MAKING FALL WREATHS

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Silica gel needs to be revived after three to four uses and even more frequently in rainy weather. When the blue crystals turn pink, you know it's time to recycle. Pour it on old cookie sheets about an inch thick and dry in a 325°F oven until the blue color reappears. This will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. I open the door of the oven several times during this reviving process and wipe away any moisture that builds on the oven door. Return the gel to its tin and close tightly after it cools.

I store my silica-gel dried flowers in cookie tins or coffee cans and then label them. It's important to keep moisture away from the tins and to store them in a dry environment. If the flowers I've dried are thick or the weather has been rainy, I throw a tablespoon or more of silica gel in a labeled storage tin of already dried blossoms to help further absorb moisture.

My silica-gel drieds are used in wreaths, pot pourri, and natural arrangements. After I secure them in a creation, I spray them lightly with a clear acrylic to help further block out moisture. I wouldn't put my most delicate silicagel creations outdoors in harsh weather or direct sunlight, though I did keep a wreath outdoors last year through February and March and it held up beautifully. I urge you to experiment. You'll find silica get so magical that you'll be waiting impatiently for your first flowers to come up just so you can start preserving and creating beautiful things.

Milkweed Pods

My favorite foraged treasure, milkweed pods—dried in different shades—lend beautiful lines to your work. They have less tendency to crack if you pick them up in the summer, when they are still green. Snip the pods off and leave them in a box or bag for two or three days. This starts the drying process gradually. Gently split the pods with your thumbs and remove the insides, being careful not to damage the flesh of the pod within. Fill a cookie sheet with empty pods and cook in a 325°F oven until they start turning yellow, beige, and brown and seem to have dried completely. This method will give you a gor geous variety of colors and a long-lasting pod. You can still pick any pods you see in fall or winter, but they'll tend to be brittle. Spray your pods with clear acrylic for added strength and an attractive shine.

Once you've collected and dried whatever caught your eye on your walks through the woods, you'll want to show off your bounty.

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