Beyond the Rose: Preserving Memories that Last
By: Brian Puckett, Vice Chairman Helena Beautification Board

Now that Valentine’s Day is behind us and your roses are starting to see their last days; don’t toss them out just yet.  Make the roses from your love last by giving them new life by creating potpourri. It’s a very easy way to make your own potpourri that is sure to not be a Pinterest FAIL.

Hot pink and yellow rose petals made the perfect purple and yellow Mardi Gras themed potpourri accented with a fleur de lis charm

1. Carefully pull off the petals of your roses from the stem.

2. On a microwave safe plate cover with a paper towel and lay your petals out flat, and place another paper towel on top of the flat petals with another plate upside down to cover it.

3. Microwave the petals for 60 seconds.

4. Check the petals to see if they are almost dry. If not, microwave them just a little more.

5. Place them flat on a piece of newspaper or cardboard for 2 hours.

6. Place the petals in a glass jar along with a ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, a tiny bit of rose and lavender essential oils.

7. Let the closed jar sit for a day and then you are ready to display.

If you don’t want to dry your petals out fast in the microwave you can always use a variety of ways to dry them out.  You can lay them out in a mesh screen or a cookie sheet and place them in an area that gets air flow. This takes the longest time to complete and you need to flip the petals every couple of days. Another way is to put your petals in a dehydrator to pull out the water. Finally, there is the tried and true way of placing your petals in a book to keep them flat and dry them out.

This makes a beautiful display and the lavender scent is a great stress reliever. Whether you put them at your entry way or on the bathroom vanity; it is that easy to make your roses last longer than you ever thought possible.

About the Author

A twelve-year resident of Helena, Brian is actively involved in civic and faith based initiatives and is currently serving as Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Helena Beautification Board, Secretary of the Helena Elementary PTO, and a second term on the Riverchase Business Association Board of Directors, where his eye for design has help lead the Riverchase. Brian has an MBA and works at Regions Bank. Mr. Puckett is married with two daughters. With a knack for design, Brian makes ideas come to life. His eye for detail bodes well from small planter flower selections to grandiose projects. A skilled woodcrafter, he recently showcased his skills in the various holiday displays throughout Old Town.

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