Have fun celebrating the harvest season by incorporating dried flowers into your crafts and décor.
Strawflowers are perfect for drying because they retain their shape and color so well. Granvia bracteantha plants from Suntory Flowers produce bigger, brighter blooms in a nice range of colors – pink, yellow, orange, peach, red and white.
You can hang them upside down in bunches to air dry or snip just the blooms just before they start to open fully. This keeps them looking their best once dried.
One of the easiest ways to apply the dried flowers is with a hot glue gun. Hold each bloom in place for a few seconds to set them. You could use a hot or cool setting. Here are five ideas to get started:
Decorate a pumpkin.
Transform a simple pumpkin into a gorgeous festive floral centerpiece by adding dried flowers, grasses, millet and foliage.
Make a wreath.
Wreath forms are easy to find at your local craft or floral shop. You can make a ring full of solid blooms or do half the ring with flowers and leave half rustic.
Adorn napkin rings.
Adding a single bloom to a napkin ring with a coordinating napkin makes a festive statement at the dinner table for a large gathering or a more intimate look for tea.
Create fun hair accessories.
Add strawflowers to rigid or tie-on hairbands, even barrettes. So quick and easy! Imagine an entire bridal party coordinated for an autumn wedding. Rustic looks are in.
Jazz up your houseplants.
Add strawflowers to your planters and to accents like wood placed in your planters. It’s an easy way to add color to your indoor jungle.
The Granvia strawflowers will hold their bright color for a long time. I have a box of blooms that are a few years old, and they are still bright yellow. You could add a light spray of a floral preservative to enhance their longevity.
The possibilities are endless. You could cover any molded shape with strawflowers, like spheres and letters. Unleash your creativity and enjoy the everlasting beauty!
By Natalie Carmolli, Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs
Pantone has named Cloud Dancer its 2026 Color of the Year, marking the first time a true white has taken the honor. It’s never too late to add white-blooming shrubs to your garden or patio plantings. To learn more click here for an interesting article.
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