One quirky thing about me (there are many), is that I hate throwing away wilting flowers. It’s very ironic since I can’t keep a plant or garden thriving to save my life. It’s just really sad to me tossing something so beautiful in the trash that added so much cheer to our home for a week or so.
There are actually a few things that I like to do to “repurpose” flowers that are on their way out. I purchased a few beautiful bouquets at Trader Joe’s last week, and enjoyed every second of having them in our home.
They were looking a little bit sad and droopy yesterday, so we dismantled the bouquets and gave them a second (and third) life.
My 4 year old Annie enjoys rose petals in her tubs. if you know her in real life, this might not surprise you. She is a bit extra. The kids also love using them in their mud kitchen to make perfume and other “potions”.
MY favorite thing to do is to make a floral simmer pot for the home. I love a good simmer pot in the fall or winter, but a summer simmer pot (say that five times fast) can be just as enjoyable in the warmer months for that added bit of a cozy feel to your home. Especially with the air conditioning on. It’s also a great way of cleansing the air and eliminating unwanted odors in your home without the use of unhealthy chemicals, that you so often find in scented candles and room spray.
They are super easy to make. I fill my pot half way with water, then I usually just toss in whatever I think will blend well together. Sometimes, as an added bonus, they are aesthetically pleasing to look at too. I always feel a little bit like a scientist or a good witch mixing up a potion when curating my ingredients.
I have definitely had some fails along the way. I simmered eucalyptus and lemon once, and it was a little too intense for me (very medicinal), but perhaps it would be a welcomed combination if you were fighting off a cold. In general, it’s usually pretty hard to get a combination completely wrong.
Some of my favorite things to combine for warmer weather months (I usually pick 2-3) are:
- Lavender
- Rose Petals
- Sage
- Fresh Mint
- Rosemary
- Lemons or grapefruit
- Frozen or fresh berries
- Essential oil with a floral or citrus base (rose, geranium, lavender are all lovely)
Fall:
- Cranberries
- Apples
- Oranges
- Cloves
- Cardamon
- Anise seed
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Essential oils (thieves)
Winter:
- Juniper
- Tree Trimmings
- Vanilla pods
- Orange Slices
- Essenial Oils (Christmas Spirit, Frankincense, Pine)
You can keep your simmer pots going for as little as an hour, or for an entire afternoon, should you choose to. The key is to keep them at a low temp (But simmering), and to top off with extra water if needed, as they boil down. If you have never tried a simmer pot, I urge you to do so! They are a fun (and sometimes) pretty way to refresh your home, and use up some items you might otherwise be tossing away.
Enjoy!
xx,
Katie