Set
aside
a
small,
sunny
spot
in
your
garden
for
these
special
plants
that
will
give
you
armloads
of
"everlastings"-the
flowers
that
"dry"
well
and
make
spectacular
permanent
arrangements,
wreaths,
and
other
crafts.
A
good
book
on
the
subject
will
give
you
lots
of
creative
ideas.
1. Statice Limonium sinuatum.
This
is
the
absolute
No.
1
flower
for
drying.
In
bright
colors
of
red,
purple,
yellow,
and
white,
statice
"lights
up"
almost
all
dried
arrangements.
Packet
is
100
mg.
2.
Strawflowers
Helichrysum
sp.
These
tightly-petaled
beauties
create
gold,
maroon,
and
bi-colored
daisy-like
flowers
that
"make"dried
arrangements.
A
must
for
a
good
dried
bouquet.
Packet
is
100
mg.
3.
Larkspur
Delphinium
ajacis.
Another
big
favorite,
this
delphinium
blooms
with
tall
spikes
of
blue,
pink,
and
white.
Adds
height
and
great
color
to
dried
bouquets.
Packet
is
400
mg.
4.
Yarrow
Achillea
millefolium.
This
is
the
world-famous
yarrow
herb,
long
prized
for
its
medicinal
qualities.
Its
tightly-clustered
white
flowers
give
a
"baby's
breath-like"
quality
to
dried
arrangements.
Packet
is
300
mg.
5.
Wheat
Triticum
aestivum.
Wheat
is
the
dried
florist's
favorite
accent.
The
decorative
wheat
seed
head
forms
at
the
top
of
long,
elegant
stems
and
a
few
of
these
arching
among
the
flowers
give
a
bouquet
a
very
finished
look.
Packet
is 2
g.
How
to
plant:
Plant
in
spring
after
frosts
or
during
summer
or
in
late
fall
after
growing
season
ends.
Choose
spot
with
full
sun,
and
plant
your
five
packets
in
rows,
as
in a
vegetable
garden.
Water
and
fertilize
seedlings
as
needed,
just
like
any
other
flower
garden.
How
to
dry
your
flowers:
As
flowers
form,
pick
them
at
the
peak
of
color,
then
begin
your
drying.
Statice,
wheat,
larkspur
and
yarrow
are
among
the
easiest
to
dry.
Simply
pick
with
long
stems,
tie
in
bunches,
and
hang
upside
down
in a
dry
room
until
dried.
Remove
leaves.
Snip
straw
flowers
at
peak
bloom,
and
dry
blooms
only
(no
stems)
on
absorbent
paper.
When
fully
dry,
insert
florist
wire
as
stems.
