Pot pourri — a fragrant reminder of summer

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 30, 17 December 1985, Page 15

Pot pourri — a fragrant reminder of summer

Once again Christmas is upon us! Ourgardens have responded to the care lavished on them over the past months, " the lawns are all mown, the flower beds weeded, taller perennials and gladioli have been staked, the vegetable garden is showing a rich harvest and we are free to spend the long hot summer days of our holiday relaxing in the garden to enjoy aU the beauty our toil has created. Well, we can all dream, can't we? Anyway, may I wish each and every one of you a happy and peaceful Christmas with some warm summer weather and the opportunity to sit in the garden and enjoy it if only for an hour or two. Bring the summer colour and perfume of the garden into the house during the winter months by creating a dry pot pourri — a pleasurable occupation and so easy to do. For the basis of your pot pourri collect a few cupfuls of different coloured fragrant rose petals. As all material should be quite dry when collected, choose a time of day after the dew has dried and before the hot sun evaporates the essential oils from the petals. Spread each colour of petals separately onto trays or sheets of newspaper and dry in a warm airy room out of the strong sunlight. Turn the petals regularly, and leave until they are quite dry and softly crisp*. Store in an airtight jar in a dry, dark place until the rest of the ingredients are ready. Add colour to your basic rose petals by the addition of any flowers or herbs which will dry well and keep their colour. Use the petals of borage,

camomile, delphinium, geranium, honeysuckle, jasmin, scented pelargonium, violet and florets of hydrangea. To these can be added leaves of aromatic herbs such as thymes, sages, marjorams, mints, rosemary and lavenders. When all ingredients are ready, mix together in a bowl and add the following spices: to each cupful of dried petals add one teaspoon of ground cloves, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg, and two teaspoons of orris root, obtainable at the chemist. Mix well together and add twelve or so drops of rose oil.

Leave to mature in an airtight jar for three to six weeks, when the pot pourri will be ready for use. What nicer gift for a winter birthday than a dainty jar of pot pourri made from the flowers from your own garden. Last year we sent such a gift to my sister in England with a birthday card designed and hand painted by Dorothy, for which I composed the following verses. If you think the verses would apply to a relative or friend of yours and would care to use them, please feel free to do so.