Another way is to dry them by packing flowers into cat litter.  It takes
about a week for the flowers to dry this way and again, they must be in a
cool dark place.  Just make sure you keep it way from the cats:-).  Also,
many places now offer to dip the flowers in various materials.  typical
candle wax works very well to keep the original colors.
-Sissy


>From: Rosie DiVernieri <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: preserving flower bouquets
>Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 08:59:51 -0700
>
>Terri,
>
>This is from my own personal experience so some might disagree.
>
>I have found that the best way to dry floral arrangements are to hang the
>upside down in a dry dark place (i use my closet).  You can hang individual
>flowers from thread or anything that will support its weight.  Bouquets are
>best kept in their plastic holder or tied together the way that you would
>like them to stay (dried flowers are a pain to arrange).  Depending on the
>climate it can take a week to a month.  Most important thing is to not move
>them until they are totally dry.  To seal the colors, you can spray them
>with hairspray or some other type of sealer.
>
>As far as storage goes, I store mine in a box with a lid standing up,
>padded with something (tissue or if you are handy with an ethafoam knife
>then you could cut out a support for them).  The should be stored with the
>lids on and in a cool dry place.  Humidity/moisture can make them rot (and
>that is not a nice smell...trust me).
>
>I do know that some florists offer professional drying services, the ones
>that I know of are freeze-drying, but that can get expensive.
>
>I hope that helps.
>
>Rosie DiVernieri
>
>london_tb <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I have recently been asked about the best method of
>preserving (drying) a floral arrangement and wondered
>if anyone might have any tried and true methods of
>preserving and storing historically significant
>bouquets.
>
>
>Any help would be appreciated!
>
>
>Terri Boesel
>Archivist
>SC Johnson & Son
>Racine, WI
>
>
>
>
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