The soft gray tones of dried lavender (Lavandula spp.) are perfect for a dreamy late-summer palette. Make a floral arrangement by gathering and drying lavender at peak bloom.
Harvest your lavender for drying just before the blooms open fully, on a sunny day after the morning dew has dried. To dry lavender, hang the stems upside-down in a dark, dry area; keeping the plants away from sunlight and humidity helps preserve the bloom color. (A temperature of 75 to 80 degrees in a room with good air circulation is ideal.) The herbs are dry if a stem snaps when bent near the bottom.