The Art of Drying

The Time I Dried Lavender

Every herb holds its’ own unique scent.  Just think of the smells that emit from fresh Oregano, crisp Russian Sage, earthy Chamomile or sleepy Lavender. All herbs (heck, even flowers) have an essence of themselves inside a smell.

The question becomes….  how do you retain that smell?

When Lavender Comes Knocking

This year I planted lavender in my backyard and, really, what a wonderful plant! I got different bees and bugs to take interest in my garden because of  the lavender wafting in the wind.

Drying these leaves allows me to take the scent with me all-year-round

How to Dry Flowers

1.

Cut your lavender to the base of the plant. If it is perennial lavender then make sure you leave little stubs of plant… if it’s an annual cut the whole flower and flower stem

(Normally the perennial lavender will be thicker, while annual will be thinner and wispy)

On the left you can see the annual while on the right is the perennial lavender.

2.

Stuff you’ll need

• Clippers, Rubber bands, and your lavender

3.

Take off 1/8th of the lavender stalk. (Enough to tie your lavender together!)

4. 

You should get a pile of un-used lavender leaves. Save them in a paper bag to dry out.

5.

Tie your lavender together with a rubber-band. I did in groups of three.

6.

To hang your lavender up find a cool, dry, dark corner of your home. I used the inside of my games closet. Next, string across rope or twine and put your lavender bunches on paper clips. Last, place your lavender on the string and whala it’s done.

2 weeks later . . . .

Now it’s your turn to take a crack at it!