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| photo by ana traina ~ 2012~ |
Collect open or closed daylily buds by popping the heads off Similar to the way you did as a carefree child.
Cut off any green. Also, snip off the pollen covered stamen if the bloom is open.
Clean them thoroughly under cool water. Never use hot water. This will remove any buggies left inside.
Place on your dehydrator tray or place in the oven (you must leave the oven door ajar) for about 24 hours at 105 F, or until completely dry. Or you could always go the old fashioned way and try sun-drying them if weather conditions are right.
Now, you can store in a sealed container in a cool dark place.
Presuming the flowers were dried thoroughly, they will now keep for up to 1 year.
I wish I had known how to preserve these wonderful blooms 3 years ago...the best Mother's Day I have had was May 10, 2009 just taking a long walk along the Boston seaport with my son, having a great lunch and great conversation and at the end of day he presented me with a huge bouquet of day lillies to enjoy on the ride home. I still have some of them all dried up in a glass jar on my kitchen counter. Then he proudly graduated from college the following week! I have some in my garden and I am reminded of that day so often! Thank you for sharing the beautiful photo.
ReplyDeleteDear Linda,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this most moving story of yours... now when I see a lily I shall think of you and your boy!