Bex Partridge - Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers

My journey with dried flowers began after a chance encounter. A fresh bunch given to me by a friend sat forgotten in a vase during a stressful time in my life. When I rediscovered it a few weeks later, the flowers, now dried, had become exquisite their details amplified and their colours softened. Rather than throwing them out I organised them into a wreath, the first I ever made. That wreath hung on my kitchen wall for many years and marked the conception of Botanical Tales. I began to experiment, and as I did my confidence and creativity grew; I rediscovered pressing flowers and filled my workspace drawers with bundles of dried foraged flowers, seed heads and grasses.

Ive learnt a lot. I once hung dried flowers from the wall of our old conservatory I knew nothing about storage back then, and I was excited by this beautiful wall of flowers. But light and heat are just the wrong conditions, so when I sat down to make some wreaths, I found that the sunlight had scorched the bunches not only had they lost much of their vibrancy but their petals had become so fragile they were impossible to work with. I was devastated, but Ill share what I learned from my mistakes.

I soon began to experiment with growing my own flowers for drying. I have always had a love of gardening inherited from my oma and mother who were both accomplished gardeners. Ive been the proud, frustrated owner of an allotment for over ten years and have been gardening for many more. After much negotiating with my husband, we agreed to turn over one third of our plot to flowers, and its now filled with strawflowers as well as bee-and-butterfly-loving flowers for biodiversity.

Ive seen a real shift in peoples attitudes towards dried flowers over the years. When I first started sharing my work through social media, at fairs, and through stockists, I often heard that dried flowers evoked memories of grandmas houses, where dusty old displays sat in fireplaces. It was lovely to hear how flowers can hold such strong associations, but, on the other hand, it was instructive hearing the negative connotations. Peoples perceptions about dried flowers is changing. Brides are choosing dried flowers over fresh as they can be kept as keepsakes, and more and more businesses are requesting everlasting installations and displays to show that their sustainability values are as important as their style. Then there are those of us that love them simply for their delicate beauty and their ability to keep us connected to nature and the seasons. It warms my heart to see dried flowers taking centre stage in so many peoples lives and homes.

From Egyptian to Victorian times dried flowers were used for ceremonial purposes, crafting material and fashion. But in the 1980s, as cheap flowers from overseas became widely available, the popularity of dried flowers waned. The Egyptians, Victorians and everyone in between had no choice but to preserve flowers and herbs they didnt have access to roses in every season or fresh herbs in the middle of winter. This constant availability is relatively recent, and I believe has resulted in dried flowers being pushed aside in favour of cheap, cheerful supermarket blooms.

Drying flowers and foliage is similar to preserving food. Its using summer bounty to take us through winter. A few boxes of dried flowers can bring joy to a dark winters day, filling your home with the textures and tones of seasons past.

In part, the increased interest in dried flowers and foliage has come about with the rise of sustainability on peoples agendas, with many of us far more aware of the impact our actions have on the world. The rise in the conscious craft movement has been well documented, and continues to grow as people choose to buy local, as well as considering the origins of their purchases. More and more of us are rejecting throwaway culture in favour of a slower pace and a more considered buying philosophy.

The same has been happening in the world of florists and flower growers. Using materials such as floral foam has become as stigmatised as smoking, and local growers of flowers are experiencing a resurgence. Its plain that a new attitude has arrived; one with a greater appreciation of, and gratitude for, the natural world.

I believe something magical happens to flowers when theyre dried. Their vibrancy is dulled slightly, but their beauty is magnified. This beauty draws you in to intimately inspect a crinkle on a petal or a colour gradient you may not have noticed before. They have an understated beauty that rivals their blousy, extroverted former selves. They encourage you to slow down and observe their intricacies one of the many reasons I enjoy working with them. Whenever I do events or markets, people are fascinated by dried flowers, almost in awe of their natural state, and this spans all ages and cultures. Ive made wreaths for a Portuguese girls bedroom walls and created mini-bouquets for Korean men to give to their mothers.

Dried flowers offer value as well as subtle beauty. Ever since Botanical Tales was born Ive had sustainability at the heart of the brand and in many ways its what has fed my love for dried flowers. I was already making more conscientious choices when it came to food and products, and this carried over to my choices of flowers and plants. Now I buy fresh flowers from local growers and dried flowers from UK suppliers as much as possible. I would encourage you to do the same, to work with whats available seasonally and support those who grow in your own area. Growing and foraging makes up the rest of my dried flower needs.

Im painstaking when building installations with dried flowers. I carefully reuse intact stems, and when Im making commissions I save flower heads that break off in the process to use for other projects.