Gather Gifts from the Garden: Dried Flowers, Herbs, and More

Turn Your Summer Harvest into Heartfelt Homemade Gifts

Freshly cut ageratum, amaranth, hydrangea, ornamental oregano, and yarrow, ready to be dried. Photos: Suzanne DeJohn

Flowers for drying

The garden offers riches beyond vegetables and fresh flowers—it’s a source of unique homemade gifts. Summer is the time to gather and prepare materials.

Drying Flowers

Favorites: tall ageratum, amaranth, celosia, hydrangea, lavender, ornamental oregano, salvia, strawflower, yarrow. These have strong stems and dry quickly. Strip leaves, gather small bunches with rubber bands, hang upside down in a warm, dry, dark place.

Drying Herbs

Herbs for drying

Same method: bundle stems, hang upside down in warm, dry, dark place. Cover with a paper bag to keep dust off. If humidity is high, use a warm oven or food dehydrator.

Gift Ideas from Dried Herbs

Package in airtight containers with ingredient labels and recipe cards.

• Culinary blends: basil, sage, oregano, rosemary, thyme (mix with cream cheese or sour cream for dip); marjoram, tarragon, thyme (Italian dressing); dill, parsley, chives (ranch dressing).
• Tea blends: anise hyssop, chamomile, fennel, lavender, lemon balm, mint. Add dried stevia for sweetness. Try lemon balm + chamomile (soothing) or chocolate mint + spearmint (refreshing).
• Potpourri: fragrant herbs (bay, lemon balm, lemon verbena, sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint, scented geraniums) + flowers for color (borage, calendula, bachelor’s buttons, rose petals) + cinnamon sticks or citrus peels. Include essential oil for refreshing.

Pressing Flowers, Herbs, and Ferns

The absorbent blotting paper in the Flower Press promotes fast drying, preserving color.

Pressing flowers and herbs

Pressed flower notecard, left, and fern for framing

Place flat plant material (leaves, ferns, pansies) between two sheets of paper under heavy books. Once pressed, create collages with dabs of glue, frame, or photocopy for notecards/prints. Photocopies look real and don’t fade.

Flavored Vinegars

Herb vinegars

Use culinary herbs with your favorite vinegar. Pair strong herbs (rosemary, sage) with cider or red wine vinegar; delicate herbs (tarragon) with rice wine vinegar. Add chili peppers for heat, citrus rind for brightness, chive flowers or purple basil for color.

1. Place clean, dry herbs in a glass jar; cover with vinegar (1 cup herbs per 2 cups vinegar).
2. Seal and store in cool, dark place for 2 weeks.
3. Strain through cheesecloth into a clean jar.
4. Store in refrigerator; recommend recipient do the same.

Other Garden‑Inspired Gifts

Candles

Melt paraffin over low heat. Use dabs to attach ferns, leaves, petals to a candle; paint wax over entire surface. Buff when dry.

Soap

Drying calendula flowers on an old window screen

Calendula-infused oil, beeswax, bulk soap, and essential oils

Melt bulk glycerin or goat’s milk soap; stir in dried herbs/petals and 1–2 drops essential oil per bar. Pour into molds; let harden.

Soothing Salve

Calendula flowers have anti‑inflammatory properties. Submerge dried flowers in olive or sweet almond oil in a jar; keep warm for a few weeks. Strain. Combine 1 cup oil with 2 oz beeswax in a double boiler until melted. Pour into small tins/jars; cool. Label for dry, cracked skin and rashes.

With a little planning, your garden becomes a year‑round gift shop.