So you just received a fruit basket garnished with a flower arrangement for your birthday and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Despite the freshness of the blooms, however, its beauty was not destined to last forever, much like many of life’s pleasures.
Hold on – there’s no need to toss those gorgeous flowers out as soon as you notice the first sign of wilting. If you want to preserve their beauty, dry them! Drying allows you the opportunity to cherish flowers long after their lifespan, without compromising on the 
beauty of their living state. However, many people dry flowers by flattening them out, which robs them of their original form. This is often the case for more delicate blooms, such as daisies.
To dry delicate flowers and maintain their original shape, simply spread a layer of silica gel (a desiccant in a granular form) a few centimetres deep on the bottom of a resealable plastic container. The container should be airtight. Silica gel can be found at Toronto florists and craft shops.
Place the flower heads on top of the silica gel, upside down. Stems may be attached but are usually on the shorter side. They should be short enough to fit completely inside of the container.
Pour silica gel on top of the flower heads, submerging the blooms completely. You can 
gently knock the side of the container to fill any air pockets.
Close the container with the airtight lid (or use tape to seal it completely) and let rest for about 3-4 days, away from light.
Remove the lid and gently pour out the contents. Tada! Dried flowers will appear, in just about the same colour and shape as they were when alive.
Keep the silica gel for future use, since it can be a little pricey.
