TODAY’S GUEST: Bex Partridge | Botanical Tales

TOPIC: Growing, Harvesting, and Creating with Everlasting Flowers

Today I'm visiting with Bex Partridge, owner of Botanical Tales in Farnham, UK. Bex is a floral artist and published author specializing in everlasting flowers. I'm thrilled that she agreed to walk us through her process of growing, cutting, and drying flowers. And she's sharing tips on designing with everlasting flowers. Be sure to check out the end of the show notes to learn how you can enter to win a copy of her new book Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers. I'm hoping our conversation will open new avenues of creativity and maybe even a new income stream for some of you!

Methods for Drying Flowers:

• Air Drying
• Pressing
• Silica Gel

Sampling of Flowers Recommended by Bex for Drying:

• Helichrysum
• Statice
• Peony
• Tulip
• Rudbeckia
• Echinacea
• Cosmos
• Dahlia (some varieties)

Caring for Everlasting Flowers:

• Keep out of intense heat and direct sunlight
• Store by laying the blooms out in a box using tissue paper and include a silica gel packet to draw out moisture during storage
• Store in a dry temperate place
• Avoid storing for extended lengths of time before designing with the blooms
• Avg. Drying Time: 2-3 weeks (peonies take longer)
• Read more here

Advantages of Using Everlasting Flowers:

• Extends the season for designers (by allowing them to design with everlasting flowers during winter months)
• Sustainable sourcing
• Longevity in designs
• Can be combined with fresh flowers
• Offers a way to create long lasting displays in retail spaces to showcase products and brands
• Flower farmers can dry and then sell blooms they weren't able to sell fresh

Bex's Suggestions for Adding Movement to a Design: 

• Love Lies Bleeding
• Canary Grass
• Fountain Grass
• Quaking Grass
• Alchemilla mollis
• Gypsophila

Enter to win a copy of Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers:

1. Leave a comment on the blogpost for this episode. 
2. That's it! Easy Peasy!
3. Deadline for entry: 11:59 pm Central Time on Sunday, August 16, 2020.
4. Winners will be chosen by random drawing and notified on August 17, 2020 via email.
5. Contest open to residents of the US and Europe.

See more work by Bex here: 

Website | Instagram | IGTV | Pinterest | Twitter

Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Mentioned in this episode: Natalie Gill | Native Poppy (Hear Natalie Gill on the BB Podcast. Click here.)