Rose Potpourri

I cherish roses and flowers any time of the year, and take great pleasure in roses at Valentines  or whenever  Steve splurges on me.  I find it very hard to throw away those lovely blooms once they have wilted and dried; Thus, I recycle them instead of tossing them out.  Making potpourri is a wonderful way to extend the pleasure of those Valentines roses… or any fresh flowers through out the year.   Here's how.  It is very easy

 

 

 

Rose Potpourri

Ingredients: 

Dried roses

Dried flowers and herbs such as: Lavendar, Calendula, Chamomile, Echinacia, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme etc.

Dried cloves

Dried bay leaves

Dried rose hips

Essential oils or Rosewater

Scissors

Bowls

Instructions:

1. Dry your roses by leaving in the vase until they are dried, or hang upside down to keep the rose petals uniform as they dry.  Roses hold their shape fairly well for the most part, even when sitting straight up.  Other flowers are more delicate, and may not hold their shape. You can  try hanging them, and if they don't hold their shape, use only the petals for the potpourri. I like to keep the roses whole, because I think the potpourri is prettier that way, but anything goes, really.
2. Gather dried flowers, herbs, and leaves. I keep Lavender, and various flowers on hand to make tea.  You can find many kinds of lovely flower petals and good smelling whole spices and herbs in the bulk section of the health food store.  I collect rose hips in the fall, and keep them for tea also.  There are many beautiful things that you can forage for right in your own neighborhood.
3. Place these in bowl a little at a time; arranging them as you go.
4. Sprinkle with essential oils or Rosewater (you can also put oils into a spray bottle as I did for the cinnamon pinecones, and spray the potpourri thoroughly.  This combination makes a lovely, spicy and floral scent.  You can use any essential oils you like, it doesn't have to be rose.
5. Place in lovely bowls or containers and put around the house to enjoy.