Dried grass as decoration

Dried grass can be a unique and eye-catching addition to any home decor. It adds texture, color, and a touch of natural beauty to any space. Incorporating dried grass into your home decor is an affordable and eco-friendly way to bring a touch of nature into your living space. Just make sure to use dried grass responsibly, as it can come from protected or endangered ecosystems.

Grasses play a critical role in the environment and provide numerous benefits to both wildlife and humans. Some of the most important functions of grasses include:

• Soil stabilization: Grasses have deep roots that help to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion, especially in areas with high wind or rainfall.

• Habitat: Many species of wildlife, such as birds, insects, and mammals, rely on grasses for food, shelter, and nesting sites.

• Carbon sequestration: Grasses absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, stems, and leaves, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

• Biodiversity: Grasses are an important food source for herbivores and support a diverse community of wildlife in their ecosystems.

• Agriculture: Grains such as wheat, corn, and rice are all members of the grass family and provide a major source of food for both people and livestock.

There are many different types of grasses, each with their own unique characteristics and uses. Some of the most common types of grasses include cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescue, and warm-season grasses, such as bermudagrass and zoysia.

The color of grass is determined by several factors, including:

• Chlorophyll content: Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives grass its green color and allows it to perform photosynthesis. The amount of chlorophyll in grass affects its greenness, with a higher concentration of chlorophyll resulting in a deeper green color.

• Light: Light is essential for photosynthesis and affects the color of grass. When grass is grown in bright light, it will produce more chlorophyll and appear greener. On the other hand, grass grown in low light may appear yellow or pale green.

  

• Soil nutrients: The availability of soil nutrients can also affect the color of grass. Grass that is growing in nutrient-rich soil will be greener than grass growing in soil that is low in nutrients.

• Environmental conditions: Environmental factors such as temperature, moisture, and air quality can all influence the color of grass. For example, grass may appear yellow or brown if it is growing in drought conditions or is exposed to high levels of pollution.

• Genetics: The genetic makeup of the grass species also determines its natural color. Some grasses, such as bluegrass and fescue, have a natural blue-green color, while others, such as bermudagrass, have a yellow-green hue.

Endangered plants

Endangered plants are species of plants that are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, disease, over-collection, or other factors. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are over 26,000 species of plants that are considered endangered, which represents nearly one-fifth of all known plant species.

Endangered plants play an important role in the ecosystem and can provide numerous benefits to humans, such as food, medicine, and oxygen. It's important to protect and conserve endangered plant species to ensure their survival and maintain biodiversity. This can be done through conservation efforts, such as habitat preservation, reforestation, and controlled harvesting, as well as by reducing the demand for rare or threatened plants.

If you have picked an endangered flower, it's important to take steps to protect it and support its conservation. Here are some things you can do:

1. Return it to its original location: If the plant is still alive, it's best to return it to its original location as soon as possible to minimize the impact of removal on its population and habitat.
2. Support conservation efforts: Consider making a donation to organizations that work to protect endangered species and their habitats.
3. Reduce demand: Be mindful of the products you purchase and choose not to buy items made from endangered plants, such as orchid arrangements or flower bouquets made from rare species.
4. Spread awareness: Share information about the importance of protecting endangered plants and the negative impact of over-collection and habitat destruction on their survival.
5. Obtain permits: If you are a researcher, botanist, or horticulturist, make sure to obtain proper permits before collecting or working with endangered plants.

It's important to remember that the survival of endangered plants is critical to the health of the ecosystem and the maintenance of biodiversity. By taking steps to protect them, you can help ensure their survival for future generations.

To find information about endangered plants in your area, you can try the following resources:

1. Local botanical gardens or arboreta: Many botanical gardens have information about local endangered plants and may have specimens on display.
2. Government agencies: Contact your local or state government's natural resource or environmental agency for information about endangered plants in your area.
3. Conservation organizations: Organizations such as The Nature Trust or The Nature Conservancy may have information about endangered plants in your area and ongoing conservation efforts.
4. Online databases: Websites like the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species or the USDA Plants Database can provide information about endangered plants, including their distribution and status.
5. Local university or museum: Local universities or natural history museums may have information about the local flora, including any endangered species.

It's important to be mindful of the habitats of endangered plants and not disturb them without proper permission. By supporting conservation efforts and reducing the demand for rare or threatened plants, you can help ensure the survival of these species.

 

Flowers and plants drying kit

All you really need is to want to dry the flowers. To start, you don't have to pay for anything. Did you bring a meadow bouquet from the bike trip? Let's start.

 

 

Separate and review the plants

Gently separate the plants and flowers, and put the broken and squashed ones aside. If some have started to wilt - don't worry, it's part of the drying process. If some of the flowers started to lose their petals, collect them - you can dry them separately and then "rebuild" the flower from the dry elements. You can separate the flowers from the stems, cut off the leaves and buds, and dry everything separately. See if it is possible to remove thick centers in flowers without disturbing the structure of the plant. You can try to cut them with small scissors.

Pressing and drying in books

Prepare paper towels or other paper sheets from raw paper. Arrange the plants with space in between, put a paper towel on top, close the page. Don't put it on the next page right away, flip more pages. Fill a book and put it under a pile of other books, or under something else that is heavy. Try to put weight on the book so you can keep it closed. Check out this article for some more tips.

 

Flower press  

You can buy a flower press or ask someone to help make one yourself. I used two kitchen boards (thick, solid wood) to make my press. Bolts and wide nuts were also needed. In such a flower press, you can easily place entire books or individual plants into paper towels. For a better pressure distribution, I also prepared additional piecies of cardboard to put in between the books and paper towels. I squeeze the press as much as I can. After 2 days, I loosen the screws, check the condition of the plants. If there is a lot of moisture, I open the press, pull out the moist papers with plants and put them on a table. After a day, everything dries up nicely. You can re-insert them in the press for a few days.

 

 

Drying without special supervision 

The technique described above is for drying whole flowers and plants, stems with leaves, sets of flower buds, and all plants that may contain a lot of moisture. But if you decide to dry leaves, grasses, delicate flowers (such as pansies or violets) or the flower petals themselves, you can simply arrange them in books and put them on a shelf. Without any special checking or heating, in about 3 weeks you will have the material ready to make decorations.

Summer - an endless inspiration

I love fall, I appreciate spring, but summer is definitely the best time to pick flowers and plants. It is definitely worth trying to dry everything you like - only petals, whole flowers, stems with flowers and only leaves. You can find important information and my set of necessary accessories in this blog article.

 

The best time to harvest in garden  

We do not always have the ability to track the stages of plant growth. If we have a garden, we usually realize what has bloomed and when. In such a situation, it is best to pick the flowers when they are shaped and have the right color. You can also pick undeveloped forms and flower buds. This gives you more options in creating decorations. It is best to pick the flowers in the morning (if it has not rained at night), when they have already spread the petals, but the sun has not warmed them up too much.

 

What about harvesting in wild meadows and woodlands? 

Collect what you want, when you want! Since you don't know when the flowers have bloomed, take more from a given species at different stages of development. Plastic bags with a little water will be the best for transport. If possible, uproot the plant, clean it and put it in a bag of water. You can only sprinkle the plants with water and seal them in a plastic kitchen bowl or boxes. If you can, take more than you think you need. Some plants will break, peel off the petals and have to be thrown away. Don't worry, it's normal. 

 

Have fun collecting! 

Such tours in search of plants are a really fun way to spend your free time. If you want you can go by bike, you can take your kids, friends or acquaintances. I guarantee that everyone will come back with their bouquet. Remember - try to watch out for plants that are endanger. Be sure the one You are collecting are not under special environmental protection.