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How to Dry Wildflower Grasses for Taxidermy Habitat

Taxidermy is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Stuffed animals can be seen everywhere from museums to art galleries to private residences. Many taxidermists wish to create panoramic scenes with their creations, which showcase their work in a natural environment. Adding dried wildflowers to a taxidermy habitat can increase the realism and aesthetic appeal of any scene.

Instructions

- 1
  Gather flowers and grasses for drying. Choose flowers and grasses which have a strong, woody stem which will stand up to being displayed upright when dry. Flowers like roses and grasses like pampas grass are good candidates. Look for flowers with buds which are just beginning to open --- flowers at this stage stand up best to the drying process. Cut flowers mid-morning on a low-humidity day, when flowers are at their driest. Snip the stem as close to the ground as possible with a pair of scissors or gardening shears.
- 2
  Prepare the flowers for drying. Cut each stem at a 45-degree angle, approximately 1 inch from the base of the stem and wrap the bottom of each stem with a rubber band. The rubber band should be tight enough to hold the flower firmly, but not tight enough to compress the stem. Unfold a paperclip vertically, forming an "S" hook. Hook one paperclip through each flower stem.
- 3
  Hang the flowers and grasses upside down from a lattice, fence or door frame. The ideal environment for drying flowers is an area that is warm and low in humidity. Allow the flowers to dry undisturbed for two to three weeks until they are fully dry to the touch.

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