Mixing it up with fresh-dried flower combos from the gardens

The third in my series on cut flowers that make my farmer florist life easier! Dried flower designs have their place; but the secret that dried flowers were holding for me is that they can be really handy for mixing in with fresh flowers throughout the year and particularly when I'm short on a specific colour or flower or during seasons when fresh flowers from the cut flower gardens are more scarce! With some knowledge and techniques, dried flowers can be worked into fresh market bouquets, wreaths, you name it! In this video, I'm sharing methods for growing and harvesting dried flowers, creative ideas for adding them to fresh arrangements and seasonal wreaths, and some of my favourite dried flowers to grow!

RICE GLUE RECIPE from Susanne Law AIFD
*This recipe was shared by Susanne Law AIFD, a wonderful floral artist in my locality who is generous with her creative sustainable solutions for floral design. Check her out on Instagram at   / @susannelawaifd   !

3 tbsp rice, unwashed
6 tbsp white vinegar
1 2/3 cups water
1 large pinch of sea salt

1. Boil all the ingredients over low/medium heat until most the rice grains are dissolved, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
2. Cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. When done, the glue will have a thick consistency and will continue to thicken as it cools. After it has cooled for about 20-30 minutes, it can be used immediately or it can be stored for months in a sealed container in the fridge.
4. Apply with a paint brush (or your fingers) and use about 2 to 4 times more volume than traditional glue for a good adhesion. You can also add water to thin it, depending on your uses for it. Glue dries almost clear.