I gave a friend some brugs this spring. Today she brought me this. She's into drying flowers in silica gel and tried this one. It's not perfect, but pretty impressive for a first attempt.
edited because I can't spell
This message was edited Dec 2, 2005 12:14 AM
That is too cool. What is its texture?
front view. I don't know how you would do one with recurve or long tendrills, I'll have to get some silica gel and play with it.
Texture is somewhat flexible. In fact, it wants to close when you hang it down. The color held pretty good, you can see a little shimmer from the gel. She said she used 2 blooms, separated the calyx and corolla, used the calyx of one and the corolla of the other and dried them in separate containers. Said she left it for about 2 weeks.
Please don't get me interested in this, lol, all I need is one more activity, whew!! Seems like it requires patience, which will likely rule me out...
I agree, this is one hobby wiill admire from afar! They are really cool though.
LindaSC please keep us up on this if you do give it a try. Now will the flower last forever? I think it is really neat looking.
I took one of the versi peach blooms and put it in a book to dry..it dried to a dull peach color but turned out very well...I am thinking of framing it but not sure if the color will last if its supject to light....I sure did enjoy trying it..Linda, your friend did a wonderful job and I hope that it lasts forever for you..Judy
Linda,
I missed this before, really cool way to keep the brug bloom. I have a whole bunch of that silica to dry flowers, now I just have to wait untill my baby brugs have blooms, lol.
BTW, I found this thread because you made "Photo of the Day", did you see that?
http://davesgarden.com/nl.php?date=2005-12-02
No, I had missed that. Thanks Gayle
The bloom is holding nicely, although it seems to absorb moisture from the air and sort of closes up.
I'd be re-drying it again then. Or maybe spray shellac it?
That's really cool, Linda. Years ago I dried flowers in silica gel. It was quite a process, but I think they have improved the product since then. I would love to try this if they are pliable because I am working on making a string of garden lights with the lights shining through a brug flower and the silica'd flower would be perfect. I tried it with fabric and stiffener, but it is very hard to perfect the beauty of nature.
Wow that is a great idea!! Keep us updated on the progress when you start it?
Update, I have found it to be very delicate and don't know what to do with it. It doesn't hold shape very well and has developed several cracks/tears.
Nothing could compare to the beauty of a 'real' bloom, and the fragrance and excitement of watching them open. I don't think I'll be doing any. It was nice to receive as a surprise gift.
