| It is not at all difficult to dry your own roses and | | | | sealed container at room temperature and your |
| then combine them into something beautiful like a | | | | roses should be completely dried and ready to |
| rose bouquet. Making and drying rose bouquets is | | | | use in about ten days. |
| a pleasurable hobby and the final product that you | | | | Bouquets made out of roses are the most |
| get will amaze you. You won't believe how | | | | romantic by far. They have a beautiful fragrance, |
| talented you really are until you put that lovely | | | | even when dried, making them that much more |
| bouquet made with your own roses in a vase for | | | | appealing. The best rose bouquets result from |
| everyone to enjoy. | | | | good planning. Start by gathering together |
| The process of drying roses is quite easy and | | | | everything you need before you start actually |
| there are two primary ways to do it. Most people | | | | putting your bouquet together. Decide if you want |
| prefer air drying their roses. This drying method is | | | | to use one color or perhaps a combination of |
| used most effectively when roses are just | | | | colors and then select the dried roses you need.. |
| opening up from the bud stage. All you have to | | | | Make sure that you have a pair of sharp scissors, |
| do is find a dry, dark area in which to hang them | | | | some green floral tape and coordinating ribbon. Put |
| upside down for about two weeks. After a couple | | | | your bouquet together and then use the floral |
| of weeks they will be quite brittle, so use caution | | | | tape to secure the stems. Finally, use your ribbon |
| when you handle them. | | | | to hide the tape and to add additional color to |
| Another way of drying roses (desiccant drying) is | | | | your bouquet. |
| the method best used on roses that have already | | | | Making and drying rose bouquets can be a fun |
| opened up completely. To do desiccant drying, | | | | project, especially when you use flowers from |
| you will need tall container and silica gel crystals. | | | | your own garden or use flowers that have |
| The silica gel crystals must cover your roses | | | | sentimental value. They keep for a long time so |
| once the flowers are placed on end in your | | | | that you will always be reminded of how |
| container. Make sure that the container is sealed | | | | important they were (and still are!) to you. |
| tightly after the silica gel is in place. Store the | | | | |