Florists: does anyone know how to freeze dry a rose?

Question

I have a fresh rose from a funeral and would like to have it freeze-dried to preserve it in it's full 3D form (I will then have it put into a shadowbox frame). Is this something that local florists can do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :-)

Answer 1

"Freeze" is the first step to a damaged flower. The cells will burst and the blossom will collapse. At a craft shop you can purchase silica gel which may be sold under various names including"Flower-Dri". Essentially, the blossom is surrounded by the silica gel (which is more like sand than a gel), closed up tightly in a container and it dries in the shape exactly as it is when you put it into the silica gel. I have done this with various flowers and preserved them in this way so I can make arrangements from them in jars.