It is no secret that you can create revenue with dried flower bunches and everlasting bouquets.

If you're artistic, consider pressed flower frames. Try harvesting blooms for soaps, scrubs, and beauty products if you grow organically. This is a great collaboration idea for local soap makers! You could also plan products or classes and prepare harvested stems for autumn/winter wreaths.

The art of flower preservation has advanced as trends have changed. Options like resin objects, floral confetti, pressed cake flowers, dried bunches for home décor, and mini-dried bundles have exploded onto the scene as well as our social media feeds. Traditional methods like hang drying and pressing have maintained popularity and are being used in inventive new ways.

Some cut flower varieties you'll find in standard production are:

• Larkspur

• Strawflower

• Pampas

• Amaranthus (pendant varieties)

• Yarrow

• Centaurea

• Craspedia

• Delphinium

• Statice

• Gomphrena

• Nigella

These are perennial favorites that have proven time and again their merit as both strong producers and lovely dried products.

When I decided to pursue more unique offerings, I dove into old floral and herbal guides and farmers' logs from previous years from other farmer friends. In this article, you'll find some of the unexpected and incredibly unique varieties I've found and trialed during the 2022 season.

Stems to Hang Dry

Rose Flowers

Through experimentation, I have found several varieties of roses that you can dry at the peak of their bloom with fabulous results.

Herbs for Drying

Herbs have been dried in barns and over hearths for centuries. While beautiful and fragrant fresh, they make lovely scented additions as dried stems.

I have absolutely fallen in love with dried flowers this year! I hope this inspires you to experiment with your own flowers and will help you find some new ways to share the love we all harbor for them with your local community.