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~To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow~



Waxing Flowers


flower


You can capture a flower's beauty and make it last a little longer by waxing your flowers. Waxing fresh flowers is very simple. You'll need:

flower Fresh, firm flowers

flower Paraffin wax

flower A double boiler

flower Parchment paper

flower A tray for cooling the flowers

Some flowers that wax well are roses, daisies, paper whites, tulips, hyacinths, stephanotis, and other flowers with a natural waxy coating, or bloom. Try to avoid delicate flowers, like pansies, which wither in hot wax.

Melt two blocks of paraffin wax in top of a double boiler. Paraffin wax is highly flammable. Never melt it directly over flame. Using a wax thermometer to measure temperature, heat the wax to 150 degrees, and maintain temperature throughout the process.

Cut the flower stem to two inches. Holding the flower by the stem end, dip the flower head completely into the wax. Immediately lift it out, allowing excess wax to drip into pot. If you're waxing a flower with many petal rounds, spoon wax into flower middle after dipping to ensure coverage. Let wax harden 30 seconds, then place blossom on its side on a parchment-lined tray to harden completely for about 5 minutes. Once wax has hardened, gently hold the flower head, and dip stem in and out of wax.

Repeat the dipping process on the flower head and stem once more, allowing the wax to fully cool and harden between each step. Be sure to handle waxed flowers carefully to avoid cracking them. Use your waxed flowers for arrangements.


Waxing Roses



flower


You will need:

flower 6 medium - light pink roses

flower 6 medium - yellow roses

flower 4 pink rosebuds

flower 3 bricks - 3/4 lb. household paraffin wax

flower 16 ounce can

flower 1 saucepan

flower Knife

flower Cutting Board

flower Chopsticks

flower Ice Water

flower Pruning Shears

flower Waxed paper

flower 2 empty cereal boxes

flower Tongs

Method:

1. To wax the roses, set up a double broiler and cut 3 paraffin bricks into 1/2" pieces. Drip 2/3's of the pieces into the can and set can in saucepan. Add water until half full.

2. Lay sheet of waxed paper on counter.

3. Clip rose and bud stems 6" below calyx and set in jar of water. Clip and set aside 4-6 three leaf clusters.

4. Use chopsticks to stir paraffin until liquid. Drop in more paraffin with tongs and melt.

5. Hold rose upside down by stem and dip it at a slight angle into the warm wax, without touching the rose to the can and hold it in the wax for 2-3 seconds. Remove immediately and dip it into a bowl of cold water and lift out.

6. Cut stem to 2" and set upright in cereal box stand.

7. When roses have hardened at least 5 minutes, remove from stand and dip each stem into warm wax to seal the cut end. Let roses harden 20 minutes or longer.

8. For waxing leaves, hold each cluster with tongs and dip into warm wax. Lay flat on wax paper until hardened or about 3 minutes.

9. Place dried waxed flowers and leaves in an arrangement in your selected basket or place them in the wicker slots for a more decorative approach.

The best roses to use are pink, yellow and red. White roses tend to get faded after several hours.

The roses will last from 7 to 14 days.



Care For Waxed Flowers



flower


flower Display in a cool location, out of direct sunlight and away from air vents. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas.
flower Check water level daily to make sure container is full and add warm water as needed and a flower preservative.
flower Remove damaged or dying foliage or flowers.
flower Recut 2 - 3 inches from flower stems every 4 to 5 days to maintain water uptake. Cut the stems at an angle so that they don't rest at the bottom of the container.
flower SMILE and enjoy the flowers !!!



flower



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Monday, January 18, 1999






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