Potpourri: a mixture of things or a mixture of dried petals, fruits, spices, and essential oils. Usually placed in bowls or small bags to add fragrance to a room, drawer, or closet.
I have always been fascinated with herbs since childhood. I can blame it on my parents because instead of taking my siblings and me to amusement parks, we always ended up at museums or historical areas. I was entranced with life in earlier times, especially learning how people used herbs in the 18th and 19th centuries.
As I grew older, my passion continued, and I read every book that I could on herbs, dreaming of having my own herb garden someday. In addition to the classics on herbs, I devoured every book written by Adelma Simmons of Caprilands Herb Farm in Coventry, Connecticut. My patient parents indulged me with a visit to Caprilands, where I met Adelma Simmons. I was in awe. She was everything I could imagine as a wise, green lady. She held court at Caprilands, and I happily fell under her spell. In my group of heroines, she remains close to Tasha Tudor, someone I have revered all of my life.
In my senior year of college, I had the opportunity to work with an herb lady that sold potpourri at fairs and festivals. One of my greatest pleasures was to open large shipping barrels of dried flowers. I loved to dive into the rose petals from India and just wanted to swim in them.
Fast forward to 2021. I have spent the years between growing and mostly cooking with herbs. But, last year, I was assigned to deadhead the David Austin roses at my job at Groffs Plant Farm. I was delighted and begged to keep the spent blooms. Quickly, I made a simple potpourri without a fixative for my colleagues.
I requested the same task this year, and I am happily gathering large containers of spent blooms. I have been drying them in my car, laying trays of rose petals to dry in the sun on the back seat. It’s the perfect environment. This year, I am doing it right. I’ve purchased fixative (orris root) and essential oils to enhance the dried roses and dried violas that I gathered. My back porch is filled with dried plants and large bowls of potpourri. Soon, I will be bagging it into small chiffon bags to give to my Groffs colleagues and friends.
Potpourri Recipe:
10 c. dried rose petals
4. c. dried flowers (I am using colorful violas this year)
2 c. dried lavender blossoms
4 Tbl. Orris Root(1-2 Tb. Per 4 c. dried plant materials)
15-20 drops of essential oil of choice (I use: rose, lavender, sweet orange, and ylang ylang.)
