of

silvers, lilacs

secondary color. Pale pink, peach and apricot,

lemon and pale icy blues are all pastel

By adding black, the color of darkness, to a primary or secondary color you
would create a more somber tone, such as
lilac,

brown,
a

good

combinations of colors

rust, gray,

navy blue or plum.

and shades are especially well

represented in dried flowers. There are a host of
pink flowers, ranging from very bright to very
Pastel tones

idea to experiment with different

when beginning

to the primary or

colors.

Combining colors
It is

light,

in different quantities,

to create dried -flower arrange-

extremely easy to dry. Roses,

pale, that are

ments, to discover which colors look best

larkspur, helipterum, statice, silene

your eye will soon become

the
effect
colors have on one
attuned to
another when combined.
In general, colors that lie near each other in
the spectrum blend together to create a subdued but nonetheless attractive combination.
So, red and orange blend well, likewise orange
and yellow, yellow and green, green and blue,
and blue and violet. Colors at one remove
from each other in the spectrum also combine
well, but produce a more striking result. Red
contrasts pleasantly with yellow, orange with
green, yellow with blue and green with violet.
In essence, the further apart two colors are
from one another the more startling the effect
they create. Consequently, combinations of red
and green flowers, red and blue flowers, and
orange or yellow and violet or purple flowers
will create an extremely dramatic effect. In

chrysum number among

together. In this way,

addition, a strange visual effect

is

created

these.

and

heli-

A smaller num-

ber of rust-colored flowers and leaves can be

preserved: dock, statice, helichrysum, copper

beech and hydrangeas fall into this color

Only a few flowers that dry can be
found in the peach and apricot range. They are:
statice, roses, helichrysum and protea. Lavencategory.

der, statice, hydrangeas, delphinium, amaranthus, cornflowers

plum-colored

and dahlia

all

have

lilac

and

varieties.

Choosing colors
When deciding on the colors you want to
feature in an arrangement, you should take into
account the colors of the walls, carpets and
furnishing fabrics in the room where the arrangement will be located. After that you will be
dependent on your own taste to lead you to a
color combination that will look good. By-

when

choosing colors that are close to each other in

the spectrum y ou cannot really go wrong. On
the other hand, you will probably create a more
interesting and unusual arrangement by being a
bit more adventurous in your choice of colors.
Finally, consider the impact you wish to make. A
large, centerpiece arrangement will probably"
require a dramatic use of color.

one color is combined in a small quantity with

a larger amount of an opposing color. For

example, a green arrangement appears even

greener when a small amount of bright red is
added. Similarly, a small quantity of bright
yellow flowers amongst a mass of violet flowers
intensifies the violet nature of the arrangement.

36

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Hints and greens

The intense blues

and

greens of this matt

glazed earthenware
vase provide the
inspiration for an

arrangement ofpressed
green beech lea
delphinium flotl er SpUn S

m shades ofblue,
clusters

37

ofsea

and

lx>//y

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

Reds and yellows

inlaid silver box with a daisy

An

design

is

mounded

with bright

pink helipterum. and Senecio

greyi foliage

and flower buds.

Tlie

lining of the

box

arranged

ivith

is

brilliant yellow helipterum that

echo the color of the centers of
the pink daisy flowers and relate
the two daisy arrangements.

38

DESIGN GUIDELINES

39

Texture
The configurations

Combining textures

of the surfaces of plant

and container dramatically affect

the look of an arrangement. Dried plant
material has many forms. There are the flowers
themselves, ranging from the delicate, feathery
quality of gypsophila and alchemilla to the large,
dense flower-heads of peonies, roses, thistles
and proteas. Seed-heads, too, such as poppies,
love-in-a-mist, cereals and fir cones, all have
material

strong shapes.

Then

there are the leaves,

It is

the combination of different shapes and

textures that provides points of interest in an

arrangement. Try positioning soft, rounded

flowers against spires of spiky flowers;

some

tural presence.

A well-planned bed of plants contains a wide

some soft and rounded,

some, like ferns, finely divided. They have
smooth, flat surfaces, crinkly surfaces, indented
and hairy surfaces. Think of the difference in
texture between an ivy leaf and a lamb's ear, or
sharp and pointed,

range of textures, providing fascinating juxtapositions within the overall shape of a border.

Follow nature when choosing material for a

dried-flower arrangement.
plants grow. See

You can group these textural elements in an

infinite number of ways to create an infinite
number of different-looking arrangements.

overlap each other and

sect with other flowers.

seed-heads

Look

at

the

inter-

way

that

between them.
You may choose to use only two elements in
an arrangement and this can be very effective.
However, if they are similar-sized and similarcolored roses and peonies then the result will
not be very interesting. A much more fascinating combination would be a mixture of roses
and larkspur: whorled circles against bobbly
spires. Alternatively, peonies and helipterum
would look well together: large, crinkly circles
leaves highlight the flowers lying

Looking at individual plants

Each part of every plant has its own very special
texture. Every petal of every flower produces
areas of shade, defining its own texture. Take
peonies and roses. At a glance they don't look
very different. They both have many petals
radiating from the top of the stem and their
colors are frequently similar. Their textural

on

Look at the way

on adjacent plants

how leaves
how

Stachys lanata.

differences are very small, yet

set

groups of flowers against the solid forms of

seed-heads and the defined shapes of leaves.
Such contrasting combinations often work very
well, creating arrangements with tangible tex-

set against small circles with serrated edges.

closer inspec-

you can immediately tell the difference

between them. The outer petals of the rose
bend outwards, while peony petals tend to
curve inwards, and the inner petals of a peony
are bunched in a less formal manner than those
of a rose. The flower buds are in fact very
different: peonies have rounded buds and
tion

roses

more pointed

quite dissimilar

buds. Their leaves, too, are

when viewed

Once you have

at

close quarters.

learned to look carefully

at

and can discern small textural

differences between them it will come as secplant material

ond nature to consider the textures of

material when creating an arrangement.

dried

The

overall

view

Containers have texture, too, and all bring their

textural qualities to bear on the overall look of
the arrangement. The rough, pitted surface of a
stoneware pot, the gnarled surface of a basket

made from bark or twigs, the textured patterns

of woven stems in wickerwork, the grainy
surface of

wood, the sheen of

metal,

and the

smooth shine of a glass or glazed pot: all will

add to the textural quality of an arrangement.
Container and plant material should always
relate to each other and the overall view should
never be forgotten.

40

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Textural variety

lively

flowers

arrangement of

and foliage

of

many different textures

brings to

life this

gnarled old

heavy,

oil jar

bound

with a twisted
cane decoration. Round-

leaved spires of
eucalyptus together with
delicate spikes ofkochia.

larkspur

and fir twigs

vie with peppy seed-

beads,

cream corymbs of

Yerticordia

sp.

and the

rounded flowers of
helichrysum

and roses

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

42

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Rough and smooth

combination
A smooth, clear glass
cylinder

is filled

with

highly textural seeds,

seed beads, pot pourri.

hark and moss. Separate
portions of cinnamon,
dried chest nuts, lentils,

pasta, lavender,

sunflower seeds and

corn on the col) are
squeezed against the
sides ofthe glass by moss.
while fir cones, poppy
seed beads and lore in
a mist seed beads are

arranged
on top

43

in

segments

Style
arrangement of flowers - whether a
garland or a vase arrangement - contains a

Cultivating your own style

Each of us has our own sense of style. When we
open a magazine or book, certain images,
colors and shapes appeal to us and we should
draw upon these images when creating a dried-

Every

number of design elements which together

create a certain style. The shape, color and
texture of the arrangement, together with the
if there is one and the situation
which the arrangement is placed, combine

container

flower arrangement.

in

to

The

own and however

create, the

good

style

formal a shape you

completed arrangement

have a sense of informality about

will always
it.

For, the

of them ready dried

different
reflecting

often a

good

you are not lucky enough

and use them to create manyarrangements for your home - all
your own sense of style.

some of

most successful dried -flower arrangements

are those that have the informality of a

summer

garden. Containers with a rustic feel to them

work

well with such arrangements precisely

because they are close to the look of the plants
themselves. Baskets of all types, wooden trugs
and boxes, terracotta and stoneware bowls,

ceramics with less sophisticated designs and

finishes, all

When you visit a

if

idea to emphasize the

informal nature of dried flowers, and

the

a note of the plants

to have a garden,

fluence the style of the arrangement.

is

make

that you like best. Then you can grow some of

these plants yourself for drying, or buy bunches

natural style of the flowers should greatly in-

It

idea to

that appeal to you.

garden, notice the combinations of flowers and

foliage, and the shapes of the trees and shrubs

informality of dried flowers

Dried flowers have a natural and informal

of their

It is

and colors

give a total "look" or style.

lend themselves to natural-looking,

dried-flower arrangements.

Fortunately,

The style of the room

many dried-flower arrangements fit

even the most striking interior designs.

The strong shapes of flowers like yarrow, the
soft haze of fluffy gypsophila, the stately seedheads of poppies and bulrushes: all these look
wonderful against both the steel and glass of a
in with

cool,

modern room and

the warm,

mellow

wood

of an old country house.

However, each room does have its own
particular style, which might dictate a certain

The kitchen, a utilitarian

room in which to hang

type of arrangement.

Careful planning

place,

Although a natural-looking arrangement might

appear simple to achieve, it actually requires
careful planning if it is not to look artificial. To
begin with, it needs strength of line: curves must

be strong and

straight

lines

defined. For the lines are the

must be well
bones of the

arrangement: they give the arrangement

essential shape.

its

Whether created by the stems.

is

the ideal

bunches of dried flowers from the ceiling,

where the\ will be out of the way and will not
clutter up work and eating surfaces, but will still
form an attractive arrangement.
T

room there is usually more space

arrangements (see pp.5 1-3). Where

In the living
for table

there

is

a fireplace, a grand arrangement of

dried flowers will cover the

the leaves or seed-heads, or even the flowers

attractively

made first and the

shape filled out afterwards. In this way the
arrangement will be much easier to complete

softer style

themselves, they should be

without spoiling the shape.

(see

p.63).

throughout the

The bedroom

empty

grate very

summer months
generally

has

and so a gentler, prettier, perhaps

more subdued, arrangement will probably
be more in tune there (see pp. 59-61).

44

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Simplicity- of line
'/his tall,
i

ase

reined, glass

and dncd artichoke

head look as though

uere made for each

they

an

unlikely

combination

and one

other

It is

that you might not have

considered unless you

had observed the nay an

artichoke grows
the
gentle curie of its thick
stem, the

muted colors

of its heavy bead

Strength of line, perfect

and subdued
combine to

balance
colors

imitate nature

THE PRINCIPLES OF ARRANGING

46

DESIGN GUIDELINES
MM.*9

*C

Country-style basket
olive twig basket
spills over uith bunches

An

of larkspur, oats.
limonium, pbaenocoma,
ixodia,

comflou <ers,

sail ia. gypsopbi/a.

nigella

and beech

lea res

Theflowers hare been

carefully

arranged

to

look as though the

bunches hare just been

picked and laid into the
basket.

47

DECORATING
WITH
ARRANGEMENTS

A head o/Hydrangea macrophylla cradles Dahlia

'Dedham and Limonium sinuatum flowers.
'

48

io
JL lowers
make an extraordinary difference to a
room. They bring all that is best about the countryside into your home. And whether they are placed in
a kitchen, a living room or even a ballroom, they add a
warmth that is truly welcoming.
An arrangement of flowers reveals something about
your taste, your color preferences, the shapes you
like best and the textures you like to work with. For
an arrangement is nothing less than a personal state-

ment of
but

it

creativity.

isn't at

all:

This

we

all

may sound
have the

rather alarming,

ability to

express

ourselves creatively.

Our homes
our

taste.

are

one of the greatest statements about

The

colors, patterns, texture of walls,

carpets, rugs, furnishing fabrics

furniture

we choose, combine

and the

style of

to create an overall

mood in a room or house. Dried-flower arrangements

should, above

all,

more important

reflect that

mood.

that a dried-flower

It

is

probably

arrangement

fits

with its surroundings than a fresh-flower arrangement, as fresh flowers make a much more fleeting
mark in a home. A dried-flower arrangement will be
part of the furnishings for a year or more, until dust or
sunlight removes the marvellous warm and mellow
quality of the flowers.
before
So,
you begin arranging your dried flowers,
consider carefully the wallpaper, paint, patterns,
color of wood, shapes of furniture and the different
textures that fill your room. Bear in mind the ornaments in the room, especially those that will sit near
your arrangement. Take into account their scale and
the dimensions of the surface that they and your
arrangement will sit on. Then, and only then, choose
your dried flowers and the container, making sure
that they relate to all the elements.
in

.9

Cottage Living

Room

Strictly speaking, a cottage is a farm worker's

house, although today a country home to

which town dwellers

often referred to as a cottage.

people

talk

weekends is
Even so, when

retreat at

of a cottage-style interior, they are

usually referring to

one

particular style, a style

from the countryside.

Flowery printed fabrics for upholstery and
curtains, mellow wooden tables, wooden or
stone floors and warm, patterned rugs and
carpets are the main ingredients of a simple,
that takes

its

inspiration

country-style interior.

The decor
Terracotta
walls,

Dried flowers are extremely well suited to

and pink

pretty, cottage-style

and cream

curtains

dition

witto delicate

to

rooms and, indeed,

in ad-

providing vegetables, the original

rust flowers comprise the

cottage garden produced an abundance of

two main decorative

elements to consider.

It could still do so
10-133
planting ideas.
for
some
pp.1

flowers for drying.

Yellow hybrid tea rose

Rosa Golden Times"

today.-

see

Love-in-a-mist
Sigella damascena

Striking

arrangement

Bright red miniature

roses

and pale pink

Silene pendula

are

combined

rustic

in

looking terracotta pot

and saucer.

They create

a dramatic yet warm

arrangement tlxit hotio
stands out against the
wall and blends with the
u arm. boney-colored,

wooden

table.

Small

pieces offoam were fitted

into the gulley between

pot and saucer and

covered with crumbled
rose leaves so that

flowers could be

arranged around the

pot base.

Campion or
nodding catchfly
Silene pendula

Terraco
hybrid tea n
Rosa Gerda

50

wm

P^M

\*i

W11
l^^fir^^^^^K

I'M

^3

|k,

:
.

Sp'!

I/|

>!* N

COTTAGE LIVING ROOM

Subdued arrangement

A two-toned woven

>*-*

willow basket

is

subdued
arrangement

tlxit

ideal for

this

blends

subtly with tbe wall

color

and table

left

).

The basic tow dome

shape was created with
stems qfleucodendron.
Pinky-apricot statice
and small wired

bunches of love-in a mist

i heads were then

added to

create the basic

A scattering of terracotta
and yellow roses and
some clumps of wired
silver lichen

"Jill

arrangement.

out

Farmhouse

Attic

Dried flowers and mellow rustic interiors are

Persian rugs and friendly, comfortable furniture

made for each other. Low, beamed ceilings,

rough -cast walls and floors of untreated wood
all relate so well to dried plant material that
almost any choice of colors looks absolutely
right. However, the proportions of the room

always

will restrict the

kind of dried flower arrange-

ment you can create. In an attic the ceiling will

probably be low, so a table arrangement must
not be too tall or it will look squashed. If you
wish to make a tall arrangement it may well be
better to stand it on the floor.
The warm colors of old tapestries are particularly suited to this type of room, where old

make one feel welcome and

at ease.

Use

natural containers, such as baskets, terracotta

pots or,

if

you

are lucky

stone bowl or old

enough

wooden

to

own

one, a

chest or box, for

such a room and allow yourself to be influenced

by both the overall mellow atmosphere and the
decorative detail of the room. The pattern on a
rug or curtain material will often suggest certain
ingredients for an arrangement, or lead you to
create a particular arrangement shape. The
pressed fern and helichrysum in the arrange-

ment

at right

echo the fern and daisy motifs

feaabatf in the paper lining of the bo;

ket larkspur
tisolida

The decor
The pattern and
rug

colors of a

together with the

color of the
interior of the

container- an old
wooden box - lead
to a choice of
predominantly
green and off-white

flowers

and foliage

with a splash of
gray-blue.

Oats

Straw-flower

Avena fatua

Heticbrysum

54

irgmeum

ambigu

FARMHOUSE ATTIC

Informal arrangement
The painted paper lining

oftins eighteenth century

box

is

so beautiful that

section
Tfje

showing.
ingredients are
is left

arranged informally

to

accentuate the natural.

relaxed atmosphere of
t/je room.

r-;

^^H

Simple arrangement
Gnarled apple branches

make a simple vet

dramatic arrangement
when

set

against the

plain, light colored wall

of the

attic

room.

Romantic Bedroom
The decor

Soft,

gentle pastel colors are ideal for bed-

Summery arrangement

Delicately textured, soft

rooms. Creams, pinks, lilacs, eau-de-Nil,

pale blues and greens all lend a soothing quality
to a room and will help create a bedroom that

The gentle curve of the

blue ceramic bowl with

pink wallpaper and

matching pastel fabric
set the scene.

warm but not too hot in winter and cool

but not too cold in summer. Soft lines created
by draping material over furniture so that it

feels

hangs

in

curves and folds will add to the

and the delicate texture of

bowl of dried flowers, summer-grown

relaxing atmosphere,

a simple

a low, domed, pretty

arrangement of wistful
summery flowers
contrasts with the tall

elegance of the silver

candlestick

lamp and

stands out against the

pastel -colored wall.
Hybrid tea rose
Rosa Bridal Pink

in the garden, will look perfect in

such a setting.
Such an arrangement will also provide a joyful
reminder of lazy, sunshine-filled days - some-

Sphagnum moss j
Sphagnum
:

thing of a myth, perhaps, but nevertheless a

great comfort.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
'Hortensia'

Purple statice

Limonium sinuatum

Love-in-a-mist
Xigella damascena

Senecio
Senecio greyi
Silver-leaved everlasting

Helicbrysum augustifolium

58

DECORATING WITH ARRANGEMENTS

Delicate arrangement
This delicate trifoliate china dish

holds a sea ofpale blue

delphinium flowers. Sand-dried

pink

roses

and an auratum

float nonchalantly

on

top.

lily

Period Dining
The formal dining room

The decor
Rich sunny yellow
provides

is

Room

used mostly in the

Yellow arrangement
Inspired by

evenings and the decorations should there-

kte backdrop.

fore take into account that they will frequent-

be seen under artificial light. Consequently, it

can be a good idea to embrace fairly strong
color themes, such as warm, golden yellows,
ly

refined, austere grays, or sunny.

terracottas.

The

furniture

is

tlye

with an abundance of
yellow flowers fills tlx
elegant fireplace
throughout the summer

Mediterranean

usually solid, creatpoplar

PopuJus sp.

Silver

ing strong shapes. Dining table and chairs,

sideboard and perhaps a fireplace need to be

set off with bold dried-flower arrangements. In
Large-headed
ceniau
Centaur
macrxK

summer a grand arrangement can transfigure an

empty fireplace and in winter the mantelshelf or
White and blue larkspur
:,lida ambigua

sideboard

make

ideal

locations for smaller

arrangements.
Poppy
Papa
Cider

gum

Golden yarrow

r.umn

Achillea filipendulitui

Coronation Gold'

-.

mer cypress
.asp.

Mimosa or wattle

Acad

Lavender cotton

Sunray
Helipterum cotula

:a

62

strong

wall color, a striking

basket arrangement

sp

'

A MMr%

A^

fl^.
"""

""

Duu

.J

**

u
1

Ik

'4

A.

-.

'3k

<*

.
n

";
t
1

o^'

*
1

*p*^&m&

.1

r.

>

WITH ARRANGEMENTS
DECORATING
*

Lively arrangements

A Delft plate provides the

inspiration for these lively

mantelshelf arrangements.

Dramatic Studio
blues, startling reds,

Intense

Room

rich oranges,

Wild arrangement
striking arrangement

sharp yellows and strong greens can all be

used in striking combinations to decorate and
furnish a room. However,
to

it is

of large-leaved

no simple matter

devise a bold color scheme.

In

carelessly handled, striking colors can

room extremely uncomfortable

fact,

if

make

to live in.

bamboo

and fjydrangea heads

makes a very
positii e

statement^

in this boldly

decorated room.

It is

ornament or piece
of furniture and build up a vibrant color
scheme from that: a painting often provides the
basis of a scheme for the whole room, with
fabric, floor and wall colors all echoing the
usually best to begin with an

colors of the painting.

Many

flowers retain their strong color

dried. This

sum and

is

when

especially the case with helichry-

which can therefore play a

dramatic role in a vibrant room. Other less
boldly colored dried flowers and well-shaped
roses,

or textured foliage can act as a fascinating

for vivid

background

foil
Cerise -tinged

colors.

hybrid tea rose

Rosa Mercedes^^B

Cornflower
Centaurea cvanus

Leucodendron
Leucodendron sp.

Deep yellow
hybrid tea rose
Rosc\

Golden Times

Scarlet-tinged^

hybrid tea rose

Rosa 'JaguaM

Pine

Corn-on-the-cob

Zea mays

Stalice

W^^

Phaenocoma shrub
Pbaenocoma prolifem

Limonium smuatum
Strawflower
Helicbrysum italicum

66

Leucodendron
Leucodendron sp

Kr

xf

*W

i t
'

'

V;

ip r

f*

>S*

9
-

Dramatic
\A wild circle of ci ieci
'lowers ries with tfje
villuoil colors qj the

tea set

and sofa

fabric

i.

ARRANGEMENTS
FOR SPECIAL
OCCASIONS

Feathery plumes q/"Alchemilla mollis surround

Helipterum manglesii and waxy ixodia flowers.

70

L,

would be very dull without special occasions.

They give a shape and form to the year and afford us
the chance to celebrate, which is what life should be
all about. And wherever there is celebrating, there
rife

should be flowers.

Many people have

parties

on

New Year's

Day. After

the celebrations of New Year's Eve,

which keep most

people up well beyond midnight, it is good to have
a quieter celebration with friends and relatives.

Twelfth Night and Valentine's Day follow in seemingly quick succession. Both of these are about
casting off the old and beginning afresh: a new
direction and a new love.
April Fools' Day is essentially a day (or morning) of
fun, when even the media play jokes. Ridiculous
items are delivered with a sincerity that often takes

one

in

- for a moment,

Christian festival

at least. Easter,

the great

commemorating the resurrection of

Christ, and, in earlier times, the beginning of the

end the first

They begin again later

Year, brings to an
celebrations.

New

cycle of days of
in the year

with

harvest thanksgiving, and the biggest celebration of

all - Christmas - completes the year.

between, there are birthdays, weddings and christenings, all joyful occasions when flowers can mean
so much, and some people do not allow Midsummer's Day to pass without celebration. If you are
arranging only dried flowers for any of these occasions, you will have the advantage of time, for you can
prepare such an arrangement well in advance of the
day. This is invaluable if you know you will have
hundreds of last minute things to organize.
In

~i

Valentine's
How
tyrs,

Valentine's

Day came to be a festival for

lovers is shrouded in mystery. Two marboth called St Valentine, are recorded as

having suffered persecution by the emperor

on 14 February AD 270.
However, the way we celebrate the day does not
have anything to do with either of them!

Claudius, and both died

Pagan

Day

Valentine's

as

festival

we know it may derive from

the feast of Lupercalia, which

festival that

was

pagan

took place in mid-February.

Fertility

were performed at this festival, including

one in which boys drew the names of girls from
a love urn. It may have been converted to a
Christian festival by attaching it to the Saint's
Day nearest to it, namely St Valentine's Day.
rites

Valentine cards

The

first

Valentine cards date from the very

beginning of the British postal system in the

sixteenth century

when

elaborate lace paper

cards were produced complete with verses.

more

The

recent practice of leaving the missive

unsigned adds a sense of playful mystery to the

You could make your own Valentine card

event.

simply by writing your

plain card

own verse on

and mounting a border of pressed

flowers such as violets or primroses

Red roses
The red rose has long been
love and

This

is

is

a piece of

on

to

it.

symbol of true

now associated with Valentine's Day.

more recent innovation, of course, as in

colder climes roses are not in flower

of year and available only

at great

at this

time

expense.

However, roses dry very well and red roses

keep their intense rich color for many months
if

they are dried correctly (see p.94). Attaching a

bloom to a present makes an everlasting,

poignant memento. Alternatively, an arrangesingle

ment of dried flowers containing some red

roses makes a loving present.

72

Day

VALENTINES DAY

Valentine heart

A heart oj red >

makes a very special
Valentines

Day present

in true Victorian

73

style.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Making a heart of red roses

You will need one 2.5cm (lin)
diameter, moss-filled chicken-wire

tube

lm 15cm

thin tubes,

(3ft 9in) long, two

one 38cm (15in) and

10cm (4in) long,

mossing wire, silver-sprayed tree
heather, small-headed sedge, and
eighty red roses with stems cut to
the other

a length of 3-5cm
1

Bend the

heart sloape

14 in

).

large tube into

and join

at the top

with mossing wire. Bind on sprays

of silver heather, overlapping the
sprays to cover the entire frame.

Take the 38cm (15in

tube

and

10cm C4in) tube at right

angles to one end. Bind it on with
mossing wire to make a "T'
shape. Bend to form a point.

set the

From

the back,

feed the shaft

diagonally through the center of

the heart until the head protrudes

by 5- 7.5cm
to the

<

2-3in

).

Tie the shaft

heart with mossing wire.

3 Divide the sedge into small

bunches of increasing stem
lengths.

Bind

the shortest

bunch

4 Continue adding sedge until

two-thirds of the
to

shaft.

way down

the

Bind two small bunches of

the top of the arrow-slmfi with

sedge on either side of the arrow-

mossing wire.

head with

6 Bind the shaft just under the

arrow-head to the bottom of the
heart. Attach a silver ribbon or
raffia bow to the arrow -shaft to

7 Insert the stems of the roses,

which sljould be cut at a razorsharp angle, into the heart. Check
they are firmly in position and cut
off any protruding stems.

cover the

last

wire

74

tie.

raffia.

April Fools'
Sometimes
of April

is

called All Fools' Day, the

first

day

a day for playing practical jokes

April Fools'

on

dates back to

Roman

Romans

times. At the beginning of April the

celebrated the festival of Cerealia, which had

week, ending on

meadows, Proserpina, the

daughter of Ceres, was whisked away by Pluto
to the lower world. Ceres went in search of

ghing presents

flowers in the Elysian

to

welcome

the

New Year was

were annoyed by
up of the new calendar and decided
that they would continue to give presents on 1st
April, but that they would have a jokey quality.
the setting

screams of her daughter, she was never able to

find her, for the screams were only echoes - she

In recent times the

BBC

has broadcast jokey-

items of information as part of the

fool's errand.

April Fools' Day.

Customary terms
an April Fool is known as a Poisson
d'Avrilox an April Fish. This may be because the
zodiacal sign of Pisces comes to an end shortly
before the beginning of April. Alternatively, the
term may have arisen because in April fish are
stupid simply because they are very young: they
are therefore easily caught. Whichever theory is
true, the custom is the same: to make a friend,
neighbor or relative look slightly foolish.

accompany the

BBC showed

a film of

widely travelled then.

It is

always great fun to set up a practical joke

especially for the children in the family.

on April Fools' Day. A gowk is a

cuckoo, commonly thought of as a stupid bird,
and an April Fool is known as an April Gowk.

might

like to

make

You

a rabbit or other cuddly-

animal using a chicken-wire frame and moss,

and surprise them

bunny

not

story the

bunches of spaghetti being gathered from the

trees. It seems incredible that \iewers could be
taken in by such a story, but it was very
convincingly set up and people were much less

taken place

little

news on

notable April Fools' Day-

cerned the surprisingly early harvesting of

spaghetti from the spaghetti trees in Italy. To

gowk" has long

and is

story broadcast about twenty years ago con-

In France

This cheerful

altered to

also altered. Possibly people

Proserpina but, although she could hear the

wire

New Year was

January and consequently the tradition of

1st

In Scotland "hunting the

1st April. In the sixteenth

century the date of the

its

origins in the following story. While picking

had been sent on a

Day jokes

Europe the most likely explanation of April

Fools' Day is that the festival is related to the
celebration of the Old New Year. The Old New
Year began on 25th March and festivities lasted
In

friends and neighbors. No one is quite sure

where or how this ancient tradition originated.

One possible explanation

Day

is

formed out of chicken

difficult to

75

at

make

(see p. 77).

breakfast time.

Friendly

mossy

rabbits

These natural-looking
mossy rabbits icon Id look

en con incing placed

in the

garden on April

Fools

Day morning.

APRIL FOOLS' DAY

Making a mossy rabbit

You will need chicken

2
wire, bay, fresh

and spool mossing wire

Bend the chicken wire into the shape of
the head and body of the rabbit. Form
individual legs and a tail out of smaller

silver lichen
1

pieces. Attach to the

body with spool

wire.

Fill the

head. body, legs

and tail with bay.

and hind on

Tie the spool wire to the frame

clumps oflichen to the body, overlapping

each clump and winding the spool wire
tightly

round

Cover

the head, legs

same way.

the frame to hold

and

tail in

it

in place

exactly the

Easter
The word Easter

is

derived from the

name of

celebrations of Easter

much

the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre

were separated by

as

as eight days.

or Ostara, and has always been connected with

April, or Eostre monath.
Christians have celebrated Easter on various

varying from year to year,

dates during or close to April since the early

the

days of the Church. Although commemorating

However, the debate continues as to whether

Easter Sunday should fall on the same day of the
month even.' year. At present, Easter Sunday can
be as early as the end of March or as late as the

With

the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the festival itself

is

not mentioned in the

New

Testament. The

continued to celebrate Jewish

and the Passover (in Hebrew, pesacti)

early Christians
festivals

with Christ as the Paschal

Christian Easter festival. In
festival

name

is

Lamb became
many countries

Italian,

similar to the Latin. Constandecreed that Easter, the most important

festival of the Christian year, should also be the
first day of the New Year and this continued to

be the case until the sixteenth century when the

date of the New Year was moved to 1st January,
p.75).

Fixing the date

Easter Sunday

is

the

first

Sunday

after the full

moon following the vernal equinox,

the
still

Sunday

in April.

Easter eggs

The egg has long been a symbol not only of

birth but of the coming of spring, so it is not
surprising that the early Christians attached this

pagan symbol

to the festival that

the spring festival of pagan times

fell

nearest to

Easter.

was forbidden to eat eggs during Lent, so at

were taken to the churches to be blessed and then consumed afterwards at a great feast. In the country, children
would collect eggs from friends and neighbors
at Easter. In the seventeenth century they began
It

Easter baskets of eggs

decorating the eggs with vegetable dyes.

so the date

from year to year and, strictly speaking,

also from place to place. There were many
arguments about this calculation and so it was
that bv ad 455 the Roman and Alexandrine

varies

last

the

Spanish and Dutch

Day (see

to

was made to fall on

same day wherever you were in the world.

very

tine

giving rise to April Fools'

correction

the

derived from the Latin Pascha

and the French,

names are all very

Gregorian

the

calendar in 1582, Easter Sunday, although

In

the northern hemisphere early spring

flowers burst

open

at Easter.

At the

same time

and fledglings hatching, so a

nest of dried flowers and decorated eggs seems
a most appropriate Easter decoration.
birds are nesting

Hens' eggs can be decorated in all sorts of

colorful ways usingfast-drying paint.

^8

An Easter nest
A chicken wire frame covered in
bay and twig bunches forms
nest. Inside,

the

belichryswn.

Limonium sinuatum,

Silene

pendula, Anigozanthos

sp.

and

Pithocarpa corymbulosa are fixed

in bay-covered styrajbam, while
decorated eggs nestle at the front.

79

Hallowe'en
Hallowe'en, the evening before All Hallows'
Day (1st November), has been observed

lighted candle inside and call it a Jack o'Lantern.

Americans began celebrating Hallowe'en in

since early times and has always had particularly

the late nineteenth century, using

spooky

pumpkins

associations.

British

Pagan

much

water. This

greater extent than the Christian festival

game

still

takes place in

demon masks
and witches' cloaks, troop round all the houses
in the neighborhood and demand of the
person who opens the door: "Trick or treat?"
Usually they are given a treat of sweets or cake

but

some more courageous householders

choose

The

to

be subjected

Traditional celebrations
turnips.

face out of the turnip skin, place a

Harvest festival
connotations of Hallowe'en

celebrations

make

using dried plant material in

and corn-on-the-cob, as well as

hollowed out pumpkins (their color is
lovely) or turnips can all be used to spooky
effect. Simply place lighted candles or torches in
the pumpkin heads and watch the shadows.

Hallowe'en party

Shadows make sinister ghostly shapes of the scarecrows

while lighted pumpkin faces grin mischievously.

Colorful gourds (below)

to a trick.

late harvest

freshly

(right),

many parts

children, wearing fancy dress,

oats, barley

and hollow out

rather

decorations very appropriate. Gourds, wheat,

of All Hallows' Day.

light fires

is

of America alongside the more recent game of

trick or treat. This is the custom in which

Hallows' or All Saints'

The Scots
They cut a

the pumpkin, which

was the Americans who instituted the sport

of trying to pick up an apple with your teeth
while the apple was bobbing in a barrel of

time of the year.

Day was instituted

by Pope Boniface IV when he was trying to
stamp out pagan rites and to ensure that the
Pantheon in Rome, built as a temple to the
ancient gods, was henceforth used as a Christian church for the Virgin Mary and all martyrs.
However, we continue to celebrate the pagan
tradition of Hallowe'en on 31st October to a

now adopted

home-grown
The

turnips.

It

and hobgoblins walked abroad, so they lit

bonfires to ward off these sinister spirits. The
Celts and Anglo-Saxons held a fire festival on All
Hallows' Eve to protect their crops from the evil
and dark spirits of the winter solstice, which
begins in the early days of November. The
Druids, too, lit bonfires to honor their sun god
All

have

of Scottish

has a wonderful glowing skin and

easier to carve out than a turnip.

festival

Our ancestors thought that Hallowe'en was the

night when evil spirits, witches, demons, ghosts

at this

instead

make an

80

attractive feature.

w d

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Making a scarecrow
You will need a
terracotta pot
(

I4in

foam.

35cm

in diameter, styra-

plaster-of-Paris.

stake 1.3m (4ft 6in ) tall

and 2. 5cm < lin ) square,

sphagnum moss or
lichen, mossing wire, a
besom or twig broom.
some hay. two bunches
of dried wheat, a piece of

wood 75cm (2ft Sin)

long and 12mm fjinj
square, some raffia and
a pumpkin
1

Line the pot u

foam.

ith st] ra

Make a fairly

thick

plaster-of-Paris mixture.

Place the stake in the

pointed end up.
Spoon in plaster-of Paris
until the pot is threequarters full. Cover with
sphagnum moss or lichen

pot.

Bind on

wood at
on

the shorter piece of

right angles to the stake

Bind bunches
the broom twigs.

top of the broom.

of wheat stems

to

2 Lash the broom to the stake with

mossing (spool) wire. Tlje top of the

broom handle should sit 13cm

(5in

4 Cover

the

arms and body above

the skirt with

raffia.

Tie

hay and

a plaited

the top of the skirt.

82

tie

on with

raffia belt at

below the top of the stake

5 Scoop out the flesh of the

pumpkin and make

the face.

Spear the head on to the stake

and place a small torch inside.

Christmas
or

Christmas,

Mass,

Christ's

has

been

December

such as pine, yew and holly. Man\- varieties of

such as blue pine, Scots pine and Irish
yew, dry well. If you use dried flowers and

century.

conifer you can

celebrated as the birth of Christ

on 25th

conifer,

since the early part of the fourth

Before that the emperor Aurelian

chose 25th December as the birthday of the

unconquered sun and, to this day, Christmas
contains elements of the winter rites linked with

make your Advent wreaths,

basket arrangements, garlands and even trees

well in advance of Christmas in the

the solar calendar called the Kalends.

festive

garlanding using dried material and holly, add

the holly just before Christmas as both its lea\ es

Christmas decorations

When we

decorate houses with greenery and

colored lights and exchange presents

we

after

home and

Pope Gregory agreed

I

the Church only

that

pagan customs

should be assimilated into the Christian

ethic.

Prince Albert was responsible for making the

Christmas tree popular in Britain

when he

imported a number from his estate in Coburg in

1845. Before that it played a part only in the

German

and berries

festivities.

Father Christmas

fell

into

the chimney.

stocking

man

dried flowers, such

as
Chinese lantern, red helichrysum, red roses and
bottlebrush, look dashing against the dark rich
greens of Christmas trees and foliage. So, too,

do

the ice-cool whites, silvers and pale blues of

gypsophila and larkspur, helichrysum, senecio

and santolina

foliage, and hydrangea and pale

blue larkspur. Anything goes when you are
decorating a tree and a great mixture of flowers

and colors always looks wonderful. However,

one or two colors, perhaps
red and green, pink and silver or orange and
gold, can look as stunning as one bedecked
with everv color under the sun.
Christmas garlanding
Ropes of dried flowers and
foliage will brighten the house
during the Christmas season.
Fireplaces,

It

tures are given

next

vides an

or mixed with fresh greenery

life

when

by garlanding,
(sing rich green foliage pro

Dried flowers at Christmas

Dried flowers can be used in
Christmas decorations to stun-

own

new

surrounded

morning. Hence, our custom.

ning effect either on their

doorways and stair

and pic-

cases, tables, shelves

drying

the

warm room.

colored

below and was found by an

astonished

wilt in a

Christmas color
Brightly

and a great philanthropist. A

sporting fellow, one Christmas
time he climbed on to a rooftop at night and dropped a bag

down

soon

a tree decorated in

The figure of Father Christmas, Santa Claus or St

Nicholas - all one and the same person - has
been with us since the fourth century. St
Nicholas was Bishop of Myra

of gold

will

are

performing part of the ancient pagan rites. In

fact, that most pagan of all plants, mistletoe, was
allowed into the

knowledge

throughout the whole of the

season. If you wish to make some

that they will last

Silver baskets filled with

lilac-blue

dried

hydrangea beads

83

added

ropes

made

dried

material

brilliance,

entirely

can

also

stunning and you can

dried-flower ropes at
leisure, well

but

from

be

make

your
before Christmas.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

xMaking a garland
You will need long

and short

lengths of red and green raffia.

Picea glauca ( silver spruce ). red.

orange, yellow

and small pink

and

belicbrysum, Silene pendula

bright mr/Physalis alkekengi

You can either

or spray
natural raffia with matt or glossy
spray paint, ([possible, buy long
lengths of untreated raffia and
place in an old cardboard box
(Chinese lantern

buy ready-colored

raffia

before spraying, preferably in the

open

air.

Take some long pieces ofgreen

the ends
together with a short length of
raffia. You can cover the tie with a
bow when the garlanding is in
1

and red raffia and tie

position. Pull apart ten or so

strands of the raffia base. Tie on a

small bunch offlowers or some

greenery with a short length of

raffia,

making a boiv

to finish.

Continue attaching bunches in

way down

the length of the

The ingredients should lie
in the same direction as the fall of

this

switch.

the rope.

Tie afresh switch of raffia to the

ends of about half of the first

switch. Attach bunches in the same
way as before. Ifyou intend
laying the garlanding over the top

and down
door, then

the sides of a picture or

you

will

the direction in

ingredients

lie

need

to alter

which the

in

accordance with
garland It is

the direction of the

a good idea in this case to

work outwards from the center of
the garland in each direction.
Once the garland is in place you
can manipulate flowers and
often

foliage so they point the right way.

Staircase decorations

The banister

is

decked

with raffia garlanding

(seep.84), which
contains the same

ingredients as the dried

flower tree (seep.86)

standing on the
staircase

f
/

k.

tt

ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

wL -^^^^^H

j[\

"

^^w

*w?'

ji

Making a dried-flower tree

You will need Chinese
orange, yelloiv

lanterns,

and pale pink

belicbrysum, Silene pendula. silver

spruce 5-7. 5cm (2~3in ) long, silver
lichen

and dyed, dark green

lichen, together with florist wires

about 7.5cm (3in

long bent into

this styrafoam-

hairpins to decorate

based

tree.

Starting from the

top.

layer the

moss on to the tree,

mounded ends pointing towards
the base and each clump
overlapping the next I se the two
colors of moss randomly. Next
add the spruce, then the remainder
lichen

of the ingredients

Christmas basket
Twirling tartan ribbons fly

amongst contorted hazel twigs in

this wild-looking arrangement.
They spring from a blaze of
scarlet and green painted poppy
seed-heads

86

and fresh

spruce

sprigs.

CHRISTMAS

Cool, elegant tree (overleaf)

Silver baskets filled With dried

hydrangea beads (seep.83), and

dried gypscphila
dusted with glitter adorn tbis
crisp, white,

elegant

8-

tree.

~y*^V^.'

Birthday
Flowers

have been a traditional birthday

present around the world for centuries and

difficult to

it is

think of a

more

beautiful

gift.

white with Capricorn; gentians and royal blue

with Aquarius; and gardenias and aquamarine
with the sign of Pisces.

Fresh flowers are wonderful, of course, their

very transience a part of their charm. However,

dried flowers

make a

far

superior

gift,

for while

Posies and bouquets

birthday

gift

blooms of fresh flowers will fall within a

week or so, dried flowers will continue to look

give

beautiful for a year or even longer.

bouquet (see

the

roses, innocence; but steer clear of yellow roses

as these signify jealousy

long

life,

7
.

The poppy represents

is

while clematis signifies beauty of

The

a delicate

A bunch

attractive and.

<

attractive
raffia

wrapping, or simply

bow.

or satin

varying hues of the color linked to their star

arrangement.

that

is

If

little

more

bunch with
to create

special. ch<

><

an
>se

furnishings of the recipient's house.

Scented

Perfumed dried flowers

gifts
in

the form of pot-

make a present that will give a delick >us

to a room for many months. You could

pourri

scent

use pot-pourri

at

the base of a dried-flower

Or you could

some cases you could

do both! The flower for Aries is
the anemone and the color is
Forget-me-nots and

ween

sign. In

red.

tie a

you want

>l

flowers and foliage that will suit the decor and

ment

ruby

tied with a pretty

if you are
growing flowers in your garden for drying, it is a
good idea to hang up some mixed bunches
flowers, foliage and seed-heads at the drying
stage, so that when they are dry yon haw some
ready-made presents. You might add some

arrangement

violet

many

simplest arrangement to

posy of flowers or a small

p.l6).

can look very

denotes faithfulness and

rosemary, remembrance. All these plants can be
dried and used in arrangements.
In addition, each of the signs of the zodiac is
associated with a flower, and most of them can
be dried. So why not make a gift of a bouquet or
container arrangement of dried flowers, using
only the type of flower associated with the
recipient's star sign? Alternatively, use flowers of
thought.

The

different forms.

bow

Flowers and their meanings

Every flower has a special meaning, so when
you give flowers as a present you give a message, too. Red and pink roses signify love; white

of dried flowers can take

create an arrange

container and

in a glass

place a thin layer of scented

gap bet

petals into that small

the glass and the styra

turquoise are linked with Taur-

foam. This way the container

and gray
and yellow with Gemini; magnolias and white and sea green
with Cancer; marigolds and
orange with Leo; lavenders and
gray and yellow with Virgo;
lilies and pink and blue with
Libra; orchids and ruby red
with Scorpio; carnations and

will

us.

LiK'-of- the- valley

purple with Sagittarius;

pies

is

it

of pot-pourri and the

be scented. Even

made

gift will

birthday

card can Involve dried flowers.

Why

not use hand-made te\

tured paper and

pressed flowers

fix

like

and primroses or just

tul

pop-

and navy blue, black and

look as though

A sumptuous
<

sec

j>

)0

birthday basket

wrapped and ribboned

89

group of
pansier
a beauti

single flower or leaf

the front?

The

be appropriate

on

to

flowers could
to the day.

BIRTHDAY

Birthday basket

A woody
pourri,
poppies,

basket, fragrant uitb pot-

with red roses,

pink larkspur. Chinese

is filled

lanterns, safflowers and

Alchemilla mollis to create a truly

sumptuous present Wrapping

it in cellophane and adding red
ribbons completes this wonderful
gift

(see p. 89).

DRYING AND
PRESERVING
TECHNIQUES

creamy desiccant-driedpeony with

Senecio greyi foliage and flower buds.

beautiful

92

here
JL he

methods of drying and preservOf the drying techniques, the

easiest and most effective method is air drying. Simply
are several

ing plant material.

leave the material in a cool, dry, shady place with

good

ventilation. Usually,

it is

best to hang the plant

material upside-down, either in single stems or well-

spread bunches. Harvest the material to be air dried

in dry conditions about four days before the flowers
reach perfection, or when foliage and seed-heads are
mature: the quality of your result will depend very
much on the quality of your raw material. Tidy up the
plant material first and, if it is to be hung in bunches,
remove the lower leaves where the tie will be.
You can also dry plant material by pressing it between
weighted sheets of absorbent paper, such as blotting
paper or newspaper. However, using this method
results in two-dimensional plant material, ideal only
for decorating flat surfaces. A more difficult drying
method, which is, however, very effective in terms of
retaining both color and form, is to use a desiccant.
Place the plant material in a tin and pour silica gel,
borax, alum or sand, or a combination of all these
desiccants, around it. Seal the tin and allow the
desiccant to draw out the moisture.
Plants and, in particular, foliage can also be preserved
in glycerine. Simply set the material in a solution of
glycerine and water: it will drink up the solution until
it is saturated. Material preserved in this way will last
for many months. What is more, the plant material
will remain flexible and will therefore be easy to use.
Crystallizing is an excellent method of preserving
edible flowers and leaves. The delicious coating of
sugary crystals makes them look and taste wonderful,
especially when they cover a mouth-watering gateau!

93

Air Drying
Air drying

is

the easiest

and most

position.

effective

Fan out the flowers, seed-heads and

bunch so that there is as little

contact between the leaves and petals as possible. Then attach the bunches or single stems

method of preserving plant material and

most of the plants used in the arrangements in
this book have been air dried. Depending on

leaves in each

the type of plant, the material can be dried

upside-down to a rail, wire or length of string in

your drying place. Hang the groups of bunches
so that they do not touch one another: it is
better to dry a few flowers well than dry many
flowers so badly that you are presented with a

hanging upside-down, standing upright

container, or simply King on the floor.
that

is

should be

air

dried in a

cool, dry, well-ventilated

and dark,

Ideally, plant material

room

in

although you can

air

temperatures and in a

dry flowers in warmer

room or cupboard with-

disaster area of decay.

Check the flowers from time

are

out a moving air current. However, it is imperative that the drying room is both dry and
dark.

If it is

not dry, the plant material will

such as

at

rot,

roses take a

little

months before

the tying point of a hanging

bunch. If the room is not dark, the flowers

fade extremely quickly.

longer, while

take the flowers

Do

down

not be tempted to

Drying upright

Some

when stood

arranged
position.

limonium, roses with the hybrid-tea-shaped

rocket

all

hydrangeas

particularly well

amount of water

that

and many other seed-heads dry perfectly if left

to stand in an empty vase. They can even be

to dry is the most common

method of air drying. Helichrysum bracteatum,

dahlias

in a small

placed up-

slowly evaporates, while grasses, rushes, cereals

Hang drying

bium alatum and

when

right in a container. Gypsophila,

Hanging material

Chinese lantern, hydrangea,

material air dries well

and hybrid delphiniums dry

and on the point of opening.

helipterum,

soon droop and

the flowers disintegrate.

should be picked approximately four days

before they reach their prime. In other words, a
rose should be picked when the bud is color-

all

several

sedum have

before they are com-

pletely dry, or the stems will

flowers,

different

is

it

the fleshy stems of

lost all their moisture.

will

Harvesting for air drying

All plant material should be picked in dry
weather, preferably around or after midday,
when any dew will have evaporated. Flowers

ful

to time as they

take

plants

Different

amounts of time to dry. Helichrysum and helipterum dry quite quickly- in about three weeks -

especially where the stems or flowers are touching,

drying.

needs

larkspur.

achillea,

just after picking and left to dry in

As with hanging bunches, the material

to stand in a cool, dry; well-ventilated,

dark place for best

results.

Ammo-

dry best using

Drying

this

flat

simple method.

Some

Before hanging the material, remove all the

lower leaves and wipe away any moisture on the
stems with kitchen paper or a towel. Then tie
the stems together into bunches with lengths of

floor or in a

although the leaves will develop crinkly edges.

Mosses and cones can be laid in an airy box or

Make
enough

plants such as artichokes, big thistles, proteas

raffia

or

string,

or even an elastic band.

sure the stems beneath the

to

be able

to

tie

are short

hang the bunches upside-down

be laid on the
Most deciduous and

plant material can simply

box

many evergreen

to dry.

leaves will dry in this way,

basket to dry and you can

sit

larger

or corn-on-the-cob on a chicken-wire

in

94

heads of
shelf.

DRYING

AIR

Wiring delicate flower-heads

You will need a flower

head, florist wire, spool
rose wire, scissors

and

floral tape.
1

Hold the florist uire

against the stem, with

the tip touching the

flower-bead. Place the

end of the rose wire at
the

end of the stem.

Bind the rose wire

around the short end of

rose wire, florist uire

and stem. Continue for

7.5cm (Jin

).

then

cut.

3 Cover the extended

stem with floral tape.

Hold the wiredflowerbead upside-down

and place the end of
the tape just

below

the

flower -head.

Wind the floral tape

around the wired stem

by twisting the uire

so that the tape spirals

up the extended stem.

Continue just beyond

end of the
coul

wire,

wind

the
in

cut.

Wiring compact flowerheads

You will need a flowerbead or bud. florist in re

and scissors.
Cut the stalk 2. 5cm
) below the flowerbead. Cut the uire at a
1
(

in

sharp angle, so you can

easily push through the
Jlouer. Insert the uire
into the hollow stem and
push it through the Jlouer
head, until it protrudes

Bend over florist wire 2 5cm

from tin' top Pull the wire

back so the open end of the "U"
(

about 5cm (2in)

in

pierces the (lower

<;s

DRYING AND PRESERVING TECHNIQUES

Bunching wired stems

Bunching fresh stems

You will needfresJj stemmed

material, scissors

and string or

raffia.
1

Cut au ay lou er

tborns where the

leai es

and

tie will be.

Bind

four

together loosely three or

Bind

together about five wired

stems with

stems, staggering the

an

elastic

band. Betid

and stagger the flower-

positions of the flower -heads. Make

sure air can circulate around the

heads so that they do not touch

heads so they dry without

one another.

Range of air-drying material

96

rotting.

the wires

AIR

DRYING

Spraying bulrush heads

97

Pressing
ways of drying flowers
One of the simplest
to press them. You can use

and leaves

is

a flower press,

which you can

either

make

yourself or buy. ready made, from a store.

you can press small pieces of plant

material between the pages of a heavy book. or.
particularly for larger pieces of foliage, you can
press material by placing it under a rug or
carpet. Whichever method you use. you should
always sandwich the plant material between
Alternatively,

terial passing through one layer of blotting

paper to the next. Finish the giant sandwich
with the second piece of wood, allowing the
bolts in the first to pass through the holes in the

second. Secure tightly with the wing-nuts.

You can make

a larger press, similar to the

one shown opposite, out of two pieces of

hardwood. Instead of

comers

holes in the

drilling

for bolts to pass through, pull the

two

pieces of wood tightly together with nylon cord,

sheets of absorbent paper, such as blotting

binding them around cleats fixed to the top of

paper, or newspaper. In this way. the plant

the press.

both pressed and dried at the same

time. If you are using a book, it is a good idea to
pile other books on top for extra pressure.
material

is

Making and filling a press

There are several ways of making your own
press. The simplest is to cut two pieces of
phwood into identical rectangles about the
same size as the covers of a large book. Bore
four holes in each piece of wood, one at each
corner. Insert a bolt into each hole in one piece
of wood. The bolts should have wing-nuts, as
they will be used to clamp the two pieces of

Ideal plants for pressing

Some of the best flowers for pressing in

a press

or book are \iolas. pansies, primroses and

hydrangeas (both mop-head and lace-cap),
single roses, sweet peas,

all

daisy-like flowers,

hellebores and poppies. Very

full

petalled.

do not press very

to arrange them flat, so that

three-dimensional flowers
well as

it is

difficult

the overlapping petals will not

become bent

or

lumpy as they are pressed. However, by choosing the growing flowers carefully and setting

wood together. Now cut out several rectangular

them, before pressing, on to an absorbent

surface with their petals pointing in the right

pieces of blotting paper to

directions,

the bolts and half that

fit

within the area of

of pieces of cardboard. Sand-

wich some plant material between two sheets of blotting

paper, or a folded piece of
blotting

paper mice the

size,

and place on the bottom of the

Cover with a sheet of
cardboard, then add another
plant material sandwich. Continue in this way - blotting

even a double peony can emerge

from the press looking

number

ful.

Lace -cap hydrangea

Hydrangea macropbylla

beauti-

Small pieces of foliage,

such as

fern.

choisya,

stachys

leaves

from

Senecio greyi.

and

single

trees, are also ideal

for placing in a press.

Larger pieces of foliage, such

press.

as beech, maple, ash. plane

paper, plant material, blotting

and bamboo, are best dried

under a rug. carpet or mattress. Avoid placing them ina
bus\" part of the house, where
they are likely to be trampled
over a lot and sandwich the
plant material between thick

paper, cardboard

press

is full.

until the

The cardboard

important, as

it

is

prevents the

impression of the plant ma-

lavers of

4
^

newspaper.
Lamb's tongue Stadyys Uinata

PRESSING

Using a press

You will need a press,

blotting paper,

cardboard and material

for pressing. Place a
piece of cardboard then

a folded sheet of blotting

paper on the base of the
press. Insert the plant

material in the blotting

paper. Cover with

another piece of
cardboard. Continue
until the press

is full.

Pressing flowers with

bulky centers

You will need a press,

blotting paper, card-

board, styrafoam, a knife,

plant material.
Place the flowers on
the bottom of the blotting

scissors,
1

paper and cut holes

in

the top to align with the

flower centers. Fold over.

2 Cut a slice offoam to
the same thickness as the
flowers.

Cut holes in

it

to

align with the flower

and place on top

of the blotting paper.
Place a piece of
cardboard on top of the
foam and continue
loading the press,
layering the material.
centers

Using a book
You can press material
beta ecu blotting paper
or newspaper in a book.
Weight with other books.

Rough

chervil

Cbaercpbyttum temulentum

Using Desiccants
Most plant material can be dried effectively

Preparing the flowers

Flowers dried with desiccants need to be in

using desiccants, or drying agents, such

as silica gel, borax,
results

alum or

absolutely prime condition.

If you are picking

them from your garden, make sure that they are
as dry as possible by cutting them on a dry day

fine sand. Excellent

can be achieved with

lilies,

roses, freesias, narcissus, camellias

peonies,

and orchids.

Desiccants draw the moisture out of the plant

in the afternoon.

material while holding

way tends to
become rather brittle, so it is often a good idea
to wire the flower-heads before dning them.
Avoid dning flowers with hea\y stems by this

material dried

resembles

its

by

firmly in place, so

it

method most

this

Plant material dried in this

closely

fresh counterpart in color, size

However, there are drawbacks to

Silica gel which dries material
the quickest, is very expensive, and all desiccants are fiddly to place around the flowers
that you are drying.

and

texture.

method: the stem will not dry as quickly as the

flower-head and either the flower will be too dry
or the stem will be too moist and will rot once
the plant is removed from the desiccant.

using desiccants.

Moisture-free crystals

Before using a desiccant you must ensure that

is

You

it

enough

absolutely moisture-free. Silica gel crystals

can be purchased with a color indicator

When

in.

water;

Firstly,

built

they are deep blue they are com-

The crystals are quite large when

you buy them and need to be ground down,

to place

Do this

desiccant.

Once

seal
If

it

it

lid

after

pink,

**$*

use

use

it

it.

If

when you come

you don't want to

immediately, store

it

of the container and

should have turned

depending on how much

you have dried. Take

material

once you are sure

completely

them

in

dry.

become

very

dning
process. Borax and alum powders are best mixed with fine

material

dried

air-tight

are ready to start the

silver sand.

You can use

silver

that they are

Do

in too long

container until you

an

The

hours.

forty-eight

out the flowers very gentry

still

moisture-free
to

sure that

surrounded by

you are using silica gel crystals then

you should test for dryness
crystals

is

is

this

around

with sticky tape.

moderate temperature for an

hour or so. Turn the oven off
and allow the desiccant to
it

large

the flowers are completely

immersed, replace the

on a baking tray in the oven at a

cool inside, so that

make

the flower, using a fine brush to

food processor, making

sure that you clean the grinder thoroughly
before using it for food again. The best way to
is

pile the desiccant

even* part of each flower

in a coffee grinder or

dry the desiccant

tin

hold the material you wish to dry.

place a layer of desiccant on the bottom
to

and gradually

layer

pletely dry.

roughly to the consistency of fine coffee.

The dning process

air-tight box or

need an

of the container. \ext, place the bloom on

the crystals are pink, they contain

when

will

not leave

or they

brittle.

in

borax

alum powder mixed with

Freesia
Freesia x kewensis

sand alone, although material

takes longer to dry.

100

will

Plant

or

silver

sand will take about ten days to

and plant material placed
in silver sand alone will take up
to three weeks.
dry.

USING DESICCANTS

Using

silica gel

Peons
Paeonia

lactiflora

Peruvian lily
Alstroemeria
ligtu hybrid

You will need silica gel crystals,

biscuit

tin.

spoon, paintbrush

2 Spoon

and

crystals

flower-heads.

Cover the base of the tin with

crystals and place the flower
heads on top.

silica gel crystals

heads
between

the flower

petals with

around

and ease the

and on top of the

brush. Replace the lid

and seal Leave for 48 hours.

Belladonna lily
Amaryllis belladonna

Persian buttercup
Ranunculus asiaticus

J3

rose
Rosa Gruss an Aachen'

>XTiite

Golden rose
Rosa Golden Times'

Daffodil

Narcissus

Golden Harvest'
Daffodil
Lily

Wan

issus 'Sarah'

Lilium Aristocrat'

Lace cap hydrangea

Hydrangea macnpbylla

Alt

Daffodil

I.ih

Lilium speciosum

Narcissus Cheerfulness'

rubrum

101

Using Glycerine
plant

Preserving

material

with

glycerine

well as moluccella, or bells of Ireland. Leaves

does not depend on removing the moisture

content from the plant, but rather on replacing
the plant's water with glycerine, which keeps

are best picked at the height of

the plant in a stable condition over a long

plant material,

period.

small

preserved in
leaves

this

number of

flowers can be

way, but for the most part

which are best suited

it is

to preservation

with glycerine.

glycerine does not preserve

fact,

immature
so new spring leaves cannot be

treated in this way.

Single leaves can

them

per cent glycerper cent water) solution. Magnolia,

holly, aspidistra, laurel, box, fatsia, elaeagnus,
pittosporum and some silver-leaved plants,

such as Senecio greyi and Phlomis fruticosa.

can all be preserved in this way. Leaves immersed in glycerine take only about six days to
absorb the solution. At this point you will notice
a color change.

solution

Remove

it

as

it

needs.

from the solution

Remove

the leaves from the

and wash them thoroughly

in a

water

and washing-up liquid solution, before rinsing

them in tap water. Finally, pat the leaves dry with
absorbent kitchen paper.

Coloring preserved material

is as supple as if it
were still growing. However, it also takes away
Glycerined plant material

much

of the color and often

muddy, dark shade.

To prevent

leaves a

tints

murky color,
some water-sol-

material turning a

simply add

material the material has ab-

much

be preserved by immersing

in a slightly stronger (fifty

ine, fifty

Preserving strong-stemmed material

For strong-stemmed material, make up a solution of sixty per cent almost boiling water to
forty per cent glycerine and stir the mixture
thoroughly. Cut the stems at a very sharp angle,
and, if you are preserving brown, hardwood
stems, hammer the ends as well. Place the plant
material in a vase containing approximately
10cm (4in) of the hot solution, so that the stems
are firmly supported by the sides of the container. Insert wire in hollow-stemmed material
such as bells of Ireland to prevent them from
keeling over. Place the vase in a cool, dark place
and allow at least six days for absorption to take
place. The process might well take about ten
days to complete. When little beads of glycerine
start to form on the upper part of the plant

sorbed as

summer when

they are at their strongest and most mature. In

uble

ciubmoss
kraitssiana

dye

the

to

glycerine

solution. This applies equally

immediately - plant material

immersed in the
and stems standing in
the solution. Coppery red dye
leaves

to

becomes soggy and limp if it

over-absorbs glycerine - then
wash the material thoroughly.

solution

is

particularly beneficial

when

preserving copper beech to

help

Preserving leaves

Most leaves of both deciduous

and evergreen plants and trees
can be preserved in glycerine,
and it is a particularly good
method for beech, copper
beech, eucalyptus, ivy, mahonia and choisva leaves as

it

retain

natural color.

It

its

glowing,

will also give

eucalyptus leaves an interesting,

though

natural-looking,

Green dye is a good

idea for most green leaves. For
more ideas on coloring dried i
color.

or diving material see

Lime
Tilici

x cuchlora

y~^J

\lwl

p. 106.

USING GLYCERINE

Cider

Preserving long-stemmed material

You will need a

scissors
1

vase, glycerine solution.

and plant material.

Remove

leaves from the stem ends.

gum

Eucalyptus gunrii

2 Cut stems at a sharp angle and place in

a vase halffilled with glycerine solution.

Leave in a dark, cool place for ten days.

Preserving foliage

You will need a bowl, glycerine

solution,

soapy water and foliage.

1
Place foliage in glycerine solution.
Bells of Ireland

Moluccella laeris

2 Set the bowl in a dark place

and

/care

have darkened Remove

soapy water. Pat dry.

until the leaves

and wash

in

Male fern
DryoptetisfiUx

mas

Late cap hydrangea

Hydrangea macrcpbyUa

Crystallizing
can be preserved by
Many flowers
them, a method which captures

Flowers crystallized using egg white look more

beautiful than those crystallized using gum
arabic, but they will not last for more than a few

crystal-

lizing

fresh beauty

and makes them

good to eat! Use crystallized

flowers to decorate

their natural,

not only cakes,

some
If

tarts

days and should be eaten within four or

days.

savory dishes, too.

you are planning

crystallized flowers

to decorate

make

food with

sure that the plants

you choose are not poisonous. In addition,

when choosing flowers, make sure

they are of a

a common mistake to
use flowers that are too large for the surface of
scale to suit the dish.

It is

the cake.

Gum arabic or egg white?

There are two methods of crystallizing: in one
you use gum arabic to preserve the plant
material and in the other you use egg white.
Flowers and leaves crystallized using gum
arabic last for a long time. You can buy chocolates decorated with violets or rose petals,
which have been crystallized by this method.
If you wish the plant material to last for many
months you should use gum arabic. Dissolve
12g (^oz) gum arabic in \ cup of cold water in
a double boiler or in a basin placed in a pan
of simmering water. Stir until dissolved, then
remove from the heat and
allow the

While

it

solution

is

cooling,

to

make

The

fragrant taste of flowers and leaves

Scented flowers

taste

of the petals of

\
Lungwort
Pulmonaria saccharata

Finally,

until

proof paper.

it

good

to eat.

very attractive, especially when

of a cake. A rich chocolate cake

with fresh mint icing and filling

made

all

the

more

luscious

by the addition of a border of

*m^m

sift

completely
coated. Allow to dry on greaseterial

scented narcis-

Crystallized leaves can look

is

or petals of the flowers with a

paintbrush. Next, brush on the

over the plant ma-

not pleasant,

is

little

grow

used to make a border on top

Apply the gum arabic solution to both sides of the leaves

solution.

of their

flowers that

sus are perfectly

F), then remove from the

heat and allow to cool.

sugar

many

although

fine sugar

much

retain

from bulbs

syrup with \ cup of water and

:
lOOg (4oz) sugar. Boil to 80 C

(230

will

perfume when they are crystallized, making

them delicious to eat. Cherry, apple and pear
blossoms are all fragrant- tasting, and so are
acacia and elderflowers. Scented roses, violets,
primroses and pansies all taste good when
crystallized, while citrus blossom is a must. The

Primrose
Primula vulgaris

cool.

five

However, as the life of a cake or tart is

fairly short, this should not present a problem.
To crystallize using egg white, beat the white of
an egg until it is frothy and of an even consistent'. Brush it on to the leaves or petals of
the flowers, making sure that you give an even
coating to both sides. Dredge fine sugar over
the plant material so that it adheres and place
the plant material on greaseproof paper. Place
on a rack and leave in a warm place, such as an
airing cupboard, above a radiator or in a very
cool oven. The egg white will set and dry within
a couple of hours.

and other puddings, but

mint [eaves. Lemon

balm leaves and scented geracrystallized

nium
this

is

Almond blossom
Primus

dulcis Rosea plena

104

leaves are excellent for

purpose, too. Slices of the

stalk ofA?igelica arcfoangelica

are delicious when crvstallized.

eeping

Tom""

CRYSTALLIZING

Crystallizing using

egg white

You will need

2 Holding the flower

white, finely

stem, dredge the fine

lightly beaten egg

granulated sugar,

head by the
sugar over

Make

teaspoon, paintbrush, drying

the petals with

rack and flower-heads.

1
With a paintbrush cover the
petals of a flower with egg white.

sure you cover the flower head

completely but shake off any

teaspoon.

surplus sugar.

3 Place on a rack to dry. The

material will crystallize within a
few hours ifyou place the rack

an

airing cupboard. Decorate the

top of a gateau or tart

within four days.

and eat

Almond blossom

Pansy

Almond blossom

Prunus

Viola x uittrockiana

Prunus

dulcis Rosea-plena'

dulcis Rosea plena

h
Pansy
Viola x uittrockiana

Chrysanthemum
Qryrsantbemum 'Penny Line
Primrose
Primula vulgaris

'

Squill
Scilla sibirica Spring

Beauty

Polyanthus primrose
Primula pofyantba
(

\lmond blossom
Primus dulcis

Rose petal
Rosa

'

ommon camellia
amettia japonka

Adolphe Andersson'

cv,

Polyanthus primrose

Primula pofyantba
Datlodil

Sarcissus Peeping

Primrose
Primula vulgaris

105

Tom

Coloring
arrangements benefit from the
of some brightly colored
dried-plant material, and you can enliven much

Many
inclusion

festive

enormously by coloring
methods of coloring plant

tired-looking material
it.

There are several

which are carried out

material,

at

Dyeing material as it air dries

you are standing material in water before
letting it air dry, you could add some dye to the
If

water.

The

material will then drink the dye with

the water before

it

stages of the drying or preserving process.

natural

when

It is important
should look absolutely

starts to dry.

that the plant material

different

dried, so try to

dye the material a

color that actually exists in a variety of the plant

Dyeing material preserved in glycerine

If you add dye to the glycerine solution the plant
material will drink the dye at the same time as

general, blue

the solution. Leaf material often turns a rather

dyeing, often producing extremely unnatural-

muddy color while it is absorbing glycerine

and adding some dye to the solution will help
reduce its drab appearance. I recommend using
a strong green dye for most green leaves. This

looking plants.

will result in leaves that are

leaves,

but that

attractive

will certainly

look

this

ivy,

beech leaves to give them a

warm, mellow appeal.
Alternatively, you can add
bleach to the glycerine
ution. This acts in the

way

sol-

and dried flowers are

much more

of colors.

The following

lavender,

way: beech, oak,

plant

this

way

an ex-

where you want

to

create a splash of color. Poppy seed-heads and

love-in-a-mist seed-heads look wonderful col-

ored bright

red. bright

pink or rich green.

All

cones, nuts and the delicate

Silver lichen

Cladonia sp.
dyed rich green

umbels of lovage. cow parsley,

and fennel look

coriander

great sprayed silver or gold

and then dredged with

glitter

before the paint has dried, so

that the sparkling crystals ad-

here well. However, for

year- round arrangements

best to use
are

less

allit

is

only colors that

striking

and more

natural-looking, so that even

when such an arrangement

as they

closely

have a tendency to turn paler

during the glycerining process
in

will result in

Brighter color sprays or fast-drying paint are

creamy color. Pale-colored

hydrangea flower-heads and
moluccella stems benefit from
bleaching in

be

dries to a gray-white, can

ideal for festive decorations

same

material

huge range

tremely attractive apricot or peach color.

bright sunlight,

the

which

available in a

are particularly useful. Sea

sprayed a natural-looking pale yellow or pink.

as preserving the material

leaving

Some

combination of the two

removing
most of the natural color and

in

the least satisfactory color for

Color spraying and painting

rhododendron, choisya, chestnut,

ferns and even moss.
You can equally well dye foliage or flowers
preserved in glycerine an artificial color. Try
adding deep red dye to eucalyptus leaves to give
them an authentic autumnal glow, and some
rust-colored dye to lime bracts and copper
maple,

is

Special spray paints for coloring both fresh

darker than fresh

than undyed material.

foliage is ideal for dyeing in

that you are dyeing. Erica arborea, sea lavender

and hydrangeas can be enhanced in this way. In

seem

any case.

false

106

to

is

examined there will

be absolutely nothing

about

it.

COLORING
Poppy seed-heads
Papcu er r/x>eas
sprayed red

Spray painting

Glittering

K^

''nl'VS
v__s

!r\wc

Taking three or four stems at once, spray

poppy seed-heads thoroughly with red paint.

Spray pine tunes with silver paint '/hen

sprinkle glitter over them for extra sparkle.

*v-

****

Sea lavender
;

Umonium

ChamomUe

'/l/f

Antbemis

latijblium

sprayed yellow and pink

,J

nohitis

sprayed pink

Silver lichen

Cladonia sp
dyed pink

I Pine cones
Abies sp
sprayed silver
|

and

glittered

Storing
you are harvesting and drying or pressing your own material you will probably
have periods of surplus, when you cannot
possibly use all your recently dried material in
arrangements. You may then need to store it for
many months, in which case you will have to be
careful about how and where you pack it.

If

Storing material

Any

where

it

is

only a good idea

If

if

the bunches are

the bunches are hang-

ing in a very light position the colors of the

flowers will soon fade. Equally, any material that

cupboard, perhaps some

large-headed flowers supported by chicken
wire or some moss or cones in an open-topped
box, can simply be left where they are until you
are ready to use them.

you are drying

For longer material, such as delphin-

dock or bamboo, you

in a

Storing material in boxes

The usual method of storing material is to pack
it away in sealed cardboard boxes, which are

then placed in a cool, dry place, preferably with

some ventilation. Before packing dried

happy

to sell

just

material

glycerine will

some moisture in

all

them

You can

the dried flowers

material

to

when

it

it

much
in a

foliage

the

same

box, layering

between sheets of blotting

newspaper or tissue

paper. Very strong

The size

material,

such as all cones, artichokes

com-on-the-cob heads,

of box that you need will depend on the type of dried

you wish to pack.

If you want to store small
bunches of flowers, not more

and

paper,

bably the most suitable for

material that

some

therefore

also store pressed

in

way. Place

market are pro-

storing dried material.

firmly

immediately.

The cardboard boxes used

taking

retain

will

spoil dried flowers

box.

for packing fresh flowers

still

moisture and

one flower, rot will soon

once the box is packed,

in the

be held

such a way that no appreciable

amount of pressure is placed on flower-heads,
leaves or seed-heads. Large, delicate flowerheads, such as delphiniums, peonies, proteas
and material dried using desiccants, are best
wrapped singly in tissue paper before packing,
so that each is well protected from its neighbor. Material that has delicate flower-heads
can be bunched together and layered into the
box. Wrap fragile bunches in tissue paper first.
Pack the bunches so that the stalks of one layer
are separated from the material in the next layer
with strips of pleated tissue or soft newspaper.
Glycerined material should be packed in the
same way. However, on no account pack glycerined and air-dried material in the same box, as
plant material that has been preserved with
in place in

set in

destroying

need a much

you some flower boxes.

ensure that it is completely dry.

If there is still

will

longer box. Usually, flower shops are more than

Packing a box

they have dried. However, storing material in

way

is ideal.

iums,

Air-dried plant material needs to

the ceiling to dry can simply be left hanging after

this

dries

flowers that are hanging in bunches from

out of direct sunlight.

30cm (1ft) long, then the sort of box that

anemones are packed in - about 60cm (2ft)
long, 37cm (1ft 3in) wide and 15cm (6in) deep
than

and
Bunches offragile -petalled roses
should be wrapped in tissue paper
before packing in

108

box.

require no special protection

and are best laid in a box or
basket and stored in a cool, dry

place until required.

STORING

109

ARRANGEMENTS

FROM
YOUR GARDEN

Contrasting forms of leptospermum flowers, oats

poppy seed-heads with Silene pendula.

110

and

here can be few

JL he

things more creative and rewarding than designing a garden. If you are fortunate
enough to be starting from scratch - a rare occurrence - you will have the opportunity to plan a
garden that will fulfil your needs exactly. So you can
plant your selection of plants in the theme of your
choice to create beds and borders that will not only
look good throughout the year, but will also provide
you with plenty of flowers and foliage for fresh
arrangements and for drying.
To achieve this you will need to create a strong
7

structure, not only of the layout of the beds, paving

and grass areas, but of the plants themselves. Form is

of primary importance when planning a garden. If
you get this right, when you look out of your kitchen
or living-room window during mid-winter, there will
still be some interesting views. The garden will be
more muted, of course, possibly with just the outlines
of branches and stems against some of the stronger
rich, dark evergreens.
With a careful choice of plants you can create a
garden that remains beautiful after you have cut
flowers for drying. The key is to include in your
planting scheme a large variety of plants that can be
dried or preserved and always cut only a proportion
of the flowers, so as not to denude a border unduly.
The choice of plants to grow, both for decorative
garden purposes and for picking, is huge. There are
climbers like roses, vines and clematis. Then for the
borders there is a host of leaves and flowers that can
be preserved: roses (of course!), lavender, most silver
foliage plants, poppy and love-in-a-mist seed-heads,
which you can enjoy in flower in the garden first,
great hybrid delphiniums or little buttercups,
peonies or Queen Anne's lace - the list is enormous.

Ill

Red, Orange and Yellow Border

These warm,
and

sunny colors combine happily

represented in flower and

are well

Many of

foliage.

autumn. Cut maple branches at the peak of their

color and press them under a carpet.

the flowering plants in this

Flowers, seed-heads and foliage

color range enjoy a sunny position, although a

few will do best

semi-shaded place. Again, it

is possible to create a border, or even a whole
garden, on this color theme, that will look
attractive throughout the summer and autumn
and also provide a good quantity of material for
drying. With careful positioning of structural
and evergreen plants, a garden can look interesting even in the depths of winter.
in a

Bamboo

dries well and, although the leaves of

Arundinaria murielae and

green

when

fresh, they

nitida are clear

dry to a beautiful gray-

green. Callistemon foliage air dries to a good,

fresh,

yellowy green. The flowers, too, can be air

dried with ease and, together with Helichrysum

bracteatum, they form

some of

the brightest

reds in the whole range of flowers suitable for

Helichiysum angiistifolium. or curry

and H. splendidum have silvery foliage
and bright yellow heads of flowers. These are
beautiful when used singly in small arrangements, or as bunches in larger arrangements.
Phlomis fruticosa also has silver foliage and
yellow whorls of flowers; you can either air dry
the leaves and flowers or wait until later in the
year and dry the seed-heads.
All achilleas produce good drying material.
They mostly have flat heads of yellow flowers,
though Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' has
drying.

Red, orange and yellow roses

plant,

There are many favorite roses in this color

range and both red and yellow roses are imbued with a fine scent, which is present in the
rose for many months after it is picked. Hybrid
tea roses are the

most

suitable for air diving.

Of

the reds, 'Highlight', 'Ena Harkness', 'Ernest H.

Morse', 'Megiddo'

and

'Fragrant Cloud' are

all

scented and have a good, firm shape. With

yellow flowers 'King's Ransom', 'Chinatown',

'Kim'

and 'Courvoisier' provide a variety of bush

heights in a border. In the gold and orange

pink flower-heads. Yellow -flowered dahlias are

range

particularly fresh-looking

'Redgold',

Irene

Churruca',

Gold', 'Beaute, 'Golden Treasure'

Mac' are

all

'Sutter's

and 'Whisky

ieties

be

lovely.

with tight-knit

air dried,

Some

golden-leaved

evergreens

are

useful

mixed
shrub and perennial border. Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata' has boldly splashed green and
gold leaves, which can be preserved with glycerine, although the startling color will then be
lost. Euonymus japonica 'Aureopictus' and
Griselinia littoralis also provide a sunny look
plants to incorporate in the structure of a

garden throughout the year.

Many trees have good autumn coloring.
Among the best are maples. Acer japonic urn
Aureum' has golden leaves throughout the
summer, which turn to glorious bright red in
to the

dried and var-

petals can either

hanging upside-down, or dried

using desiccants.

Golden-leaved shrubs and trees

when

pompon

Limonium sinuatum

pro-

duces bright clear yellow flowers and some

orangey-apricot ones and is the easiest of
flowers to dry. Calendula officinalis is more
difficult to dry. Unless it is picked in bud. just as
it is beginning to show color, it will fragment
once dry. However, it is worth a try, and the
plants will provide a long succession of flowers

throughout the whole summer and autumn.

Golden rod flowers in the autumn and some
of the newer forms are very beautiful. Another
quick spreader, but nevertheless a very beautiful plant, is

with
earlv

112

its

Alchemilla mollis, or lady's mantle,

froth of golden flowers

summer.

which appear in

Maple
Acer japonic um Aureum'
'\*vr:

Golden rod

Bamboo

Solidago x hybrida Mimosa'

Arundinaria murielae

Ivy

qfeZ>

,:*

Hedera

colchica Aurea

Golden
n yarrow
Achille?a filipendulina

W-Bi>

'.

Lemon strawflower
Helichr\'sum bracteatum

Plan for a red, orange

and yellow border

Rosa 'Megiddo'. Dahlia

'Comet'

and Callistemon

citrinus 'Splendens'

Yellow yarrow
Achillea taygetca

'Moonshine'

Bamboo
Arundinaria uitida

113

provide splashes of red

amongst a sea ofyellows
and oranges in Ibis
planting plan.

DRIED FLOWERS FROM YOUR GARDEN

Red, orange and yellow dried

flowers
All these flowers

can be

easily

grown and dried. To achieve

perfect-looking dahlia flowers

it is

dry them with a desiccant.

Air dry the others by hanging
them upside-down in bunches.
The golden rod was picked just as
best to

it

started to

show color so

that

it

could be used as a greeny filler.

Bottlebrush
Callistemon sitbulatus

114

RED,

ORANGE AND YELLOW BORDER

Strawflower or everlasting
Helichrysum bracteatwm

Red rose
Rosa Nordia

115

RED,

ORANGE AND YELLOW BORDER

Red, orange and yellow

arrangement
'Ibis hot.

sunny, wall-banging

arrangement in a broom twig

basket is composed of orange
belicbrysum. callistemon, apricot

colored limonium, 'Megiddo'

roses, red dahlias and golden
Helichiysum angustifolium with
the background.

117

and

Pink, Blue
There

huge number of plants

are a

feature pink, blue,

and

easily

should have

retain

lilac

their

little difficult}'

or

silver colors,

color well.

that

dry

So you

creating a border that

and
leaf form over a long period and supplies you
with plenty of material for preserving. If you
intersperse the plants in groups and pick only a
provides a

good

display of flower color

proportion of the different kinds of flower

Silver Border

phiniums behind, and some double -flowered

peonies next to them. These not only have
wonderful flowers and a good scent, but beautiful foliage as well. Lavender and eryngium can
both be air dried. Peony flowers can be air

you will achieve better

by using chemicals. Their leaves also

dried, but, like old roses,

results

press well.
At the front of the bed, Stachys lanata or

at

any one time for drying, the garden will not look

lamb's ear will provide an attractive

sparsely planted.

taller plants. Its silver,

foil

for the

woolly flower-heads

air

dry easily and they give interesting shapes and

Combining plants

In this color range, pink roses associate parti-

texture to arrangements. Groups of annuals

such as larkspur, helipterum, nigella and
papaver provide color over a long period in
summer, and the nigella and papaver seedheads are ready for drying as soon as they are
well formed. It is a good idea to include some
Senecio greyi - a large, low, mound-forming

cularly well with plants which have silver foliage,

plant with silver leaves

such as lavender, rosemary, Senecio greyi, san-

The buds should be picked

When

planning a garden or border

tant to

consider how the plants will relate to one

another;

how

hills

tolina

and valleys,

and

is

impor-

the stems, leaves and flowers of

each plant or group of plants

form

it

spires,

will

combine

to

domes and arches.

before the yellow flowers

stachys.

Although roses are not the most beautifully

shaped shrubs, they are an absolute must in any
garden. Choose roses that are well scented there seems to be little point to a rose without
scent - and for diving purposes, choose hybrid

Hydrangeas do

tea roses with a

thrive in almost

good, firm shape.

Sadly, neither the beautiful old roses that

open

fully

quartered nor the single roses

air

dry

very well, although they can be successfully

dried with sand, borax or

silica gel.

Pick rose

about to open on a dry day,

preferably in the late morning when humidity is
at its lowest. Then hang them in small bunches
in a cool, dark diving space, separating the
heads and removing the lower leaves and

buds

that are just

thorns (see p.94).

Planning the border

If

the border

is

situated in a

try interplanting a

and

misty,

good

light position

eryngium.

More

Plant

del-

silver

buds.

for drying well

start to

open.

planting suggestions

really well in a shady border.

Their color will depend on the type of soil and,

although they prefer acid conditions, they

will

any type of soil. Tiy grouping

them under the dappled shade of a tree - a
eucalyptus (where hardy ) is ideal for such a
situation. Always buy a small plant, as this will
make a strong root system soon after it is
T

planted and will therefore be unlikely to blow

down when

it

has grown

tall.

you have a boundary- wall or fence, then

cover it in climbers and w all shrubs. Roses,
clematis, Hydrangea petiolaris and ivy can all
be preserved. The climbing roses 'Handel' and
'New Dawn' fit in very well with this color
range, and the w all shrub Ceanothus A. T.
Johnson' has wonderful blue flowers. They are,
however, difficult to dry, although you might
If

group of roses with lavender

blue-gray

and nodding

like to try

118

using desiccants.

Mop-headed hydrangea
Hydra ngea mac rof:b\ Ha

Snow gum

Generate Yicomtesse de Vibraye'

tree

Eucalyptus niphophila

'

Plan for a pink, blue and silver

border
Set groups ofpink

roses,

helipterum, lamb's tail

peonies,

and

larkspur amongst a wealth of blue

flowers- lavender, roses,
larkspur, hydrangea, cornflowers,
ceanothus, sea holly
to

Senecio
Senecio grv

and senecio -

Climbing rose
Rosa New Dawn

create a lovely lilac-tinged

border.

Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
.'

Sea holly
liryngium x olh 'eranum

Love-in-a-mist
Nigella damascena

\'

$l3*^^M

i<&

Peony
Paeonia Sarah Bernhardt'
Lavender
Lavandula spica Grappenhall

Sunray
Helipterum manglesii

Lamb's

Southernwood
abrotanum

tai

Limonium suworowi,

Artemisia

Lavender

Uu andula

angustifolia

Hideo
Lamb's tongue
Stacbys lanata

|Ceanothus
eatuithus
jL

T.Johnson

-
.

..

'Climbing rose
Rosa Handel

link rose
Rosa Favorite'

rose
Rnvi Blue
i.iiai

Mm mi

l\\

Hedera

iloix* tliiMle

Ecbinops bannaticus
helix Marginata

'

.irkspiir
P

Ih'lfihnuum

Pacific

hvhnd

DRIED FLOWERS FROM YOUR GARDEN

and silver dried

flowers
All the dried plant material on
Pink, blue

these pages

pink, blue

would look well

in

and silver border.

Senecio
Senecio greyi

Apart from the hydrangea, all the

plants thrive in sunny positions
and prefer a well-drained soil.
The hydrangea prefers a cool
semi-shaded position and moist soil.

Silver cypress

Kochia sp.
''

Globe

thistle

Ecbinops

ritro

120

PINK, BLUE

AND SILVER BORDER

Larkspur

GonsoUda ambigua

Lamb's tongue
Stacby lanata
;

Australian spider bush

Grevillea sp

'

f %

t
I

Mop-headed hydrangea
Hydrangea macropbytta

121

PINK, BLUE

AND SILVER BORDER

Pink, blue and silver

arrangement
The pink and lilac luster oj''this
wonderful art nouveau vase

prot ides the perfect foil for flou ers

and foliage in this color range

Blue Moon roses peonies and

hydrangeas are set offby silver
foliage, tufts of lavender andfine
spikes

123

oflarkspur

The Picking Garden

If

you are fortunate enough

own

to

which you grow plants solely for drying. As this

garden area will be designed chiefly to pro\ide
an abundance of flowers to pick for drying, you
will probably prefer to situate it away from the
decorative pan of the garden and to set out the
plants in fonnal rows like a vegetable garden to

make

a good
grow some of the plants that do not look
so good when grown in decorative beds, or
which do not look very attractive once the

flowers easy to harvest. Here,

it

is

idea to

flowers are harvested.

that

can be preserved

require a sunny, light position to

is

important, too.

restricts the

grow well.

Soil

strongly acid soil

number of plants you can grow for

preserving. However, if your soil is anything

from mildly acid to moderately alkaline, you can

grow an enormous number of

flowers, foliage

and seed-heads

plants with
that

can be

preserved for arranging.

Hybrid tea roses

The

flowers of roses are immensely attractive,

both fresh and dried, although the shrubs

themselves often do not make a very good
shape. So roses are a good choice for growing
in the picking garden.
will

Grow

dry well and produce

in colors that will

be

the varieties that

good crops of flowers

suitable for

your arrange-

from. Firmly formed hybrid tea roses are easiest

for air drying, so

and

choose these

avoid

for the picking

single-flowered

or

Of

the red hybrid teas.

Red

"Megiddo" and Xordia' are

all

pink to peach range

Blessings".

Cussons".

Silva'

and

try

'Courvoisier'.

of

achillea.

Try to include the well-

known, large-headed yellow Achillea filipendulina. A.

millefolium Cerise Queen', with

its

pink

ptarmica with its button-shaped

white flowers and A taygetea 'Moonshine' with
its heads of pale yellow flowers.
Helichrysum and limonium feature in many
flowers.

of my dried-flower arrangements.

them

in a

You can grow

wide range of colours: Helichrysum

bracteatum. the magnificent strawflower,

is

cream

and white. Daisy-flowered helipterums dry with

great ease and come with pink, white and yellow
flowers. Gomphrena globosa and Alcbemilla
mollis will also air dry very easily, and the
alchemilla carries golden feathery flowers
abundantly in early summer.
Celosia cristata has yellow, crimson and
orange cockscomb-like flowers which you can
use whole in large arrangements or split into
sections to use in smaller ones. Both the flowers
and the seed-heads of Xigella damascena can
be dried, depending on when you harvest them.

The

plant has beautiful pale blue flowers in

summer

followed by large, green-striped rust

seed-heads.

The perennial Gypsophila panicu-

lata will air dry simply

by

setting

it

in a vase in a

will gradually

It grows into a large, dome-shaped

bush that is completely covered in flowers in
summer. The variety Bristol Fairy' has tiny
double white flowers and 'Pink Fain", double

evaporate.

Some

other plants you might like to choose

garden are scabious, eryngium.

globe thistle, amaranthus. ammobium. lunaria
and Chinese lantern, as all of these produce
excellent drying material. Many of the annuals
are self-seeding and you can collect the seeds
each year and resow them to produce the
for the picking

Devil',

excellent. In the

Chanelle'.

yellows are Golden Times'.

and

varieties

pink flowers.

old-

fashioned varieties or roses that have lax petals,

unless you are going to dry them with
chemicals.

for drying

picking garden should be without several

small amount of water, which

ments. There are plenty of roses to choose

garden

No

available in pinks, yellows, orange, red.

The majority of plants

type

Other plants to grow

a large

garden, you might like to put aside an area in

Wendy
Some good

Golden Melody'

following year's plants.

124

THE PICKING GARDEN

Plan for a picking

garden
Although it features
only twelve types of
plants, this picking

garden looks

Sunray
Helipterum manglesii

attractive

and provides plenty of

material for drying.
Golden rod
SoUdago canadensis
Peter Pan'

Baby's breath
Gypsopbila paniculata

Silver-leaved everlasting

Helicbrysum angustifolium

Bristol Fain''

israjJK^&if^^

Statice

Limonium

New

Winged

Lad >' s mantlc

Mcbemilta mollis

sin nation

Art Shades'

everlasting
citatum

Ammobium

Strawflowcr
Hclicbn sum bracteatum
Prince

feather

Amarantbus caudatus

>
*||

Cockscomb
Celosia cristata

Love-in-a-mist
Nigella damascena

1
\

Peach, pink, yellow

lilac roses
Romi cv.

and

125

ARRANGEMENTS FROM YOUR GARDEN

Dried flowers from the picking

garden
The scope for a wide variety of
arrangements is large ifyou
devote a section ofyour garden
purely to growing flowers for
drying. All these ingredients have
been used in different
combinations in the three jug
arrangements on page 128.

Lady's mantle
Alchemilla mollis

r*^

Peach rose
!fe

Rosa

Silva'

Y
J

Strawflower
Helichr\'sum bracteatum

Cockscomb
Celosia cristata

126

THE PICKING GARDEN

Flowering onion
Allium afflatuense

Baby's breath
Gypsophila paniculata

5*

>^ Winged
Ammobitim

everlasting

alatum

^5k

Prince's feather

Amarantbus caudatus 'Yiridis

Strawflower
Helichrysum bracteatum

1
Quaking grass
v

.,

j^kl.

Briza

Curry plant
Helichrysum angustifolium

Everlasting

Helichrysum

127

stoei

has

maxima

ARRANGEMENTS FROxM YOUR GARDEN

Warm, summery arrangement

Light and airy arrangement

Tlie delicate pink

pattern on

and blue

this tall,

slim jug

Alchemilla. rich red celosia heads.

is

picked up by gypsophila. love-in-a

mist

and cornflowers,

Thesefine-

peacJj roses

and deep pink

helichtysum fill

jug

this

(right).

stemmed, delicate-looking flou ers

lend themselves well to a soft, aity
arrangement.

128

gently curving

Sunny and Shady Beds

Most

annuals and biennials like the sun-

shine: they usually look

small groups

among

good planted

a variety of shrubs

in

and

important to plant a strong structure of

good-sized shrubs, including

in a

sunny bed so

that

it

will

some

look

evergreens,

attractive

not

only during the flowering season, but throughout the whole year.

fresh green shoots several

mostly green foliage

shaded positions are

plants, and somehow this
in

seems entirely right. The brighter colors,

which do so well in sunny positions, would look
out of place in a cooler, shady place, although

produce
weeks after they have

to dry.

Gypsophila

is

easy to dry.

Simply cut the stems and then place them

vase containing a

little

of bleach. The liquid

in a

water and a drop or two

evaporate away, leav-

will

ing the gypsophila perfectly dried. Moluccella

laevis,

do best

Plants that

take a long time to dry because of their

fleshy stems. In fact, they will often

been hung up

other perennial plants.

It is

Sedums

or bells of Ireland, preserves well

glycerine

(see

Remember

p. 102).

in

pick

to

flowers for air drying about four days before

they reach perfection. Also try to pick them in

dry weather, and after any

dew has

evaporated.

small touches of bright color, such as the reds

The shady border

and pinks of annual impatience - plants that

enjoy the shade - can make the denser green
foliage seem all the more vibrant.

Planted in the shade of trees or perhaps a wall,

The sunny border

Most

such as anaphalis,

silver-foliage plants,

artemisia, santolina, lavender, rosemary, senecio,

sedum and salvia are sun lovers. Roses also

need the sun and, if they are well-fed and watered

during the

summer months,

the

perpetual

flowering varieties will continue to produce

flowers from

mid-summer until late autumn and

be the odd bud in early winter.

there will even

The

planting plan for a sunny border (see

cream

p. 131) features plants in

the pink,

and lemon-yellow range.

All the plants will yield

material for preserving.

Both types of rose

silver,

featured are perpetual flowering: as usual, pick

buds

that are just starting to

open

for the drying

ferns, hellebores and hostas come into their

own. Fern fronds are incredibly beautiful and
there are so many neglected varieties. Some, like
cyrtomium, polystichum and phyllitis, are

evergreen. All of

them

are easy to press and,

because they are fairly two-dimensional when

growing, pressed fronds look wonderfully natural when used in arrangements (see p. 7). Both
the leaves and flowers of hellebores can be
pressed and, of course, the flowers can also be
dried using a desiccant. The extremely decor
ative leaves of hostas can also be pressed and.
after flowering, the seeding flower stems can be

The flowers of hydrangea, which

some shade, can be air dried.

cut and dried.

tolerates

Many evergreen shrubs and

shaded
azalea,

or

semi-shaded

trees

position:

like

aucuba,

box, camellia, elaeagnus, euonymus,

holly, mahonia. privet and

rack. Heaths {Erica spp. and cvs.) and heather

( Calluna 1 vulgaris and cvs. ) also need sun and a
humusy, acid soil that is well drained. In neutral
and slightly alkaline soils, incorporate large
quantities of peat moss in the soil before

produce attractive flowers

too. All these flowers can be dried using desic
cants. Ivies and evergreen honeysuckle make
perfect climbers for walls and fences and there

planting. In mild climates, the tree heath {Erica

are a host of other plants that can look very

arborea)

will

grow

heath and heather

to

3m

when

in

10ft)

or more. Pick

bud and spray

foliage with hair lacquer before

hanging to

the
dry.

fatsia,

griselinia,

rhododendron

beautiful in

all

combination throughout the

year.

suppfyingyou with plenty of material for drying

and preserving.

129

False castor oil plant

Fatsia jiiponica

Saw-toothed hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophyUa serrata

Thornless rose
Rosa Zephryn Drouhin'

.\-

Lenten rose
Hellebonis orientalis

mr.

\
,t<

Hart's

tongue
seolopendrium

Pbyllitis

"

Female fern
Athyrium filixfemina

V
Ostrich fern
.1

fatteuccia stratbiopteris

Mop-headed hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophyUa

Plantain

Altona'

lily

Hosta sieboldii

.Common

camellia
Camellia japonica Adolphe Andersson'

Vi

Royal fern

Osmunda

Plan for a shady border

regalis

Hydrangea, false castor

oilplant, camellia

and

mahonia bushes form

the backbone of this
shady border. Ferns
nestle between the larger
shrubs, while plantain

Hellebore
Helleborus niger

lilies,

hart's

Hellebore
Hellehorus corsicus

lenten roses

and

tongue are

grouped at

the front.

In the north, substitute

a hardy rhododendron
for the fatsia. Camellia

and mahonia may also

require substitutes in
most northern regions.

Ivy

Hedera

helix Poetica

Mahonia
Mahcnia

Plantain
lomariifolia

130

lily

Hosta fortunei Aurea

Smoke

tree

Cotinus coggygrici 'Purpureus

Lavender cotton
Santolina neapolitana

Cream

rose

Rosa 'ChaneUe'

Pearly everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea
.fe-

Baby's breath
Gypsophila particulate

Spectacular

Sedum

sedum
Autumn Joy'

spectabile

Bells of Ireland

Moluccella laevis

Golden rod
Soliaago canadensis 'Lem<

>re'

Lemon

rose
Rosa Northern

lights'

Plan for a sunny border

Featuring

predominantly pink and

light

Sage
Salvia splendens Salmon'

yellow flowers,

wistful,

it

Tree heath
Erica arborea

sum may feel

Baby's breath, tree

beatb
cotton

and lavender
add miusual

textures

131

ibis

sunny border bas a

to

Wild-flower Border
The wild-flower border or garden requires a

of work to keep it looking wild, while

allowing each group of plants to grow unlot

impeded by the more rampant members of the

community, but it is well worth the effort. Many
garden plants are cultivars taken from wild
plants, and some of them retain the informal,
natural look of flowers of the countryside.

edge of the water for best results. You can air

dry the flowers by hanging them up or you can
dry them with desiccants. Bulrushes like to
grow in water up to about lm (3ft) deep. If you
have less water space available, plant the dwarf
bulrush, Typha minima, in

be

air

You can use

Shady and sunny

becuing

sites

its

place.

chenopodium and fennel can all

dried simply by standing them in a vase.

Miscanthus,

fish.

dried stalks of fennel

Lay the stalks

on

when
to

smoke imparts

bar-

glowing

Shady beds tend to have a wild look. Use groups

charcoal: their aromatic

of violas and pansies, primroses and hellebores

ous flavor to the fish. The annual larkspur is best

dried by hanging it upside-down, while cornflowers and scabious are better dried more
quickly, hanging in a hot airing cupboard or
even in a warm oven, so that they will retain

toward the front of a border and ferns and

foxgloves behind them. In woodland areas,
these introduced plants blend with native wildflowers and ferns.

For sunnier positions, there are a wealth of

more of their

a delici-

color.

wild plants and closely related garden plants to

Hellebores are beautiful plants. Their flowers

choose from. None of the following would look

have a subtle character and vary in color from

the pinks and plums of Helleborus orientalisio

out of place in either a

meadow or wild garden:

veronicas, forget-me-

the almost black of the 'Black strain' cultivar.

limonium, campanulas, scabious, viburnums, roses, thistles, golden rod,

California poppy, Sumac, annual larkspur,

and from the pure white of Helleborus nigerxo

the rich green of Helleborus viridis and Helleborus foetidus. The flowers can be dried using
desiccants or pressed between sheets of blotting paper under a pile of books or in a press.

grasses, euphorbias,

lilies,

nots, mulleins,

black-eyed Susan, Queen, and dock.

natural-looking planting

The wild flower garden plan on page 133

is

for a

section of land situated beside a slow-moving

stream.

need

part of a large garden

It is

be

to

and would

cultivated as a wild -flower border,

hogweed would soon take over if

removed each year. Allow
only one or maybe two plants to produce their

In the sunniest part of this wild garden,

poppies will flower then form their beautifully
shaped seed-heads. In the shadiest spot, under
the tree, the nodding heads of comfrey will
soon spread their seed to surround the trunk.

for the giant

its

seedlings were not

astounding trunk-like stems with rays of white

flowers followed by geometric seed formation.
At the other end of the scale, the primroses,
violets

and narcissus can

all

be pressed or

preserved with desiccants. Additionally, the

primulas, violet and primrose flowers are delici-

ous

to eat,

once

crystallized (see

p!04).

Caltha palustris, the marsh marigold, must

be grown

either in shallow water or just

on

the

Considering the overview

If you

are thinking of planting a small area of the

garden with wild flowers, then choose plants

that will fit in with the surrounding planting. For
instance, a group of wild Irisfoetidissima would
sit beautifully in a herbaceous border that
already contained clumps of cultivated iris.
However, the flowers of Iris foetidissima are
rather insignificant. It is the glowing red seedheads, which appear in autumn and can be air
dried, that provide the color.

132

Flowering almond

Primus
Comfrey

Common

fennel
Foetiiciilum vulgare

dulcis

Symphytum tuberosum

w.i

Giant

hogweed

Heme leu m
mantesazzianum

m
ween

hellebore
Helk'horus irfg/tsi

Sweet scabious
Scabiosa atropurpurea

Sweet

violet

Viola odorata

Primrose

Primula vulgaris

Miscanthus
Aiiscantbus
sinensis

Daffodil

Vyrjegams

Narcissus
obvallaris

.,

Solnmnn's seal
Polygonatum

'

multijlorum

Larkspur
Consolida

Cornflower
Centaurea
cyan us

ambiguum

Marsh marigold
Caltha palustris

Stinkinp

iris

Iris foetidissima

Plan for a wild-flower border

Small, striking wildflowerspoppies, cornflowers, primroses,
violets

and daffodils

line the

path that winds its way leisurely

beside a stream featuring

Poppy
Papaver rboeas

cat-tails.

i(

henopodium

Cbenopodtum

133

ftcljblium

ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION

AND

PLANT GUIDlUp

Rosa 'Gerda nestle amongst Helichrysum

bracteatum in this si tuple posy.
'

134

I
n

this last section

you

will find

some

helpful tips

on putting the finishing touches to your arrangements, from a simple bow for a posy to creating a loop
hanging wreath. Bows often appear difficult to
make, but you will find that with a little practice a
simple ribbon bow will soon pose no problem.

for a

Also included in this section is a resume of all the

essential tools and materials you will need for arranging dried

flowers. Arranging

flowers

is

basically

from the most important

ingredients - the dried flowers and the container there are only a few pieces of essential equipment to
help you create a really professional-looking arrangea ver\ simple process. Apart
r

A good pair of florists' scissors that will cut not

only plant stems but ribbon and wire, too, is the most
important piece of equipment. In addition, lengths of
ment.

florist

wire, styrafoam and chicken wire, are

all

keen arranger of dried flowers.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, there is a plant
guide to help you choose plant material for arranging.
Whether you are gathering material from your garden
to dry and use in arrangements or buying it from a
shop, the plant guide will be a practical help. Covering the plant material used in the book, it outlines the
conditions under which it grows best, advises when
to harvest and the most suitable methods of drying or
preserving it, describes the size of the material and
suggests the most useful parts of the plant for
essential for the

arranging

when

dried. Lastly,

it

provides a quick

reference to where the material is used in arrangements in the book, so that you can see the enormous
range of possibilities when arranging your own
selection of dried flowers.

135

Finishing Touches
the finishing touches to an arrange-

Putting
ment

is

just as

important as arranging the

flowers themselves. Without the concealing

the touch of ribbon, the flamboyant
raffia

tie,

bow or the

ou

bow

attach the

make

bow

to the arrangement.

from

If

you

ribbon or thin tying

tape then you can divide the ends and make
them twirl using the back of a knife.
the

tear

loop, the bouquet, wreath, garland or even

container arrangement will not look quite

Raffia, straws

right:

not be complete. The quality of the

more

and twigs
such as

raffia,

finishing touch will affect the quality of the

straw and supple twigs, can be used to

make

whole arrangement so it is worth spending

time perfecting a few finishing techniques.

it

will

Colorful ribbons

you are giving a bouquet, it is the

bow that makes the arrangement. Of course,
you can go to a florist and buy a ready-made
bow to affix to your arrangement, which will
probably look perfect and just so, but it is much
more rewarding to make your own, individual
bow. and there are many different materials
from which to choose.
Ribbons and tying tapes are available in a
wide range of colors and materials ranging
from satin and velvet ribbon, which comes in
various widths and can be bought at a garden
Particularly

center

or

if

florist,

ribbon

tear

to

that

and other ribbons:

ends

if

it

bow

natural, materials,

or finishing decoration.

Raffia

is

my

and y ou can use it in its natural state or

you can color it first. For a small arrangement,
posy or bouquet, hold together a series of loops
of raffia about 15cm (6in) in diameter and twist
them into a figure-of-eight, so that you form two
sets of loops each approximately 7.5cm (3in) in
r

favorite

diameter.

Make

raffia tie at

and use the ends of the

tie

the crossing point

to attach the

bow to

the arrangement. This can easify be pulled into a

circlet

of

loops.

raffia

you can plait strands of raffia

and then make the wtiole plait into a bow.
Plaited raffia also makes an attractive decorative
Alternatively,

loop for a larger, hanging arrangement, such as

a wreath or garland.

is

about 5cm (2in) wide when bought but which

you can tear vertically into any narrower width.
Tear ribbon looks like satin ribbon but is
usually a little stiffer. It has one advantage over
satin

Other,

will twirl into curly

pulled tightly across the back edge of a

knife or pair of scissors.

Using

florist

wire

The simplest way to make a hanging device is to

use florist wire. Loop the center of the wire
form a hanging ring and then thread the two
ends through the wreath or hanging bunch and
secure tightly. You can disguise any florist
wire that is showing with a raffia or ribbon bowto

to suit the arrangement.

Making a bow
Making bows

is

much

You can

simpler than you might

imagine. You simply make one or two figures-ofeight with the ribbon, overlapping each figureof-eight. Pleat the center at the

the strips cross

at this

and

back where

all

the strips together firmly

tie

point with spool wire or a thin piece

of ribbon or tying tape.

you will need

to cover

If you

it

use

this

wire then

with a piece of ribbon.

You can usuallv use the same ribbon with w+iich

also use this wire like a needle to

pull a length of ribbon through either the

frame

of a wTeath or through the stalks of a bunch of

flowers. The ribbon both secures the arrange-

ment and forms a decorative bow, or attachment for a bow. Ribbon used in this w^ay tends
to collect dust and if it is used on a more
permanent arrangement, such as a hanging
bunch, it should be replaced as soon as it
begins to look

136

tired.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Making

a straightforward

bow

1
Leave a length of ribbon to
ribbon into a figure-of-eight.

trail,

3 Pleat the center of the loops in at the back

bind and knot with spool wire.

make a

second figure-of-eight on top of the first.

and

4 Bind the bunch with another piece of the same

ribbon, covering the wire and leaving two loop ends.

bow on top of the knot of the ribbon, hind

and pull out the ends of the binding ribbon,

5 Place the
the stems

2 Holding the center of the figure-of-eight,

then loop the

6 Tie the bow in position uith the ends of the

binding ribbon Cut (he ends and (cum- into shape

137

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

Making

a complicated

bow

Taking two narrow-width ribbons, loop them

to-

gether to create a circle about 25cm ClOin) across.

3 Holding the ribbons at the widest point,

make a

2 Continue looping the ribbons until eight circles

are piled on top of one another. Pull out the circles.

4 Take another piece of matching narrow ribbon

and

figure-of-eight.

tie

the figure-of-eight securely at the center.

i*

5 Gently loosen the ribbons with forefinger

thumb to create a full-looking bow.

and

Tie the

bow

to the

binding the bunch

138

bouquet with

the ribbon that

is

FINISHING TOUCHES

Making

wire loop

Making

a plaited

loop
Plait raffia strands

in the

same way as

for a plaited raffia

rope (see p. 30).
Loop the pleated
raffia

and hind the

crossover

tightly

more raffia.
Attach to a looped
with

florist

wire

and

insert the florist

wire into the hack

1

Take a florist u

ire

and coi <er with

of the hase (see

left).

floral tape. Twist at the center.

Making

a raffia

loop
1
Take two or
three strands of
raffia and fold the
top of a florist wire
over them. Twist the

two ends of the

wire together

make an
Thread

to

"eye".

the florist

wire needle
through the hase.
2 Push the ends of the florist wire into
and out of the hack of the hase.
2 Pull the needle

and

raffia

through

the hase. leaving

short

end Push

the

needle hack
through the hase in
the opposite

direction Cut the

raffia from the

needle

and

tie

the

two ends together

make a

to

hoiv on top
of the loop

Tuck the wires into the moss neatly on

each side to secure

139

Tools, Materials
Dried-flower arranging requires the use of
only a few simple pieces of equipment.

With these well chosen tools you will be able to

create an arrangement that both looks professional and is thoroughly enjoyable to make.
Cutting implements

The

essential piece of equipment

first

The

pair of florists' scissors.

is

scissors

good

must be

and Containers
You can use

this wire for single flow-er-heads or

bunches. Attach the wire either with some

thin spool wire or fine rose wire or

by twisting
around the stem or stems. To
disguise the false stem, cover florist wire and
any attaching wire with binding tape, available
in several stem colors and known as floral
tape. This will make the wire stem look like
the natural stem of the plant.
the wire

itself

strong and sharp, for the stems of many plants,

once they are throroughly dry, are tough to cut.

It is useful to purchase scissors that can cut wire
as well as flower stems. Otherwise, buy wire
cutters for snipping florist wires and thinner

Material for supporting dried flow ers

Frequently, dried flowers, seed-heads

and

foli-

age will not stand up in a container of their own

accord and the stems must be supported. One

For much heavier stems a pair of

pruning shears will come in handy. Do not use
these for cutting wires, or you will blunt them
very quickly. You will also need a long-bladed

way of achieving this is to put styrafoam into the

container. You can simply wedge it in place, or,

knife for cutting styrafoam blocks.

stuck to the bottom with adhesive clay (see

wires.

if

the surface

either glue

p. 19).

Wires for lengthening stems

Sometimes your dried flowers will be

just the

your arrangement, or perhaps

they will be longer than necessary and you will
need to cut them down. However, they will
often be too short and you will need to extend
wires

florist

or,

for

To do

this

heavier

wires

are

you will need

thicknesses

lengths.

It is

always best to use

enough
head

you

artificial

it

to,

is

stem

you use too

be too

and

if

not be able to support the

thin a wire,

in quite the

always the case,

stalk.

it

This

seems

to

Chicken wire is useful for

supporting stems in a conwith
inward-curving
tainer

rigid,

will

be

hold a

position.

If

thick a wire, the

will

to

me, when it is most important

to have a flower in that very

as

look more natural.

you use too

specially for

has a tougher texture

right place to

strong

just

attach

made

on prongs

stems. However, the pins often

to support the flower-

that

this will

is

It

do not seem

and

of

that

the styrafoam

it

of a container to support the

straight

range

wire

or secure

place a pin holder at the base

pieces of wire, available in a

very rough or porous, you can

than that used for supporting fresh flowers.

Both the foam and adhesive clay, which comes
in a roll, can be bought at most fkywer shops,
garden centers or craft shops. Adhesive clay will
stick to most surfaces, including shiny, glazed
pottery and rough, textured baskets.
Instead of styrafoam you can

plant material, sticks.

Florist

is

in position

arranging dried flowers.

right length for

the length of the stems.

Buy

it

it

sides.

You will need to position

flower-head, foliage or seed-

at least

head without bending over.

layers

140

a couple of separated

of crumpled

chicken

TOOLS, MATERIALS AND CONTAINERS

wire to hold the

one

stalks:

Ceramic containers

layer near the

You will probably not have

rim of the container.

or small dried beans also

Lentils

supporting material. Simply

fill

make good

find

ments of flowers. Milk and cream jugs, casseroles and souffle dishes, a cachepot, tea pot or
coffee pot, a china soup or cereal bowl, a salad
bowl or a sweetmeat dish, perhaps a biscuit

the container

with the beans and push the stalks into them.

They should be held quite firmly.

If you are using a lightweight container, then
it

is

sensible to place
the bottom

clay at

some pebbles or adhesive

barrel or a container for sugar or flour: all these

can double as containers for dried flowers.
Keep an eye open for ceramic vases that
appeal to you in antique or junk shops. It is still
possible to find ceramic containers for a relatively small outlay that will look wonderful with

to weight the base, so that

when the arrangement is completed it is not top

hea\y. Place at the sides of the styrafoam or

pin holder, or underneath the chicken wire.

To make sure

supporting substance
arrangement
is in place,
is not visible once the
cover the styrafoam or chicken wire with a
that the

layer of dried

sphagnum moss or

Pot-pourri

ideal for this

is

dried flowers. In addition, flower shops, stores,

gift

good

it

types of

arranging

a container

eggshell finish. Sharply defined patterns lend

home, waiting to be
no need to worry about whether

themselves less well than softer or more primi-

watertight.

is

A wooden garden

a cracked jug, a wicker basket, or a

sieve,

tive

dried -flower

It

is

good

material;

natural, stone-like quality

arrangement.

to use for arrangements.

The warm colors of

come

In

this

to

your

way.

that

be able

the clay

suit the

is

porous does

course, matter
fl(

>wer- p(

)t

at all.

not. of

A simple

or saucer, or a

si

raw

berry pot or shallow seedling

usually

dish,

to find just the right

container to

fired

dried flowers, and the fact that

collec-

when you
will

is

cry out for the rich hu<

to create a dried-flower

arrangement you

terra-

earthenware clay
only once, seem to

cotta, the red.

container that appeals to you,

tion.

complements almost any combination

of dried flowers, foliage and
seed -heads.

Then,

whenever you come across

it

its

idea to keep a

collection of containers ready

simply add

Stoneware is a beautiful type

which to arrange dried-plant

in

pot, all make

good containers for

designs.

of ceramic

porous terracotta
perfectly

ceramics with a very high gloss

qualities. So,

quite likely that you already have

is

is

earthenware,

glaze are less suitable than those with a matt or

for

selection sitting at

used. There

in

dried

suitable

are

flowers and

have good selections of

Bear in mind that because dried flowers tend

to look informal and rustic, the most suitable
containers are those which have the same

Suitable containers
different

all

stoneware, china and porcelain.

vides a sweet perfume, too.

container

and china shops

ceramic vases to choose from

flower petals.

purpose and pro-

An enormous number of

to look too hard to

ceramic containers suitable for arrange-

when

type of

arrangement and the position

you want it to occupy.

can look
filled

just as effective

with glowing dried

(lowers as the

more decorative

and expensive pieces, such as

Ml

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GLIDE

swagged pots and bowls. As

on some

takes

terracotta ages,

it

beautiful colors, often develop-

flower and

gift

shops. Plain cylindrical and

rectangular clear glass vases

make

excellent

ing a patina of silven gray-green. This process

containers for dried flowers, especially

can be greatly accelerated by standing the pot

outside, exposing it to the elements. Terracotta
can. however, develop faults if it is left outside in
very severe cold. Such faults frequently do not
become obvious until the weather becomes
warmer, when the pots can simply fall to pieces.

lining material

Glass containers
Clear glass containers present a

problem

to the

dried-flower arranger as the stems of dried

Decorated metal caddies or

silver

gob-

are also possible dried -flower containers.

lets

ever,

Decorative boxes are often

between the glass and the foam. Then fill this

space with an attractive dried material, such as

in

Metal containers

flowers often

Before arranging the flowers, fill the container

with styrafoam. leaving about a 1cm (\'m) gap

their

The kitchen will provide inspiration here with

cake and bread tins and maybe an ice bucket or
metal salad bowl. If you are lucky, you will have
a copper saucepan or casserole. The color of
these containers makes them perfect for dried
flowers.

do not look very attractive. Howthere is a simple way to disguise the stems.

if

can be related to the flowers

the arrangement.

made out of metal

either with painted designs or metal inlay. Brass

and copper jardinieres and cachepots can be

bought from flower shops or garden centers.

moss, pot-pourri, flower petals or leaves (see

Baskets

There are no problems, of course, if the

glass is opaque, or indeed if the flower stems are
good-looking enough.

These are one of the best types of container for

dried flowers. As they are made from dried

p.

19

.).

You may
tainers

already"

have plenty of glass con-

glass jugs, tumblers, a decanter or a

goldfish bowl. Otherwise, there

tion of interesting glass vases to

is a wide selecchoose from in

material, they have a natural affinity with dried

which means that it is difficult to go

wrong if you choose one for an arrangement, to
flowers,

sit

in any. save the

most formal,

Hosts of baskets made

142

in a

position.

wide range of

TOOLS, MATERIALS AND CONTAINERS

4-

plant material are

now

available

from flower

shops and general stores. There are the familiar

stems of willow, called osiers or withies, or
twigs of hazel, birch, alder or ash; rushes and

lacquered

wooden button box

or linen chest

you could use. However small the decoon such a box, the colors might well
suggest a scheme for an arrangement.
that

ration

reeds are also traditional materials for baskets.

Then there are more exotic materials, such as

bamboo, palm, olive and gnarled vines, as well
as some plant stems that perhaps you would not
think of at first for making a basket. Lavender,
thyme and broom twigs can all be woven into
baskets and the
scent,

which

first

two have a wonderful

many months. They

will last for

look good, too. Old baskets have a beautiful,

and you may find that you

have an old shopping basket, waste-paper basket or log basket that can be brought into use

well used quality,

Adapting containers
Containers that are not very attractive in themselves, or that are cracked or dented, can be
adapted both to conceal their faults and to suit a
particular arrangement of dried flowers. Try
weaving some of the dried material that is to be
used in the arrangement into the framework of
a basket to unify the arrangement and container. Twigs, moss, leafy stems and groups of
flowers such as lavender and marjoram are all

easy to incorporate in this way.

Most containers can be covered with

again for a different purpose.

a layer

of moss or hay, or a combination of the two,

Wooden
It

is

more

difficult to find

but, like wicker, they

together with

containers

seem

wooden
to

containers

be highly appro-

priate for dried -flower arrangements.

A wooden

garden sieve would be ideal, so would an old

carved oak or elm box, an olive-wood salad
bowl, or even a plain wooden plant tray or a
box in which fruit or vegetables are packed.
You may find that you have a painted or

some

flowers.

An

ordinary, steep-

sided plastic bucket can be treated

in this

way.

Simply bind the moss or hay to the outside of

the bucket with several lengths of raffia. If this is
impossible because of the nature of the tune
or slope of the container, then glue the moss or

hay into place with a quick-drying adhesive. You

can also cover containers with fabric, tatami. or
fine

143

woven

matting.

Plant Guide
On

you will find a wide

be effectively dried
alphabetically by Latin

the following pages

selection of plants that can

or preserved. Listed
name, each entry provides information on
growing, drying and using dried-plant material,

and indicates where the plant

height

Acacia dealbata

Allium afflatuense
Decorative or flowering

lm

featured.

(3ft)

to use Flower-head

material.

FEATURED

p.

2~
1

onion
colors Pink

Amaryllis belladonna

Any

planting conditions

soil,

to

Summer

pick

Belladonna

planting conditions Against

methods of drying Air dry

sunny wall

hanging or standing

soil,

height "'5cm (2ft 6in)

time

parts to use

lily

colors Pink red, white

position

light

time

is

rounded

in well-drained

or grow

in a

pot

to pick Autumn
METHODS OF DRYING Dry with

Mimosa, wattle

parts

colors Yellow

This hardy perennial produces

head

saucer-shaped heads of bright

Decorative onions dry easily

height 12.5cm (5in) flower

and can be used

For

parts to use Flower- head

These showy bulbs produce

colorful balls of flowers, dry

large, lily-like flowers in pink,

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Any

Soil.

make

Flower head, seed-

desiccant

but not hardy in the North

yellow flowers which

time

to pick Spring
METHODS OF DRYING Air dlV

strong feature whether they

hanging

flowers or used

just as the

open.

red and white, that dry well

an arrangement.

For interesting texture allow

using desiccants. Use in large.

featured pp.29. 62. 63

the

Up

HEIGHT
parts

lm

tO

(3ft)

to use Flowering branch

are

mixed with other dried

on their own in

The flowering branches of

mimosa air dry well, retaining

Achillea millefolium Cerise

both flower and leaf color ex-

Queen'

tremely well. Use in arrange-

Yarrow

ments

colors Pink

to give a delicate, feath-

light position

FEATURED pp.l". 62

time to pick

Any

soil.

Summer

Any

seed-heads

develop

to

FEATURED p.l2~

in a

60cm

Winged

sandflower

to a

Any well-

sunny position

soil,

Summer

planting plan p. 125

time

height

3cm

(fin) flower

tagey arrangements.

FEATURED

METHODS OF DRYING Press

FEATURED pp.12. 34

HEIGHT
parts

30cm

lft )

or

flat

heads of

Viridis'

height

30cm

(lft)

to use Flower
These simple little

p. 101

when

dried.

Unfortunately.

they have thin stems near the

Lady's mantle

Love-lies-bleeding, prince's

flower-heads

colors Gold

feather

droop. Wire bunches

a carpet or rug.

light position

colors Green

soil,

planting conditions

planting plan pp.113, 125

featured p.99

time

to

Coronation Gold' and other

height

Yarrow, milfoil

parts

colors Yellow

Lady's

Any

soil.

light position
p.

1 1

30cm

( 1 ft

filler

with

its

filigree
Its

of

bright

color enlivens the colors of the

to pick Summer
methods of DRYING .\ir dry

other

hanging or standing

FEATURED pp.29. 91. 126

dried

flowers

arrangement.

in

soil.

the

and

tend

on

own

to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry

FEATURED pp.13. 9". 127

hanging or standing

Anapbalis margantacea

parts
If

30cm

(lft)

dried hanging up. the tassel

For a

trailing effect,

upright.

The

straight.

dry them

bold, thin pyra

mid of flowers works well

placed among softer and more

144

their

stems.

Pearly everlasting

to use Flower spike

of the Bowers dries

to

you

wish them to stand upright in

an arrangement, otherwise
allow them to cascade

position

if

planting plan p. 125

height

mantle makes a very

gold flowers.

Any

time

to use Flowering stem

good
tiny

time

light

summer

hanging

varieties

PLANTING CONDITIONS

pick Early

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

Achillea filipendulina

PLANTING PLAN

Any

daisy

good white

Both the summer green and

rich autumn foliage of maple
can be dried by pressing under

planting conditions

soil,

parts

Amanvithus caudatus
Alchemilla mollis

Any

to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry
hanging

flowers retain a

to use Leaf spray

planting conditions

METHODS OF DRYING Dry With

autumn

Summer

its

colors White

desiccant

ease using desiccants.

pick

pink,

everlasting,

light position

mixed, rather subdued, cot-

to

bowl.

pink

parts to use Flower

These delicate lilies dry with

time

or

Ammobium alatum

lily

time to pick

(2ft)

to use Flower-head
Although this yarrow dries
dull

PLANTING PLAN p.113

arrangements

heads on dry petals

colors Yellow, orange, red.

flowers are useful especially in

position

light

summer;'
float single

drained

parts

Soil.

start to

planting conditions

methods of drying Air dry

hanging

PLANTING CONDITIONS

buds

before picking.

Peruvian

shapes.

height

seed-heads.

Alstromeria ligtu hybrid

planting conditions

colors Green, red. gold

their

featured p.101

ery effect and to offset stronger

Acer spp.
Maple

or

flower-

for

colors White
planting conditions
light

Any

soil,

position

PLANTING PLVN p. 131

to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry

time

hanging or standing

PLANT GUIDE

30cm

HEIGHT
parts

to

The

(1ft)

Flower head

lse

delicate

of

flowers

trumpet

little

tender Aus-

this

open from

The starry flowers of Anapba/is

tralian plant

margaritacea are very simple

colored calyx, lending

with an informal shape. They

look well

mixed posies and

in

container arrangements.

a par

it

smaller arrangements,

where

fine panicles

of flowers

in

slender spires are most attrac

any kind of arrange-

in

tive

ment, and the soft cream, pink

charm. Best suited to

ticular

will

a rust-

The

it

look very fresh.

and

rust

blend well with most other

FEATURED p .79

Anemone, windflower
colors Red.

Antbemis

\iolet. white.

Chamomile

yellow

colors White

planting conditions Well-

PLANTING CONDITIONS Ally

drained

soil, light

position

to pick Spring, summer

METHODS OF DRYING Press Or

time

dry with desiccant

height
parts

3.

5cm (Hin)

flower

to ise Flow er

in

pressed-flower

Otherwise,
siccant.

pictures.

dried with a de-

if

use them

in

arrange

anemones, or
lay the flower heads on top of a
bowl of pot pourri.
featured p.99

ments

like fresh

light position

PLANTING PLAN p. 130

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry
hanging

time to pick

HEIGHT

The

30cm

to ise Flower head

small center of the flower

dries to a sturdy bobble.

dense

hemispheres

p.

graceful

when used

fern look beautiful

with

other

Bupleurum
Bupleurum

FEATURED pp.54. 55. 99

colors White

time to pick

colors Green

colors Green

planiing conditions

METHODS OF DRYING Air

hanging

Any

SOil,

PLANTING PLAN p.l 13

Any

soil,

parts

to use Flower umbel

cute tracery in arrangements.

The stems
tive

retain their distinc

aromatic scent for a con

to

use Leafy

Bamboo

parts

medium

lse Seed

a good background fil

both for its green foliage
and small white flower heads.
ler.

head

oats can

ripened green state or their

and

its

large

for

it

and

ripened

be dried

in their un-

when

state,

55,

t.

Birch

FEATURED pp. 66. 6"

colors

Astilbe. goat's

planting conditions

but not hardy

Any

in the

soil,

Brown
Any

North

HEIGH1 5cm

line, hi

PARTS rOUSF.

lHin)

Flower spike

soil.

to

pick

METHODS OF
hanging
parts

t<

si

30cm

2m

4ft)

dkyinc, Air dry

Twigs with catkins can be used

Twig

Fl<

>wer panicle

form

to an

arrangement, where they

drv

145

(9in)

Flower head

si

Dry pot mangolds quickly

airing
cupboard

warm

integrate

to give a tracery of
2ft

22cm

to

naturally

so.

in a

or
the

flowers have a tendency to dis

PARTS TO USE

13

warming oven. Even

Summer

60cm
>

in

pc ).sition

HFiGin

HEIGH1
parts

to PK k Winter
methods of DRYING Air dry

position

light

time

soil,

time

rust

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist

TO PICK Autumn
METHODS OF DRYING Ail dry
hanging

TIME

beard

pi

to PICK Summer
methods of DRYING Air dry
hanging

light position

colors Pink, cream,

soil.

TIME

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Kangaroo paw

colors Orange

PLANTING PLAN

leaves.

colors Cream

officinalis

sunny position

KetuUi penduki

FEATURED pp.13. 29

Astilbe arendsii

Calendula

Pot marigold
PLANTING CONDITIONS Any

97

arrangements.

sized

Arundinaria nitida has small

siderable time.

AuigozantJxxs spp.

they will

be hone)' colored.
FEATURED pp.5

leaf

plant

makes

(18in)

dries easily

Ideal

dries.

to

to ise Flower head,

parts

cane

leaves turn a bluey green as

dlA'

This tender Australian

The delicate nodding heads of

height 1.8m (6ft)

Autumn

methods of drying Air dry

hanging or standing

45cm

Soil.

North

height 30-60cm (l-2ft)

standing or hing

flat

in the

sunny position
time to pick Summer

to pick Summer
methods ok drying Air dry
hanging

flower heads form a deli

Am

Oats

height

parts

sp.

Bamboo

spp. hardy in

filler.

FEATURED p.46

foliage.

to pick Summer
methods of drving Air dry

Dill

good

to flowers or

featured

time

(18in)

king grass makes a

Arundinaria spp.

all

Qua

ture to an arrangement.

fronds of lady

light position

45cm

(1ft)

but not hardy

North

height

30cm

to use Seed head

These small, nodding seed-

PLANTING CONDITIONS

colors White

time

Arena j'atna

PLANTING CONDITIONS

SOil,

parts

but not

soil,

by

0~

featured

The

background

Any

sunny position
time to pick Summer
me hods OF drying Air dry
standing or hanging

heads give an interesting tex

to lse Frond

as a

Briza media
Quaking grass
colors Green

height

(2ft)

parts

when

dyeing them a bright color.

Dill

Any

Make

a stunning feature of the attrac

tive

soil,

Summer

60cm

FEATVRED pp.26, 107

PLANTING CONDITIONS

METHODS of DRYING Press

height

(1ft)

Anethum graveolens

planting conditions

Soil.

time

parts

Anemones look particularly

good when pressed for use

Atbyrium filixfemina
Lady fern, female fern
colors Green
PLANTING CONDITIONS Any
shady position

nobilis

make

corations or use to

wreath base.

of astilbe

flowers

dried flowers.

Anemone coronaria

color twigs for Christmas de

will

Alternatively,

they

if

are

not

extreme care
Strong color and

handled with
Thej
look

haw

attractive

arrangements

In

informal

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

Caliistemon subulatus

have a wild look about them,

height

Bottlebrush

they suit both formal and in

formal arrangements.

to use Flower-head
These extraordinary crested

featured pp.13. 29. 9~

flowers are, as their

colors Red
PLANTING CONDITIONS

Any

soil.

to pick Summer
methods of dr'iing Air dry
hanging

Cartbamus

to 5E Flower,

parts

Safflower

colors Orange

30-60cm(l -2ft)

planting conditions

leaf

The

(lower.

of any dried

reds

the best

green leaves

little

the scarlet flower

offset

mens

to give

Any

more

soil,

sta-

an exotic quality

to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry

45cm

height

colors Blue

(18in) spray

FEATURED pp. 97,

begin to
results.

show for best dried

The flower color is

Camellia

well

colors Red. pink, white.

worth drying safflower with

green

the upper leaves

SOil,

as

if

arranged

groups.

in

It is

semi-shade. Not for far North

the flowers.

PLANTING PLAN p. 130

featured pp.91. 9~

preserve with glycerine

colors Blue

either

Up

to

"5cm

parts

The

to use Flower,

flowers retain

and can be used

leaf

good color
as a

major

ingredient in arrangements or,

if

crystallized, as a decoration.

Leaf stems can

glycerine,

become

be preserved

although they

One

in

will

very dark.

22cm

Fig-leaved goose foot

colors

(9in)

of the

blue

strongest

available,

can

they

hme to pick
autumn

Early

methods of drying Dry with

Centaurea macrocephala
Large-headed centaurea

desiccant

colors Yellow

height 13cm (5in) flower

planting conditions

to use Flower

sunny position
to pick Summer
methods of drying Air
hanging

soil.

tlme

summer and

the

across,

flowers

and.

although

flowers

striking ad-

height

45cm

dried

they

side spikes

or use the whole

pact in large arrangements.

hme to

strong shaped

foliage.

flowers

pick

Summer

methods of drying Preserve

to use Flower

begin to open and retain

Mexican orange blossom

colors Green
planting condihons Any soil.
but not hardy in North

dry

(18in)

of the upper
Celosia crista ta

10-15cm
are one of

strongest looking

Its

dition to any arrangement.

large flower thistles,

(4-5in)

early

filler,

native dry easily.

Ox>isya ternata

Any

Pick just as the yellow flowers

in

parts

stems to make a dramatic im-

summer,

and can make a

to USE Flower head

These beautiful, but vicious,

(-4 ft)

to use Flowering stem

as a

parts

parts

height 1.2m

FEATURED pp.66. 68. 12"

are a marvellous blue color

(1ft)

standing

PLANTING PLAN p. 119

colors w-hite

30cm

Autumn

pick

methods of drying Air dry

Use the flowering

again in the autumn.

height

planting plan p. 133

hme to

garden bouquets.

Carline thistle

standing

SOil,

large flowering stems of

in

once

soil,

Any

light position

British

This ceanothus flowers twice.

Any

Cream

PLANTING COND1HONS

this

soil,

be used

Carlina acaulis

sunny position
time to pick Autumn
methods of drying Air dry

bunches.

in

The

parts

planting conditions

The seed-heads can

be air dried standing up or

sunny position,
but not hardy in North

drained

spray

featured p. 105

also

bunches in an
arrangement or they can be
mixed singly in more delicate

planting conditions Well-

(3in)

flower; -i5cm (18in) leaf spray

(1ft)

Qienopodium ficifolium

dry

to use Flow er
These intense blue cornflowers need to be dried in a
warm airing cupboard or
warming oven for best results.
flowers

height

30cm

to use Flower, seed head

The flowering umbels of chervil and most similar umbellifer
ous plants, such as fennel, cow
parsley and hogweed. can be
pressed to form beautiful
radiating patterns of stems and
parts

Summer

parts

Ceanotbus

Johnson'

pick

methods of drying Air

hanging

Ceanothus

T.

dry hanging or standing

height

featured p.99

desiccant. crystallize, or

air

hanging

to pick Spring
methods of drying Dry with

time

soil,

Summer

pick

METHODS OF DRYING Press. Or

planting plan pp.1 19. 133

height

on the stem,
they provide a good foil for

hmf to

sunny position

hme to

strong and safflower will show-

Any

soil.

position

light

flowers.

planting conditions

parts

Ca mellia japonica

Add

delicate effect.

Centaurea cyanus
Cornflower

hanging

to an arrangement.

PLANTING CONDITIONS

cocks-

h.me

to use Flower, leaf stem

Pick just as the orange petals

11-4

just like a

featured pp.12. 25. 126. 128

sun. in mild climates

Bottlebrush provides one of

common

comb. Either use the whole

head for bold effect or wire
segments of the flower for a

tinctorius

Any

planting CONDITIONS

(1ft)

name implies,

but in mild climates only

time

height

30cm

parts

in

glycerine

some
These

height

30cm

(1ft)

parts

to

The

leaves are ideal for pre

tsE Leaf spray

with

serving in glycerine as their

Cockscomb

their globular

bases and bright

color does not deteriorate too

colors Red

yellow flowers are excellent for

much. The leaf shape is inter

and can look beautiful
with eucalyptus and beech.

planting conditions

Any

soil,

sunny position

large arrangements.

featured pp.62, 63

esting

planting plan p. 125

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry
hanging

time

Ojaeroplnllum temulentum
Chervil

colors While

146

Qjrysantbemum
Tanacetum) rulgare

Tansy

PLANT GUIDE

colors Yellow

Any

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Soil,

sunny position
to pick Summer

Cortaderia selloana

Crocus chrysanthus

Pick globe artichokes

Pampas grass
colors Cream

Crocus

before the flower opens and

colors Yellow, blue

Any

planting conditions

time

brown head, or

dry the greeny

PLANTING CONDITIONS Any

soil,

soil,

Hist

either

the flower begins to

.is

open and dry with its blue

petals revealed These large,

methods of DRYING Air dry

light position

light

hanging

time

to pick Autumn
methods of drying Air dry

time

standing

desiccant

heads lend themselves well

height 1.5m (5ft)

10cm (4in) flower

parts to rsi Flower

use

can look wonderful

Wire each flower before diying

played singly.

height
parts
I

45cm

to

nlike

(18in)

stem

USE Flowering

its

mum

air dries well.

tansy

relatives,

The

little

golden

for simple,

flowers are ideal

country

natural looking

ar-

rangements.
p. 128

FEATURED

Cladonia

parts roi SE

the mo-

ment they are fully formed and

spray them with hair lacquer to
prevent the seeds from drop
ping. Arrange by themselves,
or

sp.

Flowering plume

with

other

or

grasses,

with

their

own.

maxima

Cucurbita

colors Silver

plume and

COLORS Orange

PLANTING CONDITIONS Acid

soil,

to pick Any time

methods of drmng Air dry

in a

box or basket
height

5cm
to

parts

(2in)

sunny position
time to pick Autumn

Lichen

is

height

Whole

use

plant

extremely

versatile.

It

30cm

(1ft)

soil,

METHODS OF DRYING

height

complete with pea

FEATURED p.81

or without.

Cucurbita pepo

arrangement.
PEAT!

soil,

methods of drying Air dry

height

in

3ft

parts

to use Branch

Gourd

any other shape. Alter

The

strange, contorted bran

colors Orange, green, yellow

natively,

separate pieces can be

ches of

wired and used

rangements

in

vase

ar-

like flowers.

if

this hazel will

picked

in winter.

dry only

Color them

for festive arrangements.

featured pp. 50, 53, 76, 106,

feati

Cot in us coggygna

Old man's beard,

traveller's

joy

colors

Brown

light

pianting conditions

Any

soil,

position

light

to pick

Any

summer

methods of drying

Air dry

hanging

The
beautiful

heads of

mam

FEATURED

pi

ft

of the clematis

in

little

that

in a

dry atmos-

fruit

and

re-

of the

sp.

AM

Kl -I)

Stems

the shrub

is

lilac

Cynara scofymus
Globe artichoke
COLORS Green

iiiK.in

147

hanging, dry with desiccant

hi

IGHT

mg
soil.

the flowers and stems to create

(2ft

mi

30cm

TO

(1ft)

Flower head

USE

if

air

picked about four

perfection Otherwise, provfcj

sunny position
nvii TO PR k Autumn

60cm

p.

TO pick Autumn
METHODS OI DRYING Air dry
1

davs before the flowers reach

PLANTING CONDITIONS Any

PARTS rOUSf

soil

Close knit Detailed dahlias

pp.80, 81

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

hanging or standing

background

dahlia

PLANTING PIAN

PARTS

covered with smoke Remove

the leaves on puking and use
a feather., twiggy

Dahlia

dry well

such a way as to give the

impression

RED p.33

sunny position

Fruit

skin.

feathery panicles of the

(lowers leave their

a fine, spiky effect in an

PLANTING conditions Anv

whoried seed

genus make a sinking addition

to an arrangement The stems
twist interestingly and feature
fascinating gnarled shapes

II

inflorescence

The

hanging

parts

head

to use

30cm

help preserve the

HEIGHT

90cm (3ft) stem

to USE Stem with seed

to

tain the bright colors

45cm 18in)
PARTS TO USE Flowering

flowers

way they

pink,

Up

to pick Autumn
METHODS OF DRYING .Mr dry
HEIGHT

like

Either

standing

PLANTING PLAN p .131

time

Late

Scotch br<x)m can be dried

pompon

phere, Spray with lacquer to

position

stems of

colors Red, yellow, white.

out naturally

soil,

delicate green

to pick Autumn
METHODS OF DRYING Air dlV

parts

tree

Flower sprav Stem

Decorative dahlia and

Cut when ripe and allow to dry

PIANTING CONDITIONS

colors White

time

bush,

soil,

si

sunny position

height

smoke

Smoke

Any

pianting conditions

time

red p.87

107

Clematis vitalba

PARTS TO 1

make

90cm

trees or

wreaths,

(2ft) spray

Hallowe'en Insides are edible.

position

for

60cm

light position

flower arrangements or as ex-

cladding

Air dr\

time to pick Winter

Any

soil.

hanging

The

can be used as a base for dried

terior

CONDmONS Any

position

light

to se Fruit
Hollow out pumpkins and
carve faces into them to use at
parts

pianting conditions

hummock

PLANTING

Corydus avellana Contorta'

Corkscrew hazel
Brown

\n RED pp.45, 96

green

PLANTING conditions Rich

colors

dis

colors Yellow, white, pink,

arrangements.

shady position
time

when

Cytisus sccparius

Pumpkin

smaller

ii

to

arrangements and

Scotch broom

separate the sections of each

in

of

in larger

crocuses can look beautiful on

Silver lichen

use

A bowl

desiccants.

shaped

beautifully

striking,

height

pampas plumes

Pick

position

to pick Early spring

METHODS OF DRYING Dry With

Flower head

they are in perfect con

ditioii.

cants

dry them with desk

Their

warm autumnal

colors and quilled petals lend

strength to a delicate looking

arrangement
II \ll

US

RED

pp

12. 13, 23, 'it.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

Delphinium ( Consolida)

ambigua
Annual larkspur
colors Pink, blue, white
PLANTING CONDITIONS Ally

SOil,

sprays can

height 30-60cm Cl2ft)

parts to use Flower, leaf

color results.

The

color.

cerine, but

Australian dryandras dry very

hanging

ally in

60cm

easily

filler

parts

to

One

of the best dried flowers

use Flower

"help"

the

that dry well.

thistle

flowers

They lend

a misty

character to arrangements and

some of

the larger varieties

give strong form.

Erica arborea

Tree heather, tree heath

or. especi-

informal arrangements,

colors

Eucalyptus spp.

w hite

Australian

planting conditions Moist.

for their thistle-like flowers.

(2ft)

to

id

gray blue

ful

FEATURED p.22

and can be used either as

a green foliage

Add green dye

the glycerine

flowers and leaves of the

sunny position
time to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry
height

be preserved in glydo not expect good

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

hanging

stem

lime free

soil, light

position

gum

tree, cider

gum
colors Silver

Dn opteris fili.x-mas

PLANTING PLAN p. 131

planting conditions

and form. Larkspur

dries very easily and can be

Male fern
colors Green

TIME

to pick Spring
methods of drying Air dry

but for mild climates only

used

PLANTING CONDITIONS

hanging

time

shady position

height 30-60cm (l-2ft)

methods of drying

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING PreSS

flower spray

hanging, or preserve in

for color

in

almost any arrange-

ment. Arrange them by themselves or

mix them with other

flowers. Their brightly colored

an

spires provide interest in

arrangement.
6-4,

height

60cm

colors Blue,

lilac,

ing

way,

they

ly,

look perfectly natural

when

Echinops

arrangements.

soil, sunny position

to pick Summer
methods oe drying Air dry
standing or hanging

Globe

time

colors Blue

height 90cm-1.2m

(3(ft)

to use Flowering stem

The many hybrids of Delphinium elatum provide a

wide range of amazing colors,
from intense blues through
grays, lilacs and pinks to white.
They dry best in a cool. dark,

planting conditions

Any

set

light

to use Flower-head
Be careful to pick globe

thist-

the

bright green leaves of beech or

maple.
feati 'RED pp.3"".

parts

before the flower develops

it

will fall to pieces

when it is

The strong globe shape

makes these thistles very distinctive in

spp.

soil,

5cm

to use

to

pick

Any

inter-

30cm

Any

preserve in glycerine
parts to use Leaf stem
VChen pressed, the leaves of
common and copper beech

mer, whilst they

Any

soil,

can be

(2ft)

have the

autumn. Copper beech

early

summer

still

ma-

sum-

fresh look that disappears in

PLANTING PLAN p.l 19

60cm

soil,

to pick Summer
methods of drying Press, or

sunny position

height

leaf

variety

ture sprays of leaves in

time to pick Late

(1ft)

Fagus syhatica and

62. 103

retain excellent color. Pick

spp.

hanging

to use Leaf spray

Like most evergreens, the

3-F. -Fl.

height 30-60cm (l-2ft)

planting conditions

parts

good autumn

pressed flowers to create

methods of drying Air dry

height

latter,

time

viethods of drying Preserve in

SOll,

to give

light position

glycerine

Any

gly-

They are one of the

planting conditions

Dryandra
PLANTING CONDITIONS

cerine.

Leaf, flower

colors Blue

Summer

either

colors Green, rust

Sea holly

soil,

be

dried or preserved in

(2in)

colors Yellow, green

sunny position; tender

time to pick Summer

air

the eu-

all

calyptus genus can

Both the leaves and flowers of

erodiums and geraniums press
well. Use them with other

Eryngium
Elaeagnus pungens
Elaeagnus
colors Green

mother-of-pearl

Beech

featured pp.35. 54, 55, 58, 120

time

silvery,

colored leaves of

Cuprea"

featured p.99

shady or sunny position

Dryandra

Any

esting dried flower pictures.

arrangements.

planting conditions

58

The

FEATURED pp.11.

bill

position

height

parts

(l-3ft

to use Leaf spray

colors to the foliage.

to pick Summer
methods of drying Press

(2ft)

won

against

heron's

PLANTING conditions

fade.

when

bill,

time

60cm

30-90cm

parts

keeping good color. Dye can

hanging

les

well in

height

best subjects for the

Stork's

soil,

dry

.Air

featured p.35

colors Green, pink

or

last

Summer

an arrangement.

sunny position
time to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dlY
height

love-

textural, pinky-white spires

they will

pick

be added

dry and the gray-blue color will

derful

Handle the

Erodium cicutarium

which slowly
evaporates. They can also be
hung to dry. but the flowers
will drop more readily. The
blues, in particular, look

to dry.

thistle

dry place standing in 7.5cm

(3in) of water,

up

Left alone,

ritro

drained

out and spray

with their tiny leaves with care.

pink, white

planting conditions Well-

parts

grow

in a

in

come

to

glycerine

with hair lacquer before hang-

Fern fronds press very easily

used pressed

to use Flower-head

stan to

soil.

PLANTING PLAN p.l 19

Pick just before the flowers

to use Frond

two-dimensional

Delphinium elatum
Larkspur

parts

(2ft)

and. because they

121

SOll.

time

parts

featured pp.4l, 54, 58, 62,

Any

Any

effectively

preserved

with glycerine. Beech leaves

when used as a
background to most flowers
and seed heads, especially the
are wonderful

parts

bright green pressed leaves

All

featured pp.11. 37, 47, 103

148

to use Thistle head, leaf

the eryngiums have beauti-

PLANT GUIDE

box
5cm (Hin)

Genttana sino-ornata
Gentian

basket or

False castor oil plant

colors Green

colors Blue

parts

Fatsia japonica

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Any

SOil,

shade, but mild climates only

HEIGHT

3.

to

PLANTING conditions Well

Brilliant

moss make an

ideal

dried-flower trees.

FEATURED p.25

methods of drying Press or

to pick Autumn
methods of drying Dry with

preserve in glycerine

desiccant

Summer

20cm

height

time

height

(8in)

parts

to

The

leaves are better pressed

use Single leaf

when

as they lose their color

preserved

in

The

glycerine.

5cm

(2in) flower

PLANTING CONDITIONS

served

when

pressed leaves are rather two-

dried with

dimensional for use

the flowers are

arrange

tians

ments but they can be

interest

by themselves

used

ingly

featured

in a

low bowl.

103

colors Green

Any

soil,

position

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

to pick Summer
methods of drving Air dry

standing

sunny position
time to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry
hanging

30cm

parts to use Flowering stem

pretty.
clover like
These
flowers dry easily and look

parts

good used

to use Seeding stem

looks rather like

when
its

dill

dry and can be used for

informally

Grei

illea

Australian spider bush

soil,

sun and mild climate

time

colors Red. yellow, pink,

blue, white

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

hanging

PLANTING conditions Well

height

drained

to use Leaf stem

Tender Australian grcvilleas do

iimi

to

pick

Summer

to

pick

45cm

not often flower

in

cli

mates, but their foliage forms

delicate spires

height 7.5cm (3in) flower

is

to

when

dried and

useful on its own.

n ui rid pp.62, 63

PLANTING PLAN pp.1 13, 119, 130

/ Iclicbn

su m

METHODS OF DRYING

Everlasting, strawflower

in

rid

p.

vii

io pick

30cm
I

si

(lft)

Flower

feature

the

Strongest

have a vers fresh kx>k about

plant

soil.

ioi'ick

pp

13.

125

Summer

METHODS Ol DRYING

Air dry

all

dried flowers and

them However, the stems are

rather weak and they usuallv
need to lx- wired or propped
up with other flowers in the
arrangement
iimi

ki ii

pp

66,

79

hanging

Summer

rHODSOl DRMV, Air drv

height

Cum

sunny position

shady position
iimi

Genista see Cytisus

DRYING Air drv

hanging

These

PLANTING CONDITIONS Acid

RED p 100

>i)soi

soil.

yellow of

listemon or fern.
FEATI

PLANTING conditions Any

sunny position
TIME to pick Summer

PARTS TO

PLANTING CONDITIONS Any

soil,

um

Helicbrysum angustijblium

iimi

some

green

103

colors Green

a vase with

little

to the glycerine solution.

delicate greenery, such as cal

can look lovely ar

in

leaves

responds well to glycerine

All

italic

colors Yellow

glycerine

PLANTING PLAN

ranged

soil,

Press, or

the addition of a

dye

in k.i

in

position

Grimmia pulvinata
Bun moss

Freesias

sometimes

featured pp.13, 33, 58. 66, 79,

Any

COLORS Yellow

use Flower spray

is

it

to wire the flower

126

II

METHODS Ol drying Dry with

parts

dried

86, 115,

lv\

colder

to

begin

will

opening when they are hung

up to dry. The most popular

treatment but benefits from

desiccani

spray

open: the flowers

just

start

heads before drving.

22cm (9in)
parts TO USE Spray of

parts

bud

flowers

weak and
good idea

helix

height

(18in)

to pick in

the

Hedera

preserve

Summer

(18in)

featured pp.33, 47, 127

own.

light

Freesia x kewensis

tender

before

beautiful, deli

PLANTING conditions

Freesia

position;

Be sure

soon

Ivy

rosmarinifolius

planting conditions Acid

soil, light

Its

45cm

to use Flower

small

water, which

colors Green

colors Green

feathery texture.

HEIGHT

flower, the color and

form when dried are excellent
However, the stem is rather

its

( 1 ft

The delicate seed formation of

fennel

in

to pick Summer
METHODS of drying Air dry
hanging
parts

foam of white flowers

makes a wonderful tiller, and it
also looks good arranged on

hanging
(3ft)

upright

soil.

time

if left

cate

height

90cm

will drv well

evaporates.

time

height

to use Spray of flowers

amount of

soil,

Any

PLANTING PLAN pp.1 13. 125

30-60cm(l -2ft)

Gypsophila

Any

Summer

to pick

mi

METHODS of drying Air dry

standing or hanging

Globe amaranth
planting conditions

planting conditions

PLANTING CONDITIONS

parts

colors Pink, white

fennel

yellow, white

sunny position

Gompbrena globosa

Foeniculum vulgare

SOll,

PLANTING PLAN pp.125. 131

ii

in

colors Red, pink, cream.

Any

sunny position

height

in pictures.

p.

Common

light

Gen-

desiccants.

look beautiful arranged

in

excellent

is

mixed garden arrangements

HeUcbrysum bracteatum

colors White
pre-

looks very

Everlasting, strawflower

to use Flower
is

><

It

Gypsophila paniculate

incredible blue to which

name

cottagey and

k1 lem< >n

g(

Baby's breath

parts

its

of

base lor

has a

dried.

featured pp.29, 58, 114, 127,

128

The

the plant gives

when

color

mounds

green

sheltered position

PLANTING PLAN p. 130

time to pick

Silvery leaves

Hummock

use

drained, lime-free

soil,

This aromatic sub shrub with

22cm

PARTS io

149

SI

(9in

>

Flower head

Helipterum
Sunraj

itiangtesii

everlasting dabj

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

are allergic, dry on the plant.

They are very sturdy so they are
not usually damaged by bad
weather. They make a dramatic
impression if used by them-

colors Pink, white, yellow

planting conditions

Any

soil,

sunny position
PLANTING FLAN pp.] 19, 125
time to pick

Summer

METHODS of
hanging

dr'iing Air

30cm

HEIGHT

dry

really

fresh-looking, especially

when

grouped

an ar

bunches

in

in

rangement. Extremely versatile

look good

they

flowers,

in

and small arrangements.

large

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist,

soil,

iris

leave

to dry in place.

it

semi-shady

position

Ixodia achilleoides

PLANTING PLAN pp.119, 130

Lxodia

rangement. Umbels of seeds

time

to pick Autumn
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

colors White

hanging or standing, preserve

sunny position
time to pick Summer

silver

and sprinkled with

to use Flower
These delicate daisies are
parts

ing

well-drained

You can arrange stinkwhen fresh and simply

seeds

rust, lilac, blue,

selves in a floor-standing ar-

can be sprayed

(1ft)

colors Pink,
green, white

or gold

glitter for a

pretty Christmas decoration.

Hosta spp. and

Plantain

22cm

lily

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist but

well-drained

other dried flowers.

position

the small true flowers at the

shady

soil,

(9in)

to use Flower-head
Hydrangeas are not easy to dry.
They need to be picked just as
parts

cvs.

colors Green

by themselves or mixed with

or press

in glycerine,

height

planting conditions

METHODS OF DRYING
hanging
HEIGHT

30cm

(1ft)

waxy

center of each floret begin to

little,

open. They often dry best

extremely pretty and have a

if

in a bowl with a little

which soon evaporates.

daisy flowers are

arranged

very fresh look

water,

They mix

Helleboras spp.

Christmas rose, Lenten rose

preserve in glycerine

arate florets can

colors Pink, white, green

planting conditions

height

Any moist

shady position

soil,

to

Up

45cm

to

to use

Leaf,

Whole heads of flowers or sep-

are

(18in)

pick Winter, spring

although

have

they

followed by spikes of seed-

in glycerine

heads.

The

pressed

make

strong

shapes

parts

5cm

6in

to use Flower,

The

flowers, ranging

white

of

sported

H.

leaf

hellebore

beautiful

from the pure

tiiger

greens,

to

pinks

the

and

with desiccants. or they can be

Holly
planting conditions
light

leaves

parts

to other, less solid, glycerined

height 30-60cm (l-2ft) spray

The

material such as eucafvptus.

parts

FEATLRED p.7

Strong,

foil

lupulus

glycerine.

planting conditions

featlred p.7

sunny position

hogweed
Brown

soil.

height

30-45cm (1-Hft)

to use Leafy stem

silver

little

serrated holly leaves

The

spikes of foliage are a

wonderful

arrangement, but the color of

pecially pastel-colored ones.

becomes very dark

to flowers, es-

foil

FEATURED pp.11. 41. 62. 120

after pre-

serving in glycerine.

Lacbenalia aloides

FEATURED

Cape cowslip
colors Orange

p.

103

autumn
Iris foetidissima

planting conditions

Stinking

light position:

parts

Up

to

3m

iris

colors Red

10ft)

Pick well

moist

ripen. Otherwise, they will

before the heads

light

Any

SOil.

position

height 15cm (6in)

to use Flowering stem

parts

The decorative

tend to lose their color quickly

to pick Autumn
methods of drying Air dry

METHODS OF drying Air dry

once dry

standing

used

standing

FEATURED

planting plan p. 133

time

to

pick

Autumn

to pieces as they dry.

Hops

p.3~t

height 1.8m (6ft)

parts

to

sf

Seeding stem

The huge stems of giant hog

weed, to which some people

time

height -45cm (18in)

parts

Hydrangea macropbylla
Mop-headed or lace-cap
hydrangea

to

use

Seed -head

The dramatic seed-heads of

this iris split in the autumn to
reveal
mam' bright orange

150

soil.

to pick Winter
methods of drying Press

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

fall

Any

tender

time

PLANTING CONDITIONS

to use Seed-head

succulent

leaves of this kochia dry easily.

hanging
height

position

in

methods of drying Air dry

planting conditions Rich.

soil, light

Air dry

are interesting to use in an

and heavy-looking

Any

soil,

hanging

to lse Leaf

the leaves

time to pick Early

Giant

position

sunny position
methods of drying

glycerine

colors Light green

Heracleum
mantegazzianum

soil,

time

ar-

summer

planting conditions .Any

Any

rangements and those treated

in

sp.

colors Silver

with glycerine act as a good

Humulus
Hops

cypress

cvs.

to pick Summer
methods of drying Preserve

The leaves can either

be pressed or preserved in
pressed.

colors

Kochia

colors Green

heads of flowers,

of H. orientalis, dry well

lilacs

and

Ilex spp.

pretty

desiccant. press, or preserve

dried.

sorts of

p.-t

Silver cypress,

attraction,

white or

lilac

all

country-looking flowers.
FEATURED

98.99. 101, 103, 120, 121

seeding stem

main

their

when

well with

feattred pp. 11, 23, 58, 66. 67,

METHODS OF DRYING Dry With

height

be used.

The distinctive leaves of hostas

planting plan pp.130, 133

n\iF

parts

Air dlV

to use Flowering stem

The creamy white heads of the

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING PreSS, Or

time

soil,

parts

PLANTING PLAN p. 130

featured pp.22. 38. 39. 58

Any

bells with their

spotted stems are pretty

in

picture.

FEATURED p.99

Lavandula
Lavender

when

pressed flower

angiistifolia

PLANT GUIDE

sunny position

These woody seeding cones,

often growing on stems with
pale greeny silver leaves, are

PLANTING PLAN p.119

like flowers

to PICK Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

form that looks very well in

autumnal colored
arrange

dried flowers, sea lavender

hanging

ments.

arrangements

colors Blue, mauve

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Any

soil.

mi

30cm

height

FEATURED

(1ft)

PARTS TO USE Flowering

to

show

signs of opening.

If

than

later

this,

the flowers will simply

drop

off.

warm

Drying them

fast in

cupboard helps to
They retain
their wonderful scent for many
months and clumps of lavender mixed with other flowers
or used on their own look
airing

the

fix

p. 26

flowers.

io pick

standing

tree

sun, but mild climates only

Summer

lati

blue flowers. Sea

lilac

apricot or lemon,

color sprayed

colors Purple, blue, white,

other dried material.

to

height
parts

45cm

107

Umonium sinuatum

Summer

pick

p.

(18in)

PLANTING conditions

to use Flowering stem

spikes are densely
flowers. Purple

is

in

white-

tend to dry a rather

Any

height

45cm

strawberry

have

and a

leaves

silver
felry

cluster of bright

colors Pink, white, green

planting conditions Well-

drained

(18in)

iimi

to use Flowering stem

very popular dried flower.

desiccant, or preserve in

Litium spp. and cvs.

The color range available is

enormous and you can buy

Lily

seed

produces

that

specific

The triangular

sunny or

Umonium

when

desiccant, or press

Lamb's

Up

20cm

FEATURED pp.12. 33

used

Lencocioulron ruhrum

are particularly

Leucodendron, tolbos, topbrush, silver bush

COLORS Brown, green, cream
PLANTING conditions Any soil,

FEATI

sunny position; tender

Sea lavender

rOPK k Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry
hanging or standing

colors White

parts

/.

parts

km

sh

Leaf,

a me

stem

td

(Sin

PLANTING CONDITIONS Any

i

stylishly in

arrangements.

soil.

sunny position
TIME to pick

Summer

METHODS OF DRYING
hanging
hi -k.h'i

45cm

The long

tails

of pink flowers

II

Any

Summer

METHODS Ol DRYING

and

they are delicate looking.

VII Kl I)

p \1

Air drv

if

added

Mabonia japonica
Mahonia

Am

soil.

iis.li to PICK Summer

METHODS OF DRYING Preserve

in

glycerine

iihghi

ncm

parts ioi

si

18in)

Leaf spray

The decorative and geometric

shaped mahonia leaves are
rather prickly, but

when

pre

served in glycerine are easy to

soil,

sunny position
ro PICK

yet

dried Stems as they are fragile

PLANTING CONDmONS

is

PLANTING conditions

tOO Take care not to break the

UltlfollllDl

in glycerine,

they turn almost black

shady position

luin

are a very sinking shape

/.

can be preserved

colors Green

Air dry-

PARTS TO USE Flowering spike

RED pp.60. 101

Limonium dwnoswn and

grandiflora

no dye

tail

leaves of

.1/

colors Pink

auratum and L speciosum

good subjects.

iimi

(lft)

and the glossy

TO pick Summer, autumn

methods oe drying Dry with

suworowti

magnolia

magnificent

flowers can be dried with des

the evergreen

TIME

(8in)

PARTS TO USE Flower, leaf

The
iccants

helipterum and helichrysum

30cm

20cm

>wer

FEATURED pp.23, 47, 53, 68, 114

TO si Flower
These beautiful flowers can be
dried well with desiccants and

in

HEIGHT l'p to
fl(

arrangements.

soil,

They combine very

inch

a distinctive look

it

glycerine

semi-shady position

flower

summer

height

TIME

position

gray white.

red flowers like helichrysum

with pale pink flowers such as

soil, light

pick Spring,

METHODS OF drying Dry with

buds, which arc very striking

attractively

to reveal a silver disc to

parts

varieties

drained rich

silver,

filaments can

Magnolia spp.
Magnolia

soil,

sunny position
time to pick Summer
methods oe drying Air dry
hanging

gives

The woody stems of

pinky

are

they

yellow, pink, orange

FEATURED
soil,

position

light

time

Any

of which

PLANTING CONDITIONS Well

flower stem

growing

in their initial

when

hanging

planting conditions

all

arrangements.

standing
(1ft)

The seed heads of honesty can

be used

methods ok drying Air dry

colors Purple, white

in

shape of the flowering head

Leaf,

(2ft)

Seed-head

si

Statice

look natural

colors of flower.

30cm

green. In addition, the outer

colors 'white, pink, orange,

to use

pink,

yellow

parts

60cm
<

state

methods of drying Air dry

height

PARTS

dry-

light

if

in

lav-

Autumn

methods OF drying Air

HEIGHT

soil,

be peeled away
which
the seeds adhere. These discs
resemble mother of pearl and
look very beautiful arranged by
themselves or mixed with

star,

colors Red
Soil,

filler in

Umonium

snakeroot, blazing

gayfeather

arrangements and the

ti

is

folium Blue Cloud' has deli

not an easy color to use

Leptospernium sp

background

useful as a

ly

packed with

TIME to pick

iimi

Any

Kansas gayfeather, button

The long

Any

position

ender can look effective

FEATURED pp.43. 121, 122

PLANTING CONDITIONS

light

Liatris spicata

equally beautiful.

Silver strawberry, tea tree,

PLANTING Condi ions

30cm (lft)
PARTS TO USE Flower panicle
One of the most widely used
HEIGHT

cate

is

you dry them any

a strong

stem

most important to pick

lavender just as the buds begin
It

and have

hanging or standing

Lunaria redixHva

arrange They acl as a

Honest]

more rounded,

<

151

oioks Silver

FEATURED p.7

foil

sott material

to

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

warm

Malus sylvestris

sunny position

placed

Apple, crab apple

PLANTING PLAN p. 131

board or warming oven for

bud begins

best color results.

wonderful

colors

time to pick Summer

METHODS OF DRYING Preserve

Brown

hunting gondii K

Any

>ns

soil,

PARTS

dry

parts

ill

(2ft)

to lse Flowering stem

uccella plant

(2ft)

the calyx from

which the sweetly scented but

Twig

USE

is

Cut and dry the branches and

insignificant flowers

twigs of deciduous trees dur-

flowers should

ing

the winter.

have

Apple trees
shaped

interestingly

branches.
featured p.57

the

as

grow. The

be picked just
ones begin to

first

emerge and preserved in glycerine solution. They will turn

a pale, creamy color.
FEATURED pp.11, 102

Struthiopteris

Narcissus spp. and

germanica)

colors Yellow, wtiite

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist but

planting conditions

PLANTING PLAN

shady

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING PreSS

lm

which

like

shuttlecock, can easily be dried

under a carpet or
used like fresh fern.

then

rug,

colors

soil,

flower

to lse Flower
The flowers of most bulbs can
be dried with desiccants. Nar-

and

fronds dry to a beige color but

look beautiful springing from a
large arrangement.

Bells of Ireland, Irish

COLORS Cream
planting

<

>NDmoNS Rich

60cm

(2ft)

to use Seed head

The

strong form of

same season.

for

use

in

dried-flower

soil,

colors Pink

This magnificent fern with

its

huge, pale green fronds can be

used either whole for very

small

leaf

only

lacks

broken

sections

in

for

one of
ferns and

It is

not

being

Any

Peony

soil,

Summer,

The

flowers are a particularly

both

drained

early

soil,

height

Seed head, flower

spherical

sunny position

Summer

45cm

(18in) flowering

PARTS TO USE Flower

These are sumptuous flowers

beautiful

easily.

The

and.

flowers,

a very pale

they

but. like

cornflowers, they need to be

if

dried with desiccants.

closely

resemble

fresh counterparts.

their

The dou-

ble varieties can also

152

by the

tiny

featured pp.47, 66

be

Phlomis frutkosa
Jerusalem sage
colors Yellow, gray

stem

seed

extremely

be dried

pick

METHODS OF DRYING Dry with

18in)

nigella are

to

set off

gray leaves,

Any well-

desiccant, or air dry hanging

and dry
which are

(1ft)

to use Flowering stem

silver

methods of drying Air dry

hanging
lse

30cm

parts

They are

lactiflora

time

to

height

both of which they resemble.

Paeonia

autumn

hanging

helipterum and helichrysum.

planting conditions

45cm

soil,

featured pp.11, 59

colors Pink, white, cream, red

height

Any

vi\id pink, stronger than

planting plan p. 125

pick

planting conditions

sunny position
time to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry

evergreen.

sunny position
to

Christmas.
.

the most versatile

damascena

Nigella

poppy

green, silver or gold and use at

quite small ones.

blue, can also

soil,

height

dp,"

parts

rite

themselves or with flowers of

heads of

green

Summer

arrangements. Color them red.

large arrangements or

parts

flower

regalis

into

The almost
Moluccella laevis

13

look best arranged either by

time

seed frond

p.

scent an

will

cissus dry very well, but usually

height 1.5m (5ft)

bells, shell

it

deliciously.

pick

time

parts

planting conditions

leaves

but

at

to

to

METHODS OF DRYING Air

hanging or standing

Phaenocoma prolifera
Phaenocoma shrub

to pick Autumn
methods of drying Air dry
hanging or standing

The blue green

to use Flowering stem

Not only is this herb pretty
parts

FEATURED pp.4 1 43

Love-in-a-mist

Leaf,

time

to pick Summer
methods of drying Press
height 1.2m (4ft)
parts to use Frond

colors Blue, green

to lse

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

(9in)

shady position

planting plan p. 133

parts

22cm

SOil,

sunny position

to pick Spring
methods of drying Dry with

sunny position
time

PUNTING CONDITIONS Any

planting conditions Moist

featured pp.101. 104. 105

Any

colors Gray, green

time

height

r/x>eas

poppy

colors Green

Brown

planting conditions

sunny position
to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry
hanging

Field

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

the

Miscanthus sinensis
Miscanthus

soil,

light position

height l- 7 .5cm (-3in)

grows

Any

planting conditions

Royal fern

soil,

desiccant. crystallize

(3ft)

parts to use Whole frond

The fronds of this beautiful
fern,

Papaver

COLORS Rust

Osmunda

Any

time

p. 131

time

height

FEATURED pp.59, 101, 120, 121

seed-heads makes them a favo-

colors Green

soil,

Origanum majorana

featured

cvs.

Daffodil

position

just as the

open. They look

in any arrangement
and they seem to epitomize the
beginning of summer.

look

Ostrich feather fern

well-drained

to

featured pp.43, 47, 127

arrangement

Mattencia struthiopteris
(

hang them

dried:

Marjoram

The interesting pan of the mol-

60cm

TO

60cm

height
.Air

position

height

airing cup-

glycerine

sunny position
to pick Winter

time

METHODS OF DRYING

in

in a

air

planting conditions .Any

soil,

sunny position, mild climates

time to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry
hanging
height

45cm

(18in)

parts to use Leaf, flower, seed

head
Pick phlomis either as the yel-

PLANT GUIDE

low Bowers start to open, and

it for both the foliage and

dry

or

flowers,

wait

the

until

whorls of seeds appear and dry

the

and

leaves

seed heads.

Either way, the dried plant

attractive

and has

is

a distinctly

Mediterranean look.

time

to pick Any time

METHODS of drying

.Air

shady position

METHODS OF DRYING

standing

height
parts

60cm

to use Spray of needles

Scots pine dries well, retaining

its

color and dropping only a

PLANTING CONDITIONS

very fine

The fronds are

good

feather

FEATURED p.87

very attractive and look

PitlxKarpa corymbulosa

like.

amongst any other dried

Pulmonaria saccharata
Bethlehem sage
colors Pink, blue

to pick Spring
methods of drying Crystallize

sunny position
to pick Summer
METHODS OF drying Air dry

colors Yellow, white, pink

height 2.5cm (lin) flower

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist SOU,

parts

light position

These

hanging

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

spotted leaves flower

TIME

height

45cm

to use Flowering stem

When

spring

of physalis are

desiccant, press, or crystallize

tractive

covered by a papery filament

almost as delicate as gypso-

height

The
that

little fruits

resembles a bright orange

The

lantern.

(18in)

time

parts

brilliant

color

brightens even the darkest cor-

The lantern
open to make the

phila,

but each flower has a

more marked daisy shape. Very

pretty

and

for

ideal

fresh,

5cm

to

parts

The

primrose

fragile

tiny,

be equally well

flowers can

frothy arrangements.

dried with desiccants, pressed

can be cut

featured p.79

or crystallized,

Polygonatum multiflorum
Solomon's seal
colors White

a flower.
FEATl RED pp.65,

85

Picea pungens Glauca"

Silver spruce, blue

spruce
soil.

Any time

methods of drying Air dry

in

height 15cm (6in)

to

parts
Silver

use Spray

spruce

is

very useful for

Christmas decorations, as

it

dries to look almost identical

to the fresh foliage

and can

other

FEATl

light position

featured pp.104, 105

time

to pick Summer,
autumn

Protea spp.

methods of drying Press

Protea

height

colors Pink, brown

parts

Any

45cm

(18in)

30cm

height

to use Flowering stem

the
nodding white
flowers and pale green leaves
can be dried with desiccants or

to

soil,

Flower

parts

parts

Proteas need to be picked

preserved with glycerine. The

gracious, arching stems

shapes

menus and look

in

make

arrange

as the

bud begins

hung

to dry:

it

will

loving

to

open and

the flower will

look perfect.

Primus spp. and c-\ s

Almond, peach, nectarine,

Scots pine

plumoso du isilobum

sunny position

COLORS Green

Shield fern

PLANTING PLAN

position

PLANTING

<

ONDTTIONS Moist

soil.

mi

153

colors Yellow, red, pink.

soil,

sunny position
riMi iopk k Early summer

METHODS OF DRYING Dry with

Hugh 30cm

p.

Any

soil.

PARTS

TO

Related

133

iopk k Spnng

moDSOf

astatic us

desiccant, or air dry hanging

PLANTING* oNDinoNs

iimi

Ranunculus

Persian buttercup

PLANTING conditions Moist

\n red p. 109

cherry

oioks Greer

to

color.

white, orange

(oioks Pink, white

<

the

in

begin

FEATURED p.32

particularly

such as ferns, hostas

or

they

as

just

continue to open so that once

dry

summer when

green

are

they

change

Both

use

All

the leaves in

(lft)

Potysticbum setiferum

light

(2ft) spray

autumn,

and Christmas roses

soil.

60cm

to use Leaf spray

oak leaves press well under

hanging

I'tiius syhestris

PUNTING CONDITIONS Acid

soil,

glycerine

plants

RED pp.85, 86

PLANTING CONDITIONS Ally

delicious to eat.

desiccants, or preserve in

good with other shade

at

colors Green, rust

a rug or carpet. Either press

used

arrangements

they are

'

pl\nting conditions

beautiful

in

when

Quercus palustris
Pin oak

sunny position; tender

time to pick Summer
methods of dkying Air dry

therefore be used well in ad

vance Of course, it can also be

times of the year.

p. 104

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

height

position

at-

time to pick Spring

METHODS OF DRYING Dry With

light position

time to pick

soil,

shady position

colors Silver blue

planting conditions Acid

Any

planting conditions

make an

decoration for a cake.

use Flower

ners of a room.

filament resemble the petals of

in early

crystallized, the

flowering sprays

featured

(2in)

with

plants

pretty

to pick Spring
methods OF drying Dry with

(2ft)

to use Seed head

parts

Soil,

time

SOil,

to use Flowering stem

These little white daisies are

height

Any

Primula vulgaris
Primrose

Any

PLANTING CONDITIONS

methods of drying Air dry

hanging

crystallized

shady position

colors White

SOil,

when

featured pp.104, 105

PLANTING CONDITIONS

flowers.

Miniature daisy

sunny position
TIME to pick Autumn

60cm

is

divided and looks almost

ly

set

Any

nectarine and cherry are deli

cious

very few needles.

Physalis alkekengi

Chinese lantern, bladder

cherry, Cape gooseberry
colors Orange

Prc'SS

This evergreen fern

(Y\n) flower

to USE Single flower

The flowers of almond, peach.
parts

45cm 18in)
PARTS TO USE Frond

height

(2ft)

12mm

HEIGHT

Summer

time to pick

dry

drying Crystallize

USE

to

(lft)

Mower
the

buttercup,

which can also be

dried,

nunculus look
peonies Their

miniature

like

main

ra

colors

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PLANT GUIDE

make them

exciting to use in

height

30cm

parts

(1ft)

to use Flower,

informal arrangements

parts

FEATURED

Many

to

use Flower spray

methods of drying Air

wonderful

Litde scillas are a

bract, leaf

blue color. They can be dried

height

tagey Clary', dry well. Salvia

using desiccants or preserved

parts

farinacea looks rather like

rich colored lavender when

in

colors Red. pink, yellow.

dried.

featured

cream, orange, white,

FEATURED p.47

p.

101

Rosa spp. and

cvs.

Rose
lilac

including

salvias,

cot

sugar and used as a deco-

ration

on

a cake or tan.

Sedum

Spectacular

PLANTING PLAN pp.113. 119.

Lavender cotton

colors Pink

125. 130. 131

colors

time

to

pick

sunny position

Summer

Silver,

yellow

drained

soil,

hanging or dry with desiccant

planting plan p. 131

time

to pick Summer
methods of drying Air dry

hanging

15ocm (6-18in)

The most well known and

loved flower of

all.

Hybrid tea

roses air dry well when

hung in

a cool. dry. dark place. Single

and

roses

double,

old-

fashioned roses must be dried

with

desiccants

best

for

hanging
height

29. 50.

HEIGHT

30cm

parts

(1ft)

spray

Both the flowers and

silvery

foliage of santolinas dry well.

neapolitana

tic

is

particularly

105. 115. 121. 126

FEATURED pp.62. 63

Rumex

Scabiosa atropurpurea

(1ft)

to use Flower- head

although

it

takes a long time

go from the

fleshy stems. If they

too

foliage lends an attractive

scent to dried arrangements.

brown

become

they can be spray

light position

hme to

sunny position

methods of drying Air

planting plan p. 133

preserve

standing

time

to pick Summer, autumn

methods of drying Air dry

height

hanging

This

height

30cm

(1ft)

parts

pick

SOil.

Any time

planting conditions

to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dlY

to a rich, rust-

The

delicate

little

pale pink

flowers of this garden

when

campion

soil,

or

TO PICK Autumn
methods of drying Air
hanging

TLME

2in

to use Whole plant

is

planting conditions .Any

PLANTING PLAN p. 131

dry.

in glycerine

5cm

dried.

light position

light position

to use Seeding stem

(1ft)

to use Flower

colors Yellow, green

time

Dock stems dry

30cm

parts

Solidago canadensis

colors Blue, purple, white

parts

height

Golden rod

PLANTING CONDITIONS Moist

HEIGHT 1.2m (4ft)

dry-

hanging

Selaginella sp.

scabious

soil,

soil,

FEATURED pp.12. 50. 51. ~9

Cottage scabious, sweet

Any

Any

sunny position
tlme to pick Summer
methods of drying Air

pink color.

Dock, sorrel
SOil.

daisy,

look very fresh

COLORS Rust

Any

Silene pendula
Campion, pink cluster
nodding catchfly

painted lightly to their natural

Club moss
colors Green

PLANTING CONDITIONS

dried.

planting conditions

30cm

for the moisture to

S.

for drying. Their aroma-

51. 53. 58. 60. 66. "3. 9". 101.

obtusifoliiis

when

colors Pink

dry-

The mounded pink florets of

sedums will dry eventually,

to use Foliage, flower

parts

good

results.

featured pp.10. 12.

to pick Autumn
methods of drying .Air

tlme

best

a plant that looks

good

height

preserved in a glycerine so-

parts

60cm-lm

to

dry-

2-3fi

use Flower spray

green color. I'se the whole

parts

Although the flowers shrink

which green dye has

been added. The green dye

The many forms of golden

seeding stems in large arrange

ments or break each stem into

small pieces and use in both
small
and
medium-sized

substantially as they dry. they

keeps

siderably.

arrangements.

FEATURED

still

tle,

to use Flower

lution to

look attractive in their subdusty colors.

p.

13

FEATURED p.9~

Salvia spp. and

Squill

Sage

colors Blue

colors Purple, pink

planting conditions

Am

SOil,

sunny position
to pick Summer
METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

time

hanging

it

close to

its

natural,

Club moss
can be used as a base for
arrangements or bunches can

all

rod.

of which dry well, vary con

some having

close-

of flowers and

bright green color.

knit

be used

open
them
well before the flowers open to

FEATURED

Scilla sibirica

PLANTING CONDITION--

is

featured pp.l6. 38. 39. 58. 98.

sunny position

soil,

PLANTING PLAN p. 131

to use Flower

it

120

sunny position

parts

be

PLANTING CONDITIONS Well-

Any

planting conditions

attractive

sedum

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

height

bud

should

greyi

Senecio

flowers begin to open, as

spectabile

Santolina spp.

soil,

(1ft)

Leaf, flower

the leaves and buds which are

PLANTING conditions Well-

drained

30cm

to use

picked well before the yellow

105

p.

dry-

hanging, or press

like foliage.
p.

others

having

more

plumes.

You can

also dry

use

102

"feathers''

when

green.

featured pp.25. 97, 115. 117

Senecio greyi

Any

soil.

Senecio.

German

Splxignum

ivy

sp.

Sphagnum moss

sunny position
time to pick Spring
METHODS OF DRYING Dry With

colors Silver

light position

PLANTING CONDITIONS MoiSt.

desiccant, or crystallize

PLANTING PLAN p. 119

acid

soil, light

height 10cm

time

time

to

-tin

PLANTING CONDITIONS

154

to

pick

Any

Summer

SOil.

colors Green

pick

position

Anv time

PLANT GUIDE

METHODS of drying Air dry

"7
height .5cm (3in)

to lse Whole

parts

plant

many

Invaluable as a base for

usneoides

Tillanilsui

Feather flower, cauliflower

PLANTING CONDITIONS Epiphytic;

morrison

riMi TO pick Summer

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry
hanging
HEiGFrr45cm (18in)
parts to use Flowering stem

common

lender;

in

colors Silver
SOil,

sunny position
PLANTING PLAN p

19

hanging, or press

22cm

(9in)

to lse Flower bud

parts

spray.

Soil.

sunny position

dry

TO pick Summer
METHODS of drying Air dry
hanging

The papers

TIME

20cm

(Sin)

45cm

will

telle-

(lowers of

immor

dry on the plant, but

they are very delicate and often

damaged

This extraordinary plant looks

height

narrow gray hay. It makes a

lace- like surround for posies
and ropes and can also be
used to cover frames and

parts

The strong-shaped, large, flat

corymbs of flowers, which dry

bases.

ture to arrangements.

Corn-on-the-cob

FEATURED pp.17, 33

FEATURED p.4l

colors Orange, yellow, purple

like

METHODS OF DRYING Air dry

height

.Air

to lse Strand

parts

Any

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Any

PLANTING CONDITIONS

hanging
height

Cream

colors

South

Any time

methods of drying

tongue

to

18in)

get

corymb

use Flower

add an interesting tex

easily,

if

dried in this

way.

FEATURED pp.12, 58

Zea mays

PLANTING CONDITIONS Rich

leaf

The woolly

silver

bud

sprays

Tulipa spp. and cvs.

pansy

Tulip

Violet,

feati red pp.98, 99, 121, 123

colors Red, yellow, pink.

colors Violet

white, purple

PLANTING conditions Moist

Taxus kaccata

planting conditions

Yew

sunny position
time to pick Spring

Any

planting conditions

soil,

light position

time to pick

Any time

methods of drying

.Air

dry

METHODS OF DRYING Dry with

crystallize

height

flower

parts

parts

spray

parrot - can

to

lse Foliage spray

ping and

it

can be used both

in

time

height 7.5-10cm (34in)

All tulips

dries well without drop-

PLANTING PLAN p. 133

desiccant

hanging or standing

parts

to

in

all

year round dis

plays

- single, double and

Tilia

cordata

soil.

position

light

TO PICK Summer
METHODS Of drying Air

TIME

preserve

height

in

dry.

or

30cm

PARTS TO USE Seeding spray

The color of the seed sprays

Typba angnstifolia
Bulrush, reedmace,

RID p 102

cream

cvs.

PLANTING CONDITIONS Well

Brown

colors

cat-tail

Brown

drained

drained
i

IMF

to

Winter

desiccant

PLANTING PIAN p. 133

methods of drying

to pick Autumn
methods of drying Air dry

standing

standing

TO USE Grape stem

Grape stems can be twisted

time

height

as

the

Air dry

hi k,

lft)

PARTS

11.2m

(3 4ft)

together

head

of

roll

seeds

just

turns

its

ift

'

looking

lengths of about

in

form

to

wreaths.

before they are

in

Xerantbemum

sp

it

FEATUREDp.il

Bend

do

dry out so they

Spray the

in

into

not snap

place

bulrush with

dries

mstic

shape before the woody stems

seeds

lacquer to hold the seeds

position as

l.2m

Common
colors

155

immortelle

IjI.h

white

5cm

(2in) flower

to st Flower he-ad
These half hardy annuals from
Mexico dry very well with de
parts

height 1.2m

sunny position

Summer

METHODS OF DRYING Dry with

position

soil, light

PICK

soil,

TIME TO PICK

PLANTING CONDITIONS Well

surface of the

FEATI

and

Grape

the glycerine solution, which

material.

FEATURED pp.11. 9"

colors Yellow, orange, red,

deposit

the

are not edible.

gum

using the

either

spp.

I 'itis

can be enhanced with the ad

tints to

lized,

FEATURED p.101

dition of nisi colored dye to

lend autumnal

crystal-

Zinnia elegans

brown, and well before the

column starts to break up and

will

delicious

Zinnia

Bulrushes must be picked

(lft)

is

has been

it

FEATURED pp.98. 99

PARTS TO USE Seed

glycerine

violet

different colored

arabic or egg-white method.

loam, water

FLAMING conditions Any

Flower

when

parts TO USE Seed head

There are many varieties of
or
corn-on the cob
Indian
corn. The Rainbow
variety

to striking effect.

planting conditions Rich

colors Green, rust

to eat

height 30cm-1.5m (l-5ft)

produces a selection of small

cobs which

(2in)

se

standing

be dried effectively with desiccants and used

colors

Lime, linden

5cm

to

The scented

Flower-head

se

Christmas arrangements or as
foliage

pan shade

position to

light

soil,

METHODS OF drying Air dry

soil.

to pick Spring
METHODS OF DRYING PieSS, Or

height 15-60cm (6in-2ft)

Yew

Any

soil.

sunny position
time to pick Summer, autumn

spp.

'iola

have a very strong form.

colors Green

Soil,

colors Gray

time to pick

ear, lamb's

Any

sunny position

types of arrangement.

Stacbys lanata

PLANTING CONDITIONS

Morrison'

FEATL RED p.58

Lamb's

brownii

'erticordia

Tumbleweed, Spanish moss

siccanis Their brilliant colors

are

well

suitexl

to

autumnal arrangements

strong,

Index
bold

Page numbers

in

to illustrations

and captions

refer

blazing star 151

apple 54. 57. 104. 152

borax 100

cherry blossom 104. 153

bortlebrush 31. 97. 113. 114.

chervil 99. I46

April Fools

Abies 107

arrangements 6
with bases 26-9

Acacia 62

chamomile 107. 145

Cbencpodium 1 32

Antbemis nobilis 107. 145

Antbyrium fili.xfemina 54.
99 130 145

A dealbata 144
A decurrens%
A pravissima 13

Day

bouquets

75,

75-7

blues 36,

37

C.

145

16. 16.

17

2~-9

circular 26.

bleaching 106

chestnut 106

bouquets
bowls 19

16. 16.

17,89

Chinese lantern 62. 84. 86.

18-25

ingredients 10-13

boxes 108
Briza maxima 127
B media 145

canipestre

99

posies 16. 17

broom

Achillea 22. 23.

9-4

principles of

Acer 1 44
A japon ica Aureurri

in containers

decorating with 48-69

112.

113

A ageratum 58
A filipendulina 113.

124.

144

A/ "Coronation Gold'
A millefolium Cerise
Queen

12. 112. 124. 144

A ptarmica 24
A taygetea Moonshine'
1

113. 124
Actinidia

buckets as containers
bulrush

texture 9

bunches:

Arundinaria 145
A murielae 112. 113
A >7/r/^112. 113

attics,

95-7

Father Christmas 83

43

farmhouse

Arena fatua

Lane 105

Bupleurum

54.

54-7

bush 62.

button snakeroot 151

cider

Calendula

Alstroemeria ligtu 101. I44

alum 100

Amarantbus 31
A Cauda tus 125

baby's breath 10. 125. 127.

1-49

98. 112. 113. 145

bark containers 34
baskets 47. 53. 142-3

citrinus Splendens

C.

subulatus91. 114, 145

hybridus 12

Amaryllis belladonna 101

144

moss 102. 154

cockscomb 12. 125. 126.

9" 125

144

I46

146

Adolphe Andersson"
105. 130
campion 50. 154
Cape cowslip 99. 150
Cape gooseberry 1 53

color,
36.

dried flowers. 106

glycerine preserved material

Carlina acaulis 13. 97

102. 104

cauliflower morrison 155

Delphinium

bedrooms

44. 58.

58-61

Ceanothus AT. Johnson"

belladonna

Celosia
lily

cones, wiring 15
Cofisolida

18.

24

C. cristata

101. I44

coronaria 99 145
Anetbum gravedkns I4S

birch 25. 26. 107. 145

ceramic containers

Angelica arclxingelica 104

black eyed Susan. 132

Anigozanthjs 22.19- 145

bladder cherrv

margaritacea I44

.4;7fwo/je89

127. 133. 146

'.

birthdays 89.

89-91
1

20

flat-backed arrangements

21

Centaurea cyan us 66. 119.

container arrangements 18-25

fan shapes

12. 25. 124. 125.

126

bells of Ireland 10. 11. 102.

ambigua See

arrangement shapes 20-3

119. 146

10. 11. 32. 37. 47. 102.

summer
trees

containers 1-413

macroceplxila I46
1-41

baskets 22

24-5

baskets 142-3

cereals 40

ceramic

Oxierup/jylium temulentum

design and 34

99. I46

53

156

9.

coloring:

102 131 152

Bethlehem sage 153
Betula pendula 107 145

Anaplxilis 129

arrangement design

37-9

preparing 19

89 91

106. I48
94,

Clematis vitalba 11. l4~

club

Christmas 86

beech

Ammobium 33

Clematis 26. 89. 118

comfrey 132. 133

birthday

26.

blossom 104

Ca. caulescens 29. I46

carnations 89
Cartlximus tinctorius 146

arrangements 22. 23

127. I44

69

arrangements

clay supports 19. 140

113

C.

Cj.

131.

62. 103. I48

Cladonia 50. 106. 107. l4~

C japonica

bamboo

133. 153

alatumli.

citrus

Camellia 100. 129

Viridis'

officinalis 112,

Callistemon 117

125 126

almond blossom 104. 105

gum

circlets 29.

54. 97. 145

10. 24. 29.

Allium afflatuense 127. I44

Tanacetum) vulgare

58. I46

31. 145

CaltiM palustris 132, 133

112. 124

132.

27-9

harvesting 94

AJdjemilla mollis

7. 130.

Ovystantbemum Penny

96

wiring 15

121. 149

hang dning 94

84

150

113. 145

Australian spider

94

garlands 83.

Christmas rose

packing 109

aucuba 129

drying upright 94

133. 155

circular

air-drying techniques 93. 94.

10. 44. 97,

fresh stems

Artemisia abrotanum 119

artichokes 45. 94. 108. 14^

Astilbe arendsii 145

70.91.

83-8
color 83

aspidistra 102

29

flat

146
Christmas decorations 83.

bun moss 149

adhesive clay 19. 140

drying

91.94. 153
Qxjisya ternata 98. 102. 106.

33. 117. 147

shape 9
simple 16-1"
wiring 14-15

62

chicken-wire supports 140-1

bows 136. 137. 138

box 102. 129

color 9

ficifolium 133. I46

1-*1

glass 142

INDEX

informal arrangements 44

texture 40,
dill

texture 40

dining

wooden

dock

143

copper beech

10,

103

41-3

rooms

false castor oil plant

62-5

62.

132, 154

drying techniques

94,97, 108, 155

cornflower 47, 66, 119, 127,

farmhouse
6,

drying 93. 94.

92-105

95-7

Cortaderia selloana

47

Con'liis arellana Contorta'

Cotinus coggygria 147

'Purpureas' 131

rooms

50,

female fern 7. 54, 99. 130.

101

99
mas 103, 148

pressing 93, 98, 98.

C.

106, 107, 108

techniques 93.

KM. 104. 105

1-P

pepo l4~

Echinops 17

curry plant 114, 149

E.

bannaticus 12. 119

Cynara scolymus 147

cyrtomium 129

ritro 35, 54, 58, 120,

Cytisus scopariiis \A1

148

egg white

crystallizing 104,

eggs, Easter 78,

Gp.

Fairy' 17, 124,

E.p. 'Maculata'

6.

10

89
Freesia x kewensis 100. 100.
fragrant gifts

E.

D. Glorie van

Heemstede'

13
decorating with arrangements

48-69

Delphinium

10, 37, 60, 108,

118, 132

D.
D.

ambigua 12
ambiguum 133

D. consolida 54, 58, 62.

148

D. 'Pacific' hybrid

119

100. 101

'border 112,

41, 102, 106,

E.

dalrympleana 103
gunnii 62. 103

E.

niphophila 1 19

E.

pauciflora

nana

125-7

and silver
border 118, 119-23
red, orange and yellow

113-17

japonica Aureopictus'

112
everlasting 58, 113, 115, 125.

everlasting daisy 149

37-9

// italicum 30. 66.

German

milfordiae 13

giant hogvveed 133. 150

glass containers 19. 142

// stoecbas

splendidum
127

ivy 15-t

globes 26

157

irgmeum 54
//
Hclipterum 22. 38.

49

thistle 12. 54. 58.

120.

29.

126 127. 134.

124 125.

149

globe
11. 148

17,

58. 112, 113. 114, 117.

Gentiana 89
G. sinoornata 149

globe amaranth

Fagus syivatica

H. angustifolium

58,66.94. 112 113. 115.

following nature 34

45-7

10, 22, 25. 31.

32, 33. 41. 79. 84. 86.

Genista 149

globe artichoke 147

style 44,

Helichrysum

H. bracteatum 8. 13. 17.

gay feather 151

containers 34

location 3

H.h. Goldheart' 113

H.h Marginata' 119
H.h Poetica' 130

125, 127, 149

garlands 30, 31. 33

Christmas 83, 84
1

113

117

shady borders 129. 130-3

sunny borders 129. 130-3

148

127, 149

design 34-47
color 36.

for picking 124,

Eucalyptus

74

colchica Aurea

H. helix \^9

gardenias 89

pink, blue

/:.

desiccant techniques 93, 100,

Hedera

gardens 110-33

Euonymus 129

121. L47-8

D datum 58.

112

Erodium cicutarium 99, 148

Eryngium 22, 118, 148
E. x oliveranum 119

E.

tongue 130

hearts, red rose 73.

carnea 35

10,

Hallowe'en 80, 80-2

hanging arrangements 30,

30-3

149

Erica arborea 35, 106, 129,

131, 148

125

me- nots 89

pungens 148

Dahlia 12, 22, 29,94. 112,

114, 115. 117, 147

and Pink

Bristol Fairy'

pressing 98

hart's

E.

113
Dedham' 48

88.94.96. 129. 131

G paniculata 124, 127,

preserving 102

forget

789

daffodil 101. 105. 133. 152

D.

tree 119, 148

Gypsophila 31. 32. 33. 44. 47.

149

Elaeagnus 102

D. Comet'

littoralisWl
arabic 104

coloring 106

fragrance

105

G
gum
gum

foliage 10

78-9

49

1(9

Griselina 129

149
Easter arrangements 78,

maxima

G. rosmarinifolius

fircones 10. 33,40,94,96,

meanings of 89
foam 19, 140
Foeniculum rulgare 133,

Crocus cbrysanthus 147

crystallizing

55

Grimmia puh inula

flowers,

parsley 106

Cucurbita

poppy 152

fig-leaved goose-foot 146

dyeing material 102, 106

Grenllea 62, 121

ferns 32, 10,40, 106, 129

field

Dryopteris Jilix

grape vine

124. 149

greens 36. 37

145
fennel 106, 132, 133, 149

102

Gomphrena glohosa
gourds 80.

105

glycerine 93, 102,

115, 117. 125, 131. 132,

154

japonica 130, 148-9

feather flower 155

50-3

cow

golden rod 17,97. 112,113.

54-7

crystallizing 93, 104, 104.

103

147

cottage living

F.

attics 54,

W2, 129

Fatsia

desiccants 93, 100, 100.

132, 133. 1^6

C.c.

air

102, 103
goat's beard 145

arrangements 20

corkscrew hazel 146

glycerine techniques 93, 102,

148-9

Dryandra 148
drying agents 100

10, 11, 66,

hanging 31
130.

fan shapes, container

coriander 106

corn-on the-cob

Cuprea 103

F.s.

13, 29, 145

metal 142

149

119.

// COtula 13.
//

9t.

18.

62

manglesttiS, 70. 119.

125. 19 50

124

INDEX

location of arrangement 34

HeUeboriis\29, 132. 150

H. corsicus

130

lace

cap hydrangea 98. 99.

style

103. 150

H.foetidusl 32

Xigella 29. 47. 118

A damascena

and 44

loops:

H. ntger 130. 132

LacJjenalia aloides 99. 150

raffia

139

nodding

H. orientate 13Q, 132

lady fern 99. 145

wire 139

nuts 106

mantle 112. 125.126.

H. viridis 132. 133

Heracleum mantegazzianum

lady's

133. 150
heron's bill 99.

lamb's
1-+8

honeysuckle

large leaved

H. sieboldii

130

130

10. 17. 22. 30.

106. 118.

129. 150

macropbylla 11. 48. 66.

103 121

98. 99.

//w

'Altona 101. 120.

H.m. 'Generate Vicomtesse

deVibraye 119
H.m. Hortensia 58
serrata

10. 12. 89.

angiistifolia 12. 121.

maple 10.99.

M sylvestris 152
P.

Pink Chiffon 119

P.

Sarah Bernhardt'

coloring 106

104

supports

14. 1-+0

119. 129. 130. 149

lxodia

47

/ acJjilleoides

50

bamboo 66

Jerusalem sage 113. 152

lugs

128

lih -of-the

valley

K<xbia 11 Al. 120

15

miniature rose 12. 22

pearly everlasting I44

mint 10+

period dining rooms 62. 62-5

Miscantbus sinensis 132. 152

Persian buttercup 101. 153

l4~i

pastel colors

Peruvian

lih

101. I44

Plxienocoma 47

102. 106. 129. 131, 152

mop-headed hydrangea 66.

99. 119 120. 121 130
150

P. prolifera

66. 152

Pblonns fruticosa 102. 112.

113. 152
Pbyllitis

129

scolopendrium 130
Plnsalis alkekengi 62. 8*. 86

moss:

P.

drying 94.

96

153
Picea glauca 84. 86

P pungens glauca

pin oak

Sarassus

112, 114. 151

'New Art Shades 125

L suworowa 12, 151
living rooms 44
cottage- 50, 50-3

r/x>eas 107. 133. 152

miniature daisy 153

62.

lime 102. 155

-9

grass 10

36
peach 153
pear blossom 104

10. 13. 17.

dyeing 106

'.

kitchens 44

I44

miniature bulrush 11

89

Limonium 47. 94. 96. 117

L dumosum 151
L latifolium 107 151
L sinuatum 48. 50. 58. 66.

kangaroo paw 145

Kansas gayfeather 151

Mexican orange blossom I46

107

Lilium 100. 151

L Aristocrat 101
L auratum 60
La. rubrum 58
L speciosum rubrum 101
Japanese

pansy 98. 99. 105. 155

Papai er 62. 118

Moluccella laevis 11. 102.

lichen 50. 77. 86. 106.

1

123

pampas

Ms. Aariegarus 133

Liatris spicata 151

108. 118.

119

92. 98. 100.

metal containers 142

mimosa

L rubrum 151
L meridianum 31
L stelligenum 97

10. 40.

meanings of flowers 89

milfoil

1-tl

120

painting dried flowers 106

152

Leucodendron 22. 50. 53. 66

Peony

Matteucia strutbiopteris 130.

151

113. 118.

lactiflora 101.

121. 152

marjoram 10. 13. 17. 152

marsh marigold 132. 133

Leptospermum 12. 33. 110.

133. 150

Paeonia

marigold, pot 89. 145

lentil

Iris foetidissima 132.

106. 112. 113.

144

leaves:

Lenten rose 130. 150

informaliry 44

130. 152
ostrich fern 130. 152

lavender cotton 62. 131. 154

lengthening stems

/fee 150

13. 152

regalts 11. 33. 58.

male fern 103. I48

Maluspumila 54

pressing 98

immortelle 12. 58. 155

Osmunda

L GrappenhalT 119
L Hidcote' 119

lemon balm 104

Origanum majorana

89. 102. 151

Mabonia 102. 129

Mjaponica 151
lomariifolia 130

preserving 102

130

old man's beard 11. l4~

orchids 89. 100

Magnolia

118. 129

106

10, 32.

onions 10.96. 127. I44

150-1

crystallizing

H. petiolaris \\S

ivy 10. 102. 106.

oats 31. 47. 54. 97. 110. 145

lavender See Lai andula

130

H m.

Lunaria rediviia 151

118. 119. 121.

laurel 102

Lavandula

oak

lungwort 104

46

123. 131. 132 133. l-T-8

lupulus 150

love-lies-bleeding I44

hydrangea 11

62 91

58.

31.83.88.94.98.

106.119.125. 152

58.

larkspur 12. 22. 41. 47. 54.

H. fortunei Aurea

Hydrangea

12. 119. 151

large-headed centaurea

129

26.

hops 150
Hostal. 129. 150

Hamulus

love-in-a-mist 10. 40. 50. 53.

tail

121. 155

honesty 151

catchfly 12. 50. 154

lovage 106

144

lamb's tongue 98. 99. 119.

holly 102, 129. 150

50. 58. 119.

124.125. 152

Ls.

Cheerfulness 101

N.

Golden

N.

Peeping

101
obiallaiis 133

.V.

Sarah'

nectarine 153

158

Harvest'

Tom

53

pink yarrow 12

101

10-*.

53

pink cluster daisy 154

100. 104. 152

A'

105

Ptnus 66
P. sylvestris

153

Pitlxxarpa corymbulosa 79.

153

pittosporum 102

INDEX

plaintain

lily

130. 150
rabbit shapes 75.

105
Polxgonatum multijlorum

raffia

Polysticbum 129

reds 36,

pompon

dahlia 12. 13. 29.

scented

10.

22, 40, 41, 44.

152

107
meaning of 89

R
R
R

pressing 98

R.

coloring 106.

Scots pine

17

birthday 89

pot marigolds 89. 113. 145

pot-pourri 89. 91.

1-tl

preserving techniques 92-105

Darling

R.

'New Dawn' 118. 119

Nordia' 115

pressing 93. 98. 98.

99

pressing techniques 93. 98,

98 99
primrose 72, 104. 105. 133.

Primula polyantba 105

vulgaris 104. 105. 133.

153
prince's feathers 12. 125.

127. 144
privet 129
9-1.

rosemary 118. 129

97

33

Primus 153
P. dulcislH

storing 108.

5.

stork's

124. 125. 126. 127.

Strutbiopteris See

preserving 102

germanica 1 52
rooms 66, 669
style 44. 45-7
S.

98

studio

styrafoam 19.

Sumac 132

20-3

sunray 13. 62. 119. 125. 149

sunny borders
supports 140-1

swags 33

53

Silene pendula 12. 50. 79.

Swan

84.86. 110. 154

silica gel 100. 101
silver bush 151

sweet peas 98

153

silver-leaved everlasting
silver lichen

pumpkins 147

quaking grass 127.

late.
1

15

River everlasting

58

silver

spruce 84. 86, 153

meaning of 89

silver

strawberry 12, 151

for picking 124

siting

arrangements

pressing 98

and 44
small headed yarrow 58

tea tree 151

royal fern 7. 11. 58. 130, 152

smoke

texture:

Rumex

Solidago canadensis 97. 115.

46 7
Taxus baccata 55

tansy 58.

tree 131. 147

terracotta containers

Lemore' 131

S.t

Peter Pan'

x byhrida

113

tl

arrangement design

9.

40,

containers

125

Mimosa

ti

Solomon's

sand drying 100

s<

97.

seal
1

133. 153

tree 151

T.

cordata 155

x eucblora 102

fi/landsia 155

sandflower 13. 97. 144

southernwood 119

tolbos

Santolina 62, 118. 129. 154

Spanish moss. 17. 33. 155

tools

1(1

neapolitana 131

special occasions 70 91

132

saw toothed hydrangea 130

April Fools Daj 75,

53

Scabiosa 17. 132

Birthday 89.

159

i()

drying 94

thistk-s.

Tilia

Salvia 47, 131. 154

>rrcl

41-3

s e

S.

style

sage 131. 154

58

\iolet 133
Symphytum tuberosa 133

drying 94, 100

safflo\ver91. 146

29-33

sweet

cypress 11. 120. 150

sweet scabious 13. 133

154

54

k)

arrangements 9
container arrangements 20.

crystallizing 104

U9

Mattaucaa

119. 120. 154

silver

obtusifolius 97.

108-9

148

strawflower 13. 54. 66. 115.

greyi 38. 58. 92. 99. 118.

IS.

Puhnonaria saccbarata 104.

bill

133, 150

shield fern

Rosea plena' 104. 105

Quercus palustris

kraussiana 102

iris

shell flower 11. 152

Pseudosasa japonica 66

Queen Anne's

stems, lengthening 14. 140

Selaginvlla 154

105. 112. 118. 125. 129.

stonng 108

108, 153

P. nerifolia

Pd

Lights'

96, 114. 125. 151

stemless carline thistle 13

shady borders 129-33

131
126
Zephryn Drouhin 130
Northern

54

shapes:

Silva 10. 29.

53. 60, "2. 73. 74. 91.

104

pressing 98

Protect

R.

R
R

Autumn Joy 131

pressing 98.

roses 10. 10. 12. 24. 40. 41.

153
crystallizing

P.

66

spectabile

stinking

Gruss an .Aachen 101

101

103

stance 10. 17. 22. 50. 53. 58.

129

Senecio 23, 129

Mercedes' 66

lanata 98. 99. 118. 119.

seed heads 10

17,

R.

glycerine 93. 102. 102.

StacbysW, 118

dyeing 106

5.

desiccants 93. 100. 100.

104.

crystallizing 93, 104.

squill 154

53

121. 155

5.5.

10

5.

5.

58
R Favourite' 119
R Gerda 50. 134
R Golden Times' 10.
50 66 101
R.

spray coloring 106

54

sea lavender 31, 107, 151

58
Chanelle 131

105

95-7

32

Bridal Pink

R Handel' 119
R Jaguar' 66
R Megiddo' 113. 117

drying 93. 94,

air

spheres 26. 31

sea holly 37, 119. 148

Sedum

Christian Dior'

04

89

gifts

Scilla sibirica

Rosa Blue Moon' 119. 121,

123

valentine's Day 72, 72^4

sphagnum moss 58, 54

10

scissors 140

dyeing 106

62 86 91. 107. 110, 133,

posies 16,

38

ropes, dried flower 26. 30.

poplar 10

6,

scented geraniums

ribbons 136

112, 114, 115. 147

poppies

scent

reedmace 155
rhododendron 129

setiferum plumosa-

dn isilobum 153

Hallowe'en 80, 80-2

scarecrows 81. 82

139
Ranunculus asiaticus 101,
136,

78-9

Easter 78,

S.a.

153

133. 153

P.

76-7

Christmas 83. 83-8

atropurpurea 133, 154

'Tom Thumb' 13

5.

polvantha primrose 98, 104.

89-91

75-7

(9

topbnish 151
traveller's joj

11, 147

tree heather 129

131

Acknowledgments
Author's acknowledgments

cree&

Christmas 88

dried -flower 24,

24-5

would

Sally

like to

thank photographer Andreas Einsiedel,

Smallwood, and editor Jane Laing for

help in producing

101
tumbleweed 17. 155

such wonderful support, together with

Eros'

Hilton,

29

twig circle

this

art editor

their inspirational

book. Very special thanks to Sue Newth for

Talipa 101. 155

T.

all

all the staff at Hillier and

98 Church Road, London SW13. Also thanks to Stephen

Bennington. May Cristea, Kathleen Darby, Peter Day, June Henry.

twigs 136

Veronica Hitchcock, Peter Machin, Jay Musson, Jenny and Richard

Typba angustifolia 11. 133

Raworth. Alex

Starke}-,

Josephine White, and Roddy Wood.

minima 132

7!

Dorling Kindersley would

like to

thank Richard Bird for the

index. Lynn Bresler for proof-reading. Jenny

Day

72,

ertkorclia 22.

41

tola

Valentine's

72-4

55

pling for photographic assistance,

V.

odorata 133
x wittrockiana 98, 99.

105
pressing 98

Lesli

20. 113, 119. 125. 130/1, 133

Sternberg: pages 14 15, 19. 21, 24, 2"

violets "2. 155

104

crystallizing

meaning of 89
l/tol55

Zea mays 11, 66. 155

Z.m Rainbow' 97

Zinnia elegans 155

wattle 13. 144

wild arrangements

67

wild-flower border 132.

windflower

133

l-t5

everlasting 13. 125.

144
wire, florist 136. 138
wire, for lengthening

stems

1-tO

wire cutters

l-i0

wire loops 139

1-4. 14-15
compact flower-heads 95

wiring

delicate flower-heads

95

wood\' \ine 26

wrapping flower-heads

108.

109
wreaths 29

Xerantbemutn
X.

annuum

\arrow

10. 44,

yellows 36,

yew

55

12.

for

for his

Illustrators

Andrew MacDonald: pages

winged

and Rupert Wheeler

invaluable help with the production of the book.

V.

\iolas.

Little

supplying fabric and wallpaper (pages 59-61), Christian Turn

brownii 'Morrison' 155

l!

Engelman and Kate

Grant for their enormous help with typing, Osborne and

58

62, 113.

t-+

38

155

160

8.

30

1.

13~M3

ontinued from front

///>)

with Dried Flowers features arrangements designed

to suit specific interior

moods, among them farm-

house, romantic, dramatic, and period.

for special

The book

and innovative arrangements

also provides unusual

occasions such as Christmas, Easter,

Halloween, and Valentine's Day.

For the serious dried-flower enthusiast there

is

no

better source of flowers than a personal garden.

Decorating with Dried Flowers gives complete

instructions for creating, maintaining,

and harvest-

ing a flower garden that provides a steady supply

of drying material yet

remains beautiful year-round.

Full of helpful hints

and professional

tips,

Deco-

rating with Dried Flowers both instructs and

inspires. In this beautifully illustrated volume,

Malcolm

Hillier

shows how the subtle and unique

beauty of dried flowers can be used to enhance any

room.

Malcolm

Hillier

is

the coauthor of the best-selling

The Complete Book of Dried Flowers, as

the

owner

In 1970,

of a thriving

well as

London-based flower shop.

he and Colin Hilton started a garden-design

practice that

now

enjoys a worldwide reputation.

has created flower arrangements for

many

He

promi-

nent clients, including the makers of several feature

films

and television

number

series.

of conservatories,

tured in the movie

He has

also designed a

one

which was

of

fea-

The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Jacket design by Peter A. Davis

CROWN

PUBLISHERS, INC.

225 Park Avenue South

New

York,

New

Manufactured

York 10003

in Italy

MALCOLM HILLIER

By the coauthor

of the acclaimed

The Complete Book of Dried Flowers

Clear, step-by-step illustrations for

every drying and arranging technique

wealth of stunning and unusual arrangements for

every style of interior design

Innovative arrangement ideas for

special occasions

Garden planting schemes

and holidays

specially formulated for

the dried-flower enthusiast

ISBND-S17-Sb^23-X