Do save your rose petals.
And make an old fashioned Moist Potpourri.
Loved by Gertrude Jekyll: "The dry is much the easier and quicker to make, but is neither so sweet nor so enduring".
Making moist Rose Potpourri is very easy, it is the oldest way of making Potpourri.
Layer rose petals and coarse non-iodized salt in a non-porous container.
Ratio of 3 to 1, petals to salt.
As more of your roses fade add them to the mix, adding more salt as well. Keep in dark place and stir with a wooden spoon now and then.
This is my moist potpourri, more than 20 years old.
Still has the most divine and mysterious perfume.
I know, it's not very pretty.
It is meant to be hidden in a beautiful and perforated container.
You may want to add the following: Lavender Flowers, Rose Geranium Leaves, Essential Oils, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel, powdered orris root.
Your moist potpourri is ready to use in about 6 months.
Have a lovely week my dear
Blogging Friends.
Gina
Partial re-post, August 2012
I had forgotten how to make this. I made some in early marriage and haven't thought about it in years! Thank you Gina, I will start some soon. Have you ever made rose petal beads?
ReplyDeleteDear Theresa, Have not even heard that one could make rose petal beads. Sounds interesting. Will you tell us how?
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect time to start the potpourri. Roses never last long in a vase and I hate to throw them away.
Gina, thank you so much for the recipe for moist rose potpourri. I will try to remember to get some proper salt, and start collecting some rose petals. I already have a good glass container.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs of the still vibrant 2014 roses from your garden are amazing. What colors! xo
Dear Frances, It is possible to use regular salt. I have done so and it has also worked. Coarse salt is better but if you have rose petals available then use regular salt and add coarse salt when you have it.
ReplyDeleteMy roses have to be replaced every year. Only a few survive our cold winters, even with protection.
Dear Gina,
ReplyDeleteI have the container and I have the roses and all I have to do now is follow your timely instructions. Your wonderful presentation of how to do it is easy to follow. Last year I just gathered some rose petals from a very fragrant bouquet in an open bowl and the fragrance lasted for a very long time. Beautiful photos, as always.
Warm greetings, Sieglinde
Dear Sieglinde,
DeleteYou will so enjoy your potpourri. It also makes wonderful gifts...will be aged just right by Christmas.
Thank you Sieglinde for leaving such lovely compliments. It is so very much appreciated.
Gina, this is a lovely idea and I look forward to trying it.
ReplyDeleteHello Janet, I think that you will enjoy having some of this sweet scented potpourri around. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteDear Gina,
ReplyDeleteYour recipe could not be better timed! I was gifted two days ago with a bouquet of roses, so I will try this out. And . . . I have an unused potpourri jar in my cupboard, so I'm getting it out and using it! Thanks again.
Dear Mark, Was it your birthday? If so, Happy Birthday. But you're the kind of guy that deserves a bouquet of roses for no reason at all. Do roses grow well in Florida?
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