Using Plants in Your Yard To Make Potpourri

[Pat]

I like to make my own potpourri using plants I grew in the yard or some I have picked when I am out on a walk.

I have used roses, rosemary, basil, bay leaves and lavender to make the potpourri. I like to add pine cones for bulk to the mix.

The mix is pretty and the aroma is great.

Any one else like to make their own potpourri?

 

[Shellyann36]

I have done this with herbs. I would make little herb sachets but not recently. I will have to get back into it again. I really hope that this year we can have a garden. I am itching to get to it again. I officially have cabin fever or spring fever.

 

[wahmbrenda]

I haven't tried potpouri but you mentioned pinecones... Do you have any all natural drying methods for them? My 1 guinea pig loves to chew on them but the ones I find aren't safe to simply hand her unfortunately.

 

[firelily99]

I have used my herbs as well as things like pine cones and pine needles. I've also used wild plants. I enjoy making my own potpourri and love to experiment with different combos. I simply cut my herbs, bundle them and hang them in a shaded corner inside the garage. Or the plastic trays that the six packs of plants come in are good to dry in as well.

 

[claudine]

I've never tried making my own potpourri. To be honest, I don't really like the idea of keeping dried petals and leaves in my room. I'd much rather buy fresh flowers at the florist or take them from my garden

 

[Andy1982]

I like to make my own potpourri using plants I grew in the yard or some I have picked when I am out on a walk.

I have used roses, rosemary, basil, bay leaves and lavender to make the potpourri. I like to add pine cones for bulk to the mix.

The mix is pretty and the aroma is great.

Any one else like to make their own potpourri?

This sounds something my wife would love. How do you make it? We have some of the things around here you mentioned like bay and stuff; No roses though. I work on, if I can't eat it, I'm not growing it. I'll stay tuned for more. Cheers.

 

[Pat]

I let the flowers dry out, then I mix them all together, plants that smell good together and a few rocks or shells to make it pretty. I pick up pine cones as I walk around. It is just something to play with. There are a few sites online that give better instructions on how to create a good potpourri, they also use oils in the mix.

One of the things I like to do is dry oranges, lemons and apples in the oven to go into the mix.

 

[wahmbrenda]

It definitely could smell very pretty. I may have to try it this summer. Do you have a link to any of the websites you mentioned?

 

[claudine]

One of the things I like to do is dry oranges, lemons and apples in the oven to go into the mix.

I remember that my aunt used to dry oranges. She sliced them and put them on a radiator. They smelled really nicely, but it was a very, very delicate scent.
As for dried apples, I love eating them

 

[Andy1982]

I let the flowers dry out, then I mix them all together, plants that smell good together and a few rocks or shells to make it pretty. I pick up pine cones as I walk around. It is just something to play with. There are a few sites online that give better instructions on how to create a good potpourri, they also use oils in the mix.

One of the things I like to do is dry oranges, lemons and apples in the oven to go into the mix.

Thanks for the reply. As I say I wouldn't be even entertaining the idea, but as I was reading out loud she said I should ask as it would be something she would love to do. I like the idea of all Rosemary, love that smell.

 

[gata montes]

I haven't made potpourri myself - but do remember my grandmother used to make her own with all the different lavenders, thyme and rosemary that grew wild around her house - as well as one she made with citrus peels and cinnamon - which was definitely my favorite and one I still remember to this day - as it used to fill the house with a subtle but wonderfully light fragrance

As for the dried apples Pat am not sure that if I used them they would ever into a potpourri mix - as I think I would probably land up eating them - as like Claudine - I love dried apples

 

[Mockingbird]

Cardamom pods are a nice addition to home made potpourri, I like full allspice berries, full or cracked pieces of nutmeg and cinnamon. These items all add texture and bulk. For flowers you can also use rose hips, dried marigold, mints, dried Echinacea, dried nasturtium, bugle weed flowers (dried whole) and the little seed pods from snap dragons. If you look closely at the snap dragon seed pod it looks like a small face. I get these tall yellow spike plants, I call them popcorn because they look like popcorn kernels on a stick before they open, but the are actually common mullein, it resembles lambs ears gone to flower, they have nice seed pods that you can also dry and use for potpourri.

 

[Rosyrain]

I have made some potpourri with dried rose petals and herbs before. I will never use lavender because I think it stinks and it makes my nose burn. That seems to be one of the most popular plants to dry out and stuff in a satchel. I also like to make cedar chips sometimes as stuff a bag for my drawers.

 

[ACSAPA]

I grow a few herbs but I haven't thought of making potpourri out of them because I already have candles, reed diffusers and aromapots. There would be a cacophony of clashing scents if I added anything else scented.

 

[Rosyrain]

The only down to potpourri is that it loses its scent right away if the fragrance is not oil based. You have to mix it up and add more petals or herbs at least once a week. This has been my experience at least. I like to find a pretty arrangement of the stuff though and put it in a bowl in the living room.