With the end of summer drawing near our minds are beginning to go to the holidays that will be upon us in a few short months. For many gardeners, it’s time to call it quits for this year’s garden.
However, it is fairly easy to save the bounty to enjoy throughout the holidays or even to give as gifts.
Preserve Your Garden's Bounty.
Preserving herbs and dried flowers is easy. The most important part is to make sure you pick them at the correct time. For herbs, this would mean before they begin to flower. For dried flowers the best time to pick them is when they are just coming out of the bud stage. This ensures that they will not open too far during the drying process.
Put the dried flowers in a container of silica gel and then seal it. The flowers are then left to dry anywhere from three to seven days depending on the size of the flower and the ease at which it dries.
For herbs, either use a dehydrator or simply hang them to dry. Should you decide to hang the herbs to dry be sure that air can freely circulate around and between the stems and leaves or they will mold.
Dried Flower And Herb Craft Ideas.
Once your herbs and flowers are dry you can begin to make potpourri or even holiday ornaments with them. Wreaths are an easy project as is potpourri. With either of these two items you can also complete your project while the herbs and flowers are still fresh and then allow them to dry. The choice of course depends on the end results you desire.
Making wreaths is easier with fresh materials. You certainly don’t have to worry about breaking them. However, if you are making a tiny wreath for a Christmas tree it may be easier to work with dried materials.
Potpourri can be made using either fresh or dried materials. However, if you want a potpourri that is pretty and can be displayed you should use dry materials and a fragrance or essential oil. Potpourri made when the herbs and flowers are still fresh is good to use in a sealed container. It has also been said that potpourri made this way will retain its scent for years.
Decorating candles and other holiday arrangements with dried herbs and flowers can make it seem much more festive, not to mention the great scent that will be released throughout your home.
Create Aromatherapy Products With Herbs From Your Garden.
This brings us to the next point. Why not use some of those fresh herbs for aromatherapy? Many books explain how to get herbs to release their essential oils into various oils or alcohols. You can make an aromatherapy inspired potpourri or use specific herbs to create the mood you want. For example, let’s say you would like everyone who visits your home to feel cheerful, refreshed and uplifted. Use lots of lime scented materials. There is lime mint, fresh cut lime slices and add in a few drops of a lime essential oil. Toss in a few pink or red flowers with maybe a dash of yellow flowers and you have a very festive looking bouquet or potpourri.
If you feel really stressed out during the holidays try lavender. Maybe everyone is sick so you could make a eucalyptus arrangement.
Great Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas From Your Garden.
These ideas also make great gifts for everyone on your holiday list. After all, who couldn’t use a bouquet, wreath, potpourri or even bath oil?
The choices for holiday decorating and gift giving using aromatherapy and products from your garden are only as limited as your imagination.
Another great idea is making homemade gifts from your kitchen. Even the little ones can help out there.
So, while you are busy drying herbs for decorations, don’t forget to dry some to add to your holiday meal as well as to keep you supplied until next summers bounty comes around again.
