Just as you pick vegetables at the ''peak of perfection,'' flowers for drying need to be harvested at just the right time.
Here is a guide, based on instructions in ''Country Flower Drying,'' by Beverly Olson and Judy Lazzara (Sterling Publishing, $9.95):
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- Baby`s breath. This sea of small white blooms is commonly used as a filler for floral arrangements. Cut the plant when the flowers are fully open but before they turn brown. Hang the branch-like stems to air dry. You can dye the dried flowers by soaking them in food coloring.
- Celosia. This plant can be cut somewhat late in the season when the crest of ruffle is fully developed. Cut the entire stem, strip off the leaves and hang it upside down to dry. Seeds will drop, so band a paper bag around the flower head to catch the seeds and protect the colors while drying. You can plant the seeds next spring.
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- Bachelor button. Cut the stems while the flowers are in full bloom, strip off the leaves , then hang the stems upside down to dry.
- Ferns. Cut ferns before the edges turn brown and start to curl. It takes about a week to dry ferns by pressing. Cut the ferns at their base, then place them inside the pages of a telephone book, but not between pieces of paper towel or tissue because they`ll stick to the paper. Good bets are maidenhair, sprengeri and leatherleaf ferns.
- Ageratum. Cut when the flowers are in full bloom, strip off the leaves, bundle and hang upside down; or lay out flat to dry.
- Grapevines. They are widely used for making wreaths or adding interest to arrangements. Cut the vines in long sections late in fall (after first frost) when most of the leaves have fallen off. If the vines aren`t used right away, they dry out and break; soak in water to make more pliable.
- Herbs. Herbs such as rosemary, lavender, mint, thyme, sage and basil can be used in floral arrangements and wreaths. Cut the stems anytime during their growing season, bundle together and hang upside down to dry.
- Hydrangeas. Choose flower heads that are mature but still have their color. Cut with at least a 6- to 8-inch stem. Lay on a flat surface to dry or hang upside down.
- Dusty miller. The gray foliage of dusty miller is widely used in arrangements, and most plants dried for their foliage can be treated the same way. Cut throughout the growing season, band the stems together and hang upside down to dry.
- Roses. Cut the bud just before it is ready to open. Loop a wire through the green base at the bottom of the rose, hang it upside down to dry for at least four weeks. All roses turn at least a shade darker when dried; so a dark red rose will turn black. -
