Focus of the month - Dried flowers
January is probably the quietest month for British flower farmers. There are unlikely to be many flowers growing outside other than snowdrops, although those who have polytunnels may have some blooms like anemones starting. I have a greenhouse which is great for starting seeds and overwintering seedings, but no polytunnel, so everything is grown outside. I do have some metal hoops so can give a bit of protection with fleece if needed. The ranunculus and anemones that I have managed to plant out are currently under the hoops and fleece.
I thought January and February would be a good time to focus on dried flowers. Until I started flower farming, I didn’t really think about dried flowers at all. They seemed to be something from the past – that our grannies may have had on shelves gathering dust, or bowls of pot pourri. But, as I connected with more flower farmers, I found out that drying flowers has become popular again and they are beautiful. If you want to only have locally grown flowers, then having arrangements of dried flowers is a good option for the winter months. One of the leading lights in showing what can be done with dried flowers is Bex Partridge (@botanical_tales on Instagram). Bex has written two books about dried flowers (Everlastings and Flowers Forever) and is inspirational.
I would ordinarily have started to make dried flower wreaths and arrangements in November, but November 2022 was so warm that the flowers were still blooming and we were then into Christmas. So, I will be creating with 2022’s dried flowers this month and next.
What has been successful
Hydrangeas – These dry beautifully and are easy to dry. After picking in full flower, remove leaves and place in a vase with a couple of inches of water. You can enjoy them fresh and they will dry over a few weeks. They look fabulous as they are or they can be used in arrangements with other dried flowers or on wreaths although it is worth making smaller florets to use on wreaths as the flowers are very large.
Dried flower wreath with hydrangeas, honesty and grasses.
Grasses – These are so easy to dry and will even dry on the plant so can be picked already dry. Some will drop seeds after being dried.
Nigella seedpods – Again these can be picked already dry although to keep the colour, I try to pick when still green after the flower petals have dropped and then hang to dry.
Dried honesty seed head
Scabious seedpods – The seedpod of Scabiosa stellata ‘PingPong’ is well-known and adds interest to arrangements with its circular sphere. Other scabious seedpods also dry well.
Larkspur – Beautiful colours and dry well if hung upside down.
Calendula – As the heads are quite big, I dry these on a large sieve with the stems going through the holes. They add a nice splash of colour to arrangements. Dried calendula can also be used in home remedies and I’m going to make a calendula balm this year.
Strawflowers – A traditional flower for drying. They keep their colour and look pretty much the same dried as fresh although their stems are a dark grey-brown when dried so best to hide the stems when arranging. The flowers can be wired although I haven’t tried this. I am told it is best to wire them when they are fresh and dry them wired.
Statice/ Limonium – This is another common dried flower and pretty much grows dried. I use them fresh and dried. The flowers keep their colour really well.
Lavender – Lovely scent and dries very well. I love purple and so love drying and using this.
Bracken – This doesn’t grow at the Patch as it needs acidic soil, but it is abundant in hedgerows where there is acidic soil. Pick when already dry and it is great for adding texture to wreaths and arrangements. It has a beautiful shape.
Amaranthus – Another plant that dries on the plant although it can shed hundreds of its tiny seeds if left to do this. I think the darker crimson and burnt orange colours are better dried than the green.
What has not been so successful
Dahlias – The wonderful Philippa Stewart of Just Dahlias is a wizard at drying dahlias. You may have seen her on Gardener’s World last year – she dries dahlias throughout her house, and it looks beautiful! Although I have dried some dahlias, I think I have dried them too late, and they often shed their petals when dry. I have more success with the dark coloured dahlias as opposed to whites and creams – although Philippa dries all colours with great success.
Pale coloured achillea – I thought the new perennial achillea that I grew for the first time this year and was excellent fresh would dry well as I have had good success drying the bright yellow Achillea filipendulina Cloth of Gold which I grow at home in my garden. But, the pale coloured achillea did not dry well becoming floppy and losing a lot of its colour. I will try again next year!
Dried flower arrangements
I make dried flower bouquets, wreaths, posies. I made some small posies to use as place settings at Christmas.
Dried flower wreath with grasses, lavender, calendula, nigella and astrantia.
I will be posting about dried flowers on my social media accounts in February. Please look me up (@sarahsflowerpatch on Instagram or Sarah’s Flower Patch on FaceBook) for some ideas, or follow dried flower experts like Bex Partridge (@botanical_tales). I also plan to put details about dried flowers I have for sale on my website (www.sarahsflowerpatch.co.uk).
What is happening at the Patch in January?
Not much! I am mulching as I ran out of time to do this before the freezing spell in early December. I have been continuing to plant the bulbs that I didn’t get round to planting before the Christmas season – again the freezing weather stopped any planting in December, and I didn’t do before as still had dahlias to lift. I have left most of last year’s annual crops in place, but they will need clearing before planting new seedlings later this year. I am going to chop and then leave the dead plant matter on the beds as part of a mulch this year rather than clearing and composting.
Birth flower of the month
January’s birth flowers are carnations and snowdrops. Carnations are my mum’s least favourite flower and a staple of garage forecourts. But there are newer more exciting varieties to hunt out.
I love snowdrops. They are one of the first flowers to bloom in winter and are a symbol of what is to come as the year progresses. I am doing a Celebrating Winter course this January with @becki_clark and one of the tasks in week one was drawing snowdrops. I was not that successful with the snowdrops but I was very pleased with the hellebores – another lovely winter flower. If you are interested in seasonal living do check out Becki’s social media and website (www.beckiclark.com).
Pencil drawing of hellebores
What do you love or hate about January?
Do you already use dried flowers or might you dry some yourself or buy from a local flower farmer this year?
Please get in touch on social media, at sarah@sarahsflowerpatch.co.uk, or 0773-801-6063. And, I am determined to post February’s journal before the end of the month!
