Spring planting yields some beautiful summer flowers, especially rose bushes. But as those petals fall to make room for new blooms, don’t throw them away. There are some ways to repurpose and recycle rose petals and enjoy them much longer inside your home.
Dried roses. The easiest way to do this is to hang your flowers upside down in a cool, dark place, like a closet; this makes for a nice air freshener in there as well. Roses and lavender make a very sweet combination. Tie a string around the stem of the flower, then tie the other end to a hanger or closet rod. Allow the flowers to dry for a couple of weeks. Once thoroughly dried, you can make a great potpourri simply by mixing a quart of rose petals and lavender with three tablespoons of orris root, and a drop or two of essential oils and herbs. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple of weeks, and add more oils if needed. You can make potpourri sachets for your dresser drawers, bathroom countertop, or as hostess gifts. They’ll hold their scent for about a year.
Rose votives. If your petals are still fresh, you can decorate votive candle holders with the petals. Choose a plain glass candle votive and a selection of about 20 petals. Start at the top of the holder, making sure that the petals stick up over the top. Secure with a rubber band, then use a dot of hot glue to secure each petal. Once the glue has dried, remove the rubber band, make another layer of petals slightly below but overlapping the first layer, again holding them in place with another rubber band and securing with glue. Repeating the process, the third layer should stick out over the bottom of the holder. Glue in place and trim the bottom of the petals so they are flush with the bottom of the holder. Add a pretty candle, and the rose scent will permeate as the candle burns.
Rose beads. Take your rose petals and grind them up in the food processor until they are about the consistency of couscous or rough sand. Simmer for one hour in just enough water to cover them. A cast iron pot or pan is great for this and helps turn the petals dark colors. After simmering, your house will smell like an indoor botanical garden. Turn off the heat, allow to cool, and simmer for another hour. Continue to do this until the petals turn into a pulp.
Afterwards, put the rose pulp in a mesh strainer and squeeze out all the water that you can. Pinch off some of the pulp and make the bead into a ball. You can make these just about any size and shape you want. Allow the pieces to dry for a day or two, then be creative! You can add them to your rose and lavender potpourri, display them with a candle on a tray, or with rocks in a table top water fountain.
If none of the above thrill you, just throw the rose petals in a bubble bath and luxuriate in the scent and feel of nature - behind closed doors.
Check out Move.com’s Home and Garden section for more gardening tips.
