RE: Drying Queen Anne's Lace
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: RE: Drying Queen Anne's Lace
- From: j*
- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 11:33:43 -0400
- Comments: Authenticated sender is
I've been drying QAL for many years mainly for use in wreaths
and bouquets. I *like* partially opened flowers as well as
hanging some. The umbels become a lovely soft greyed green and
are rather structural-looking.
However, I do dry most of mine rightside up. Since I dry lots
of flowers that need to be propped up, I've made drying racks
that I have come to love. I just make a simple frame using
1x3"s and cut lengths of 2x2"s for legs. I just slip each leg
into a corner of the frame until it is level with the top of the
frame and screw it in. Then I stretch a piece of 1/4" aluminum
window screen across the frame and staple it to the outside of
the frame. Viola! And ... they stack, leg on leg. You can
make them any size you like. I also use these for flowers I
think are too delicate for binding & hanging, like delphinium
and full-blown roses that I want to use flat.
The older QAL flowers get, the more they take on a gently aged
look. I like that for some things and often use them for
wedding type bouquets where the bride is using off-whites or the
buyer wants to use pale yellows. That's also why I don't spray
them with a fixative of any kind. I don't find they are so
delicate as to need it. If you use a fixative, they won't
yellow.
Susan, I have some that are 5 years old and just get more
beautiful. They look like antique lace.
Jaime
> So *not* upside down (traditional), but rightside up with stems
> through something to prop them up. And you spray with hair
> spray first? Aerosol or pump? Sounds like silly questions,
> but all details can help.
>
> How long did you find them to last? Longer than one year?
>
> Susan Saxton, zone 6b
jknoble@warwick.net
Z6/5, NW NJ
"I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive."
A. Einstein
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