Immortal dried flowers for original everlasting compositions
The great Russian poet once wrote: "I love the lush wilting of nature." However, dried flowers retain their former beauty and aroma even in the cold season. Experienced florists create all sorts of compositions that are used to decorate residential buildings, offices and educational institutions. In nature, there are a huge number of immortelle plants. Some of them grow in forests, meadows and near water bodies. Others are specially grown on the territory of country houses in order to contemplate their beauty not only in summer, but also in winter. Let's go to the kingdom of unfading plants and get to know some of them. We will learn how to dry them and make bouquets with our own hands.
Unforgettable dried flowers among lush greenery
Some dried flowers lose their color brightness after cutting. Experienced florists use special dyes to correct this deficiency.
Most of the immortal plants belong to the following families:
- cereals;
- aster;
- umbrella;
- lead.
Consider the popular names and photos of perennial dried flowers that our compatriots grow in their private plots.
Snow-white pearl anaphalis
The plant belongs to the "Astrovye" family. In nature, it grows in North America, where the Indians used it to prepare healing potions. The cultivated version is about 40 cm high bushes with brittle shoots. The leaf plates are colored bluish or silver. Their surface is covered with small villi. The buds are shaped like baskets. They are collected in corymbose inflorescences, which are located at the tops of erect shoots.
Paniculata gypsophila
The perennial grows up to 120 cm in height. Consists of many stems that form a magnificent openwork bush crown. Delicate snow-white or pinkish buds are collected in paniculate inflorescences.
Ordinary mordovnik
The culture is distinguished by erect stems covered with barely noticeable villi. It grows up to 1 m in height. The buds consist of many spiny twisted leaves. They form the original blue balls.
The plant is able to retain its original shade for a long time. Therefore, Mordovik often appears in "immortal" bouquets and compositions.
There are many annual dried flowers that are grown in their summer cottages by fans of flora:
- amaranth;
- ammobium;
- spherical craspedia;
- silvery celosia;
- acroclinum;
- feverweed;
- allium (decorative bow).
In addition, orange-colored physalis lanterns are used to create winter bouquets. Coniferous cones. The silvery fruits of the lunaria. Do not forget about wild flowers and cereal crops such as wheat, rye or oats. However, in order to get quality material for creativity, you need to know how to properly cut dried flowers and prepare them for compositions. Find out what the experts advise.
Competent drying of "immortelles"
Plants used to create flower arrangements are cut in the morning in sunny, dry weather. The buds should not be fully opened to maintain the elasticity of the petals. The cut elements are tied into small bundles. Then they are hung upside down. Dry in a dark room with good ventilation. When the dried flowers are completely dry, the bundles are carefully wrapped in tracing paper. Store in the dark until the bouquet is created.
But how to dry flowers in order to preserve a rich shade for a long time? For this, the plants are treated with sulfur. Install the barrel first. Turn it upside down. Freshly cut dried flowers are fixed to the walls, buds down. A baking sheet with glowing coals is placed on the ground, to which a little sulfur is added. The flowers are fumigated for about 12 hours.
As a result of the procedure, the buds will slightly fade. However, after 21 days, they will again acquire a bright color.
In order for dry bouquets to have a presentable look, experts advise replacing the stems of plants with elastic, but thin wire. To do this, it is passed through the bud, making a puncture in the middle of a fresh inflorescence. The wire is wrapped with special adhesive tape, which is used in floristry.
You can dry flowers with absorbent cotton, dehydrators, or an old book.
Basic principles of creating flower arrangements
Since ancient times, people have decorated their homes not only with living, but also dried plants. As a rule, cut flowers only last a few days in a vase. Whereas immortelles retain their attractiveness for more than a year. How to make a bouquet of dried flowers for your home or office interior with your own hands? If it was not possible to prepare the material for the fall, you can "ask" nature for it. Grasses adorn graceful panicles. Seeds hang on the ash tree. Pine or spruce cones lie under your feet in the forest. When the material is collected, they begin to create compositions.
The first step is to prepare the foundation. It can be any pretty container:
- glass vase;
- soup plate;
- pots;
- jug;
- clay pot.
Recently, it has become fashionable to use items from the "attic" in the loft style. There is a suitable base for every interior.
Next, various types of dried flowers are combined. They should be harmoniously combined in size, appearance and texture. Thanks to this, the compositions are much brighter and more attractive. For example, if you collect a bouquet of small flowers, you get a solid monotonous cloud. Crafts from large buds quickly get bored.
To create winter bouquets, you will need scissors, twine and pruning shears.
Although dry flowers for decoration retain their attractiveness for a long time, they are still covered with dust. Sometimes the leaves break, and the branches are bare. And, of course, they fade from sunlight. Therefore, wise gardeners prepare plants for winter bouquets every year in advance. And in their free time they create original masterpieces with their own hands.