Preserving Flowers

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 475, 30 July 1948, Page 23

Preserving Flowers

Hear Aunt Daisy, Do you know if there is any method of keeping flowers-say dahlias for in-stance-in a state of preservation for use in three months’ time? Flowers are not plentiful in winter here in Balclutha, and I wondered if the glycerine method ‘would do for those. "Balclutha." A "Link" supplied the answer to this, and backed. it up by saying that she herself had preserved rosebuds for 3 months, When taken out and put in the vases, they even opened’ out a little --and kept for about 2 weeks! The idea, like many other new ones, came from America, where preserved flowers (zinnias, chrysanthemums, marigolds, cornflowers, water-lilies, cosmos, carnations, scabious, orchids, daffodils, roses and so on) were exhibited in winter at a show. The method is to keep themnot in cold storage, as one would ex-pect-but in perfect DRYNESS. This is done by cutting the stalks so that the flowers will stand straight upright, and arranging them very carefully in deep flowerpots, standing in 2 inches of perfectly dry sand, not touching each other to bruise the petals. Then, working from one side,’ and very, VERY: gently, sift in more DRY sand until the flowers are completely covered, tops and all. Then keep the containers in a cool and perfectly dry place-for 3 months. What a thrill it will be to epen them. Be extremely careful "to just tip the sand out very gradually, letting it flow out slowly, for the preserved flowers are extremely BRITTLE. The main difficulty is to get the sand perfectly dry, River sand is easier, but sea-sand must be washed and washed, and then dried for days and days in cool oven and sunshine. I hope the Daisy Chain will try this out, ag they did the "coal flowers" a few years ago, and will let us know the result. If using big flowerpots, cover over the drainage hole with two thicknesses of parchment paper.