DRYING BLOOMERIE BLOOMS

It's no secret that I love flowers.

Image by Chelsea J. O'Leary

There's something truly magical about them. Their beauty isn't "necessary." They could be unattractive, or even plain ugly, and still fulfill their primary role of creating seeds to continue the lineage of the plants they bloom from. But I believe they serve a greater purpose - they are meant to sow a seed within us, as much as they are to bring seeds to the soil. When I see a stunning flowers, an awe for God's creations grows within me.

During spring and summer, I spend my days surrounded by blooms in the Bloomerie, flitting from bed to bed like the bees.

But as summer gives way to fall, then to winter, the flowers slowly complete their natural cycle until there's nothing left but dreams of the future, and I must wait for the sun to warm the earth in spring to grow them again.

Last season at the Bloomerie, I set aside some blooms to dry, hoping to savor the season. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about them at first. The fleeting nature of fresh flowers is part of their allure; they are among the most beautiful things in the world, and they are here today and gone tomorrow.

But I found myself even more captivated as I watched them dry. As life left them, their colors softened, and their textures transformed, yet their beauty remained a reminder of the splendor of God’s creation.

This year, as I planned what flowers to grow, I began viewing them through a new lens, choosing varieties that would dry well. This led me to plant larkspur, winged everlasting, and bachelor buttons for spring...

..and sunflowers, celosia, marigolds, statice, and strawflowers for the summer season. I’ve since learned that statice and strawflowers thrive in the cooler temperatures of spring, so if you decide to grow these yourself, keep that in mind!

Once the flowers begin to bloom, I wait until they are nearly fully open before picking them. I strip the leaves, tie the stems into bunches with twine, and then send them from Patina Meadow to Patina Home & Garden, where they hang in our front window, doubling as an evolving art installation.

After a few weeks drying out of direct sunlight, the flowers are fully preserved and ready to be arranged into everlasting bouquets.

As the sunny days of summer fade and the vibrancy of fresh flowers wanes, I’m grateful for the captured sunshine of these dried blooms. I admire and arrange them until fresh ones emerge in the spring, and the cycle begins again. 

If you would like to savor this season with us, you can pick up one of our first Everlasting Bloomerie Bouquets online today! There will be more available in the store in the coming weeks and at Hanks Coffee Station in Franklin if you are interested. 

Have you ever dried flowers before? If you have, I would love to hear your experiences in the comments. If you haven't, I hope this inspired you to try!

Love, 

Leila