| Herbal Baskets:Baskets make naturally complementery and highly attractive containers for dried herbal displays, particularly as they are constructed from plant materials. The texture of woven stems or branches echoes that of many dried herbs, while the natural colors of baskets show off the range of hues found in dried herbs. Baskets made from the aromatic stems of lavender and thyme are also available. Alternatively, attach aromatic stems to a basket's rim or handle to give an arrangement extra appeal. To arrange dried herbs in a basket, you need to prepare a base which will sit in the container area and hold stems in place. Select herbs for their colors, shapes and textures so they make striking contrasts or subtle blends. Try to incorporate any handles in your design to add height or extra shape to the arrangement. |
| Herbs for Docorations:(*)also dry well for use in winter FLOWERS: *Alliums,*Angelica,*Bergamot,Betony,Borage,Chamomile,Columbine,Cowslips,Dill *Elecampane,Flax,Forget-me-not,Foxglove,Honeysuckle,Jasmine,Lady's mantle *Larkspur,*Lavender,Lily of the valleyLove-in-a-mist,Marigold,Marjorams Meadowsweet,Melilot,Mints,Peony,Pinks,Poppies,Promrose,Pyrethrum,Rosemary *Teasel,Thyme,Valerian,Yarrow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOLIAGE:*Artemisias,Basil,*Bay,*Eucalyptus,Fennel,Lungwort,Marjorams,Mint Mullein,Myrtle,Parsley,Pelargoniums,Rosemary,*Sage,Salad Burnet,*Santolina *Thymes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEED HEADS:*Alexanders,&Alliums,*Angelica,*Fennel,Good King Henrey,*Hops Lovage,*Love-in-a-mist,*Poppiey,*Sorrel,Sunflower,*Sweet cicle ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| Before making a nosegay, consider its theme and select ingredients for their appearance and symbolism. Start with a central bloom and encircle it with contrasting flowers and leaves. Bind the stems with florist's tape as you go to keep the posytight. Build up the layers and emphesize the outer rim with a large-leafed herb. Nosegays should stay fresh in water for about a week and can be dried by hanging in a warm, dark place, upside down. |
| Nosegays: Fragrant posies filled with aromatic herbs and flowers were popular accessories in the sixteenth century, Carried through the streets to disguise unpleasant smells and protect the owner from the many virual diseases that plagued those times. Consequently, they were named nosegays, or more curiously, tussie-mussies. Apart from their aromatic and disinfectant attributes, nosegays became increasingly popular because they held hidden messages based on the symbolic meaning bestowed on individual plants. This tradition can turn a pretty bouquet into a charming and unique personal gift. |
| Wreaths and Hangerings:One of the most traditional and attractive ways of displaying herbs is in a wreath. hanging from a wall or a door, wreaths add color and fragrance to any interior. It is also potentially long-lasting and lends itself to an infinite variety of styles. For the base, which you can make yourself or buy from a florist, use plain or moss-covered wire, plaited raffia or twist vines. On top of this, wire on a bunch of selected herbs. Pick from bay, thyme, sage, lavender, rosemary, savory and artemisias for scent and share. Fresh material is easier to handle than dry, and you can always make up a wreath and then leave it to dry in a dark, well-ventilated place for later use. For interest, add colorful drying flowers such as yarrow, santolina, roses, bergamot or larkspur; or make a theme wreath, using kitchen herbs such as sage, marjoram, parsley, mint and rosemary, adding spices for extra effect. Expand your repertiore by making seasonal wreaths for spring, summer, autumn or winter, and festive wreaths for weddings,anniversaries and Christmas. The possibilities are endless and always rewarding. |
| Garlands:Hanging a bunch of dried herbs look attractive in their own right: combined into small posies and wired together to form a thick "rope" of foliage, seed heads and flowers, they can look truly spectacular. A garland of herbs will transform any room into a setting suitable for a special event. Using dried herbs gives such a garland long-lasting appeal. Drape it over a fireplace or a mirror, around a picture or window frame, over a door, along shelves or beams. Choose your ingredients to reflect the occasion, whether it be a wedding, a christening, a seasonal festival or some other celebration. Select items that add color, delicacy, texture and fragrance. Ensure that you have enough materials and assemble them all with the required tools (fine reel wire, scissors, length of string) before you start. Once you are underway, it is very hard to move or put aside the extending length of overlapping posies until the decoration is completed. Experiment with your assembled ingredients, trying out different combinations of color, texture and shapes and seeing how a change in order or composition can altar the overall effect. Once you have settled on your scheme, lay out the herbs in groups within arm's reach so they are easy to combine and wire in position. Add ribbons, baubles and other ornaments as finishing touches |
| Table Decorations:Fresh herbal arrangements are the perfect way to decorate a dinner table. Their fregrance awaken the senses, while their flowers and leaves provide color and interest as well as instant garnish material. For a simple supper party, a spray of parsley, mint, marjoram or thyme by each place setting looks attractive and can be nibbled to freshen the palate between courses, to sharpen the appetite or to aid digestion. Fresh garnishing herbs are set in pre-soaked, cone-shaped florist's foam. Select for their color and flavors, mint, parsely, basil, fennel, puple sage, curry plant, rosemary and lemon verbena, which also makes an effective finger freshener after a seafood or fish dish. A fragrant garland made from wired posies of lavender and thyme links the herdal cones and encloses the sumptuous candelabra centerpiece. The effect is stunning, both viually and aromatically. |
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