| When we think of giving holiday gifts, items from | | | | Another idea is to fill a tall, clear cylindrical vase or |
| our gardens don't always come to mind. After all, | | | | jar with dried blooms, all of the same color. This is |
| during the months of November and December, | | | | a great technique for making the flowers last |
| most parts of the country experience cold | | | | their longest, because it will keep them from |
| weather that is unsuitable for gardening. However, | | | | exposure to dust and humidity. |
| it is possible to harvest flowers and greenery | | | | If you are lacking a good place to dry flowers, |
| from our gardens during the warm summer | | | | another preservation method is pressing. The |
| months and preserve those items to give as gifts | | | | basic principle behind pressing flowers is to gently |
| during the holiday season. In this article, we'll | | | | spread the blooms out between two sheets of |
| explore a few ideas for creating treasured gifts | | | | clean, absorbent paper and then apply pressure or |
| from your garden that can be enjoyed long after | | | | weight for some period of time. One easy way |
| the growing season has ended. | | | | to do this is to put the blooms in between the |
| Obviously, if you want to give a gift of flowers | | | | pages of a large, heavy book. The end result is a |
| after their prime growing season is over, you'll | | | | dried and pressed flower. This process can be |
| have to find a good way of preserving the | | | | sped up by applying silica gel or even microwaving |
| blooms. Drying flowers by hanging them upside | | | | the flower. |
| down is one of the easiest ways to accomplish | | | | Pressed flowers can be made into almost limitless |
| this. When learning to dry flowers, it will probably | | | | gifts. One quick and easy way to use them is to |
| take some time and experimentation to get the | | | | have them laminated between heavy sheets of |
| best results. You'll want to find a very dry and | | | | clear plastic, and then cut the sheets of lamination |
| slightly warm place to hang them. A laundry room | | | | into bookmarks. You could also add a poem, |
| with a dryer can work well. Some flowers will | | | | photograph, or paper initial in the lamination as |
| respond better to drying than others. The goal is | | | | well, for a special effect. Once the bookmark is |
| to remove the moisture from the flowers as | | | | cut out, punch a hole on top and tie a satin ribbon |
| quickly as possible, so that the blooms will still | | | | on it for a nice touch. Pressed flowers can also be |
| retain their color and shape as much as possible. | | | | used to decorate the top of gift boxes or bags, |
| Gift ideas are almost endless when it comes to | | | | as well. |
| dried flowers. Making wreaths and other | | | | These are just a few ideas out of the many |
| arrangements is a very popular idea; however, | | | | things you can do with dried or pressed flowers. |
| there are many other uses, as well. Consider | | | | For more ideas, get online or visit your library to |
| covering a picture frame with small dried | | | | check out some books on preserved floral crafts. |
| blossoms. You can then use the frame for a | | | | You'll discover that your imagination is the only |
| special photograph or memento, making a really | | | | limit when it comes to what you can do with |
| unique and treasured gift for the recipient. | | | | these beautiful products of your garden. |