Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Toward the end, switch back to weaving over and under pairs instead of single stems. When the
flowers are gone and you are back to stems only, wrap the ribbon around a few times tightly and
then tie it off. The tail can now be cut and the knot pushed inside the stem. If you'd like, you can
tie an extra bow with long tails, or stems wrapped down the length of the wand. Just make sure it's
secured so that the sprigs don't pop loose.
Secure the end with tight wrapping and a knot. You could also secure with a drop of hot glue or crafting
glue if you want. We usually don't.
And there you have it! Your lavender wand will dry this way, and you will have fresh-smelling
lavender that will last for years.
Plant-Based Dyes
The most dramatic effect your flowers can have is to be used for dye. It's probably also one of
the oldest uses. Fabric has been dyed for centuries, long before packets of powder were sold at the
supermarket. Even today, commercial dyes find their beginnings in plant and animal matter.
And it's not just your flowers. Roots and berries and leaves (and pretty much anything) can be
used to make dye. Now, some plants have already been proven over time to give certain colors and
intensities. But that doesn't and shouldn't stop you from exploring and trying your hand at new
combinations.
Dye making is very simple. Just chop up the material you would like to turn into dye and put it in
a pot of water. Twice as much water as material is a good ratio, but you can add a little more plant
