Flower Shares: Week Nine

Hello everyone!

This week, we have an explosion of one of my favorite flowers, gomphrena, which is also known as globe amaranth. I love the flowers' vibrant colors and hardiness, and how fully the plants fill out a bed. If you are considering an annual to plant in your garden next year, I highly recommend this one!

Something especially wonderful about this flower is how quickly and easily it dries. I don't know about you, but I crave color in the winter months, and seeing these happy little globes in January helps me get by. As the leaves change, and our summer flower share winds down, those months felt a little closer this week. So I thought I'd send you a colorful gift for the gray times, should you choose to give drying flowers a try! 

Tuesday folks, this week in your shares, you will find a simple and vibrant bunch of gomphrena, in magentas, reds, whites, pinks, and purples. Thursday folks, you have hot chili and hot biscuits amaranth, perfect for fall decorating, and two varieties of celosia, the tops of which can be used to add a pop of color to wreaths or other crafts. Below, you will find directions for hang drying your flowers:

1.  If possible, choose a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space in which to hang your flowers. This helps keep the colors vibrant. An attic or empty closet is ideal.

2. Tie your stems into smaller bunches (up to ten stems), using a rubber band or string. Don't tie bunches too tightly, since creases in the stems can cause dampness and rotting. For large amaranth, hang each stem individually.

3. Tie your bunches, petals down, onto a clothes hanger, knobs, or nails. As long as your flowers as upside-down, you are on the right track! Check out this great photo from Better Homes and Gardens for an idea of what that can look like:

4. When your flowers feel dry to the touch, they are ready to be used in dried bouquets, wreaths, or other crafts. The drying process can take up to two weeks. 

And that's it! Best of luck to you in your flower drying experiments!

Thank you, and all the best,

Stacy