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GATHERING AND PREPARING EDIBLE FLOWERS

When to gather

Gather flowers (and herbs) early in the morning before the heat of the day but after the dew has dried. The essential oils are most intense in the morning and the flower petals are filled with moisture. Rinse them in cool water only if needed to remove dirt and debris. (If you are keeping the flower whole, and the top of the flower is flat enough, you can place it upside down to allow moisture to drain out.)

Proper handling

Remove petals or flowers from stems at this time. With some flower petals, like roses or tulips, you should remove the white part of the petal because it is usually very bitter. You can simply pinch it off with your fingernail or use a pair of scissors. You should also remove the stamens and pistil from the flower. That is the center part of the flower.

For fresh use

If you are going to use them fresh, place them in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel and keep them in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can prepare most flowers up to two days ahead of time. Don’t over-fill the bag so as not to crush the petals.

For drying

If you are drying them for future use, allow them to dry naturally on a paper towel or a paper plate. It will take a few days for them to dry completely depending on humidity. A dark, cool, airy place works well for drying the petals. Flower petals that are thick, like roses, will take longer to dry properly than, say, bee balm. If drying a whole stem such as lavender, hanging it upside down helps it dry faster. You can also dry bundles of lavender by simply taking a rubber band and wrapping the stems several times then hanging them from a piece of string pulled across a doorway, or on a folding laundry rack. Just attach with a clothespin.

All flowers dry darker than the original color so remember that reds and purples will be dark red/purple to almost black. Yellows, oranges and pinks retain the best color. You should store your dried flowers in tightly lidded glass jars and away from light and heat since that will destroy the delicate flavors.