TheReview Wednesday, March 18,1992 — A22 Recipe for drying flowers This recipe is thanks to Jennifer Chandler from “Let’s Cook Microwave.” For best results use roses, *mums, daisies, asters, pansies, or flowers with thick petals. A sug- gestion is to dry one flower to judge the results. Ingredients necessary are one pound silica gel, or a bag of kitty litter. Also necessary are brush, scissors, toothpicks, florist’s wire, florist tape, plus fresh flowers. Dry immediately after picking. Leave a half-inch stem on each flower. In an eight-by-four inch glass loaf pan, or a shoebox, layer one-half inch litter or gel on bottom. Spoon gel onto, around, and between petals, using a toot- hpick to spread it. Microwave on high together with one cup of water in oven for 1-2 minutes. (Time will vary with size of flower). Rest 30 minutes, or over- night on a flat surface. Remove blossoms with a toothpick. Attach florist’s wire making a hook through top of flower, and care- fully remove gel (litter) from buds with a brush. Wrap wire with florist’s tape beginning at flower end. If not quite dry hang upside down to dry). Make flower arrangement. A plastic spray will help pre- serve flowers. Dry leaves separately for one minute on high. Flowers should be only half open, and firm. Yellow flowers maintain their color beau- tifully. Try daffodils. Do not attempt to dry wet flow- ers. Cut blooms early in the morn- ing and refrigerate for best results. Custard cups with kitty litter may be used for single blossoms. What fo pui in hanging baskeis Every gardener will have some ideas about what to put in a hanging basket. Moss baskets are the ultimate in luxury for plants, of course, but if you will keep plastic or wooden baskets well watered and regularly fertilized they can also be beauti- ful. Baskets to be hung in the shade may be planted with ferns, ivy, impatiens, lobelia, fuchsias, tuber- ous begonias, nepeta, pansies, lil- ies of the valley, bleeding hearts and violas. Hanging baskets for sunny areas could contain nasturtiums, lobelia, ageratum, anemonies, pinks, com flowers, bachelor buttons, alyssum, baby’s breath, viscaria, schizan- thus, nemesia, marigolds, scabi- osa, salvia, dwarf Zinnias, gera- niums, plus canary vine, mimulus, sweet William, thunbergia, vinca .. almost anything that doesn’t grow too tall and loves the sun should look marvelous in a hang- ing basket. Space out bird houses If you are putting up a bird house or two this year, space them well apart, since many birds compete for territory, and just can’t bring them- selves to share. Bird boxes should face either East or North to keep the sun from overheating the house. SPRING | HOME IMPROVEMENT SALE! EXCITING NEW 0 SPRING SILKS — 20 BEF 20, 50%, 20.. 50%. , zx GS SALE ENDS MARCH 31 OPEN SUNDAYS 11-4 P.M. | 5513 PAINT SILK TREES & HANGING BASKETS SILK ARRANGEMENTS AND PLANTS Va Ax NON ) » M ENAMELS, YouR CHOICE SALE ENDS MARCH 29TH 1992 © SHOP EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION \S Cloverdale Paint SIDNEY VICTORIA Coa 9768 - 5 Street 3088 Blanshard St. at Finlayson 478-5525 656-3975 382-61 48 A 383-2500