Strawflowers, Baby's breath, Statice, Thistles, Yarrow, Goldenrod, and a few other flowers will dry naturally if hung upside down in a dry, warm area. The flowers should be picked before they are in full bloom since they will open slightly while drying. Foliage should be removed from the stem. The natural stem on Strawflowers should be removed and a wire stem inserted, however this is not necessary with the other flowers mentioned. Hang flowers upside down in groups of 8 to 12 stems, out of the sun, in an area that is warm, dry, and has good air circulation.
Flowers are ready to be used when they are crisp.
With the use of desiccants many flowers may be preserved so there is no need to limit yourself with naturally dried materials. Silica gel is the most widely used desiccant today because it is easy to use and dries flowers quickly. In borax mixtures, flowers take longer to dry than in silica gel and it may be difficult to dry delicate flowers with high water content such as rose buds. Flowers may be dried with desiccants when they are in bud or just prior to full bloom when they are at their peak of color. Artist pastels may be used to add color.