A Whiff of Days Gone By

Remember when we made this yellow rose and rosemary potpourri? http://suburbansettler.blogspot.com/2010/11/lovely-post-on-pot-rot.html

I just pulled another bag from the freezer and tossed it in a bowl. Very quickly the petals thawed, the aroma wafted up and the color remained true. The test for long-term storage in the freezer for floral potpourri is indeed a great success. So even though tearing those dainty petals off the stem before they actually wilt may feel like a waste, it will only seem so for a moment. Once they've dried and been blended with the rest of the potpourri mix, they can offer both beauty and fragrance for months to come. What's more, you can buy the essential oils everywhere from GNC to Amazon. By the way, the herbal oil I started last week-- http://suburbansettler.blogspot.com/2011/09/kitty-thyme.html

--it's about ready to strain and use. Since it's made with kitchen herbs, I may use it for fried green tomatoes, especially if it is too light for scenting a potpourri. I'll have to get back to you with the results.

But if you're a rose gardener, be certain to preserve some petals for winter potpourri's. Nothing would brighten a dull gray winter day like a genuine summer rose aroma!

Happy plucking!