Using May Flowers To Brighten Your Day
Author: Julianna Cooper, Challenge America Music Therapist
I don’t know about where you live, but here in Pittsburgh we are finally starting to see the result of the (many, many, many) April Showers we received last month - May Flowers! 💐
It’s truly a special thing when the trees start springing forth in green buds, the birds start singing, and the world bursts into colorful bloom. There’s inspiration everywhere this time of year, which isn’t surprising given the number of songs, paintings, sketches (you name it!) that detail the beauty of flowers! As artists, we have all likely found and felt the inspiration from a field of wildflowers or a rose bursting into full bloom.
Today, we want to share a bit about using stunning May Flowers to brighten your everyday life. Many of us incorporate these buds into our artwork, but have you ever tried integrating them into your home or environment? These things of beauty are meant to be admired, so let’s give ourselves every chance possible to spotlight them!🌷
BRING FRESH FLOWERS INTO YOUR HOME 🌻
Whether you pick a few wild blooms from your neighborhood, cut a few small branches from your dogwood tree, or purchase a bouquet of tulips from the grocery store, nothing beats having fresh flowers that are alive! This is an inexpensive or completely free way to spruce up your home decor, and add a little bit of color and texture to your everyday surroundings.
If you’d like to take this a step further, try creating your own flower arrangement! THIS VIDEO provides some fantastic tips for taking flowers that are already gorgeous, and turning them into a unique work of art.
TRY EDIBLE FLOWERS 🌸
One way to add a bit of beauty and color into your diet is with edible flowers. That’s right - certain flowers are indeed safe to eat, and can even provide a few micronutrients to boost your meal!
THIS ARTICLE provides a fantastic overview of several common edible flowers and their flavor profiles, as well as a few flowers you should avoid eating. Some of the most common safe-to-eat flowers include cornflower, dahlia, honeysuckle, hibiscus, and rose!
Try THIS RECIPE for a fun treat that’s both delicious and beautiful.
PRESS AND PRESERVE FLOWERS 🌼
Want to preserve the color and beauty of these short-lived blooms? Try flower preservation! There are several ways to preserve flowers, but one of the easiest and most common is by pressing. All you need is a few heavy books and some parchment paper!
THIS BLOG POST shares four different methods of pressing flowers! You can try several different ways of pressing to find what works best for you - microwaving, ironing, using books, or trying a wooden press.
Once your flowers are pressed and preserved, the artistic opportunities are endless! Whether you arrange and frame your flowers, laminate them to create a bookmark, or create coasters, the outcome is bound to be beautiful. Check out THIS POST for ten amazing projects you can create with your freshly pressed flowers!
