Updated on: April 30, 2024

Did you know that lilac flower blooms are actually edible? They actually have a delightful taste. Foraging lilacs can be an exciting experience. Lilacs are popularly used as ornamental plants due to their beauty and fragrance. Here’s a step by step guide to help you go out in nature and find, identify, and forage lilac blossoms successfuly:

Jump down to different categories in the article by clicking the links below:

1. How to Forage for Lilac
2. Lilac Flower Crown 🪻
3. Recipes Using Lilac Blossoms
4. Craft Ideas Using Lilac
5. How to Dry Lilac Flowers
6. Lilac Music 🎵
7. FAQs

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How to Forage for Lilac

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Identify the Lilac Bush: Make sure you know how lilac bushes look like. A lilac bush is a deciduous shrub that typically grows up to 10 feet tall. It features clusters of fragrant, tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, white, or blue. The leaves are green and heart-shaped.

Forage in the Right Season: Lilacs usually bloom in spring, so that’s the best time to forage them. Look for bushes in parks, gardens, or even along roadsides.

Bring Clippers for Harvest: Take along a pair of garden shears or scissors to cut the lilac stems cleanly. When harvesting lilacs, cut the stems just above a set of leaves. This encourages new growth and ensures the bush stays healthy. Do not forget to bring a foraging basket along to carry your new blooms!

Enjoy and Preserve: Once you’ve foraged your lilacs, you can use them for floral arrangements, potpourri, or even culinary purposes, like making lilac syrup or jelly. If you want to preserve them, you can dry them by hanging them upside down in a cool, dark place.

Obey Property Laws: If you’re foraging on private property, make sure to ask for permission first.

Remember to forage responsibly and only take what you need, leaving plenty for others to enjoy and for the plants to thrive.

Lilac Flower Crown 🪻

Want to make a lilac crown that will last forever? Creating a DIY flower crown with no allergy issues is a fun and creative project! Use false, paper lilac flowers that you can buy here instead of real ones that can wilt. However do keep in mind we can also make a dried flower crown as well to preserve real flowers.

Below are the instructions and materials you need to create a paper lilac flower crown:

Materials Needed

• Lilac flowers (real or fake you choose)
• Floral wire
• Floral tape
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Ribbon or elastic band
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Measure the floral wire around your head to determine the size of your crown. Touch tip to tip at the back of your head. When measuring your head be sure to leave a 1 to 2 in gap to add ribbon later on. Now cut your wire, now you have a base! If you’re using a pre-made floral crown base, skip to step 4 but make sure to cut this pre-made base in the back if you want to add cute ribbon later on.
2. Using floral wire, wrap one long piece of it around your head tightly do not push too hard though this is simply to shape the wire to fit on your head snug and nicely. Form it together to create a circlet. Leave the 2 end pieces open for now. Later on we will attach a ribbon to both ends of the floral wire.
3. Now onto the flowers themselves. Cut the stems of the fake flowers, leaving about 1.5 inches of stem.
4. Grab one newly cut flower and floral tape. Wrap neatly but tightly onto the outside of the base of your flower crown only the 1.5in stem of the flower in floral tape, leaving the blossoms themselves exposed. Arrange the flowers along the crown base, spacing them out evenly.
5. Add small dabs of hot glue onto the floral tape for added security to increase the sturdiness of your flower crown. Be sure not to add big globs of glue.
6. Continue adding flowers until you’ve covered the entire crown base. Try on the crown and make sure it fits you correctly but it’s okay of its not perfect because the ribbon will add some flexibility for a better fit.
7. If desired, you can embellish your flower crown with additional decorations such as ribbon, beads, or leaves. Use hot glue to attach these decorations securely to the crown.
8. Once you’re satisfied with the arrangement, trim off around 10 inches with scissors of your chosen ribbon and hot glue it around the ends of the wire. I recommend folding the ribbon once before attaching to give a thicker base around the end of the wire to prevent the wire from poking out of the ribbon otherwise it can poke you while wearing and make it uncomfortable. Plus folding it will cover the loose end of your ribbon.
9. You are done!

Your DIY flower crown is now ready to wear and enjoy! Continue to spark your creativity by experimenting with different flower combinations and arrangements to make flower crowns that are uniquely yours and own it knowing there is no other flower crown quite like the one you made with your very own hands!

Recipes Using Lilac Blossoms

Lilac Honey: Combine fresh lilac blooms with honey for a floral-infused sweetener.

Lilac Lemonade: Lilac lemonade can sure be tasty! I recommend you try this recipe.

Lilac Syrup: Infuse lilac blooms with sugar and water to create a fragrant syrup perfect for cocktails, lemonade, or drizzling over desserts.

Lilac Jelly: Make jelly using lilac-infused water for a unique and flavorful spread.

Lilac Lip Balm: Creating your own botanical lip balm can be a rewarding experience.

Lilac Water: Adding some flavor to your water can really help you stay hydrated! It’s not just lemons that go well with water!

Lilac Hot Tea: Boil some water and grab your tea infuser and try this unique, spring tasty beverage.

Lilac-infused vinegar: Infuse white vinegar with lilac blooms for a delicate floral vinegar, perfect for salad dressings or marinades.

Lilac-flavored sugar: Layer fresh lilac blooms with sugar in a jar, seal, and let sit for a few weeks to infuse the sugar with the delicate floral flavor. Use it to sweeten tea or baked goods.

Salad: Topping in salads, especially salads with fruit! Like strawberries, mangos, lettuce, nuts, etc. Consider using a (rasberry) vinaigrette.

Use as a Garnish: Top some of your splendid meals or dishes with a lilac topping, such as bread, salads, or even for a cocktail!

Lilac Ice Cream: Add lilac syrup or lilac-infused cream to your favorite ice cream base for a floral twist on a classic treat.

Craft Ideas Using Lilac

Here are some craft ideas for using foraged lilac blooms:

DIY Ideas

Lilac sachets: Fill small fabric pouches with dried lilac blooms to create fragrant sachets for drawers or closets.

Lilac candles: Embed dried lilac blooms in homemade candles for a beautiful decorative touch and a subtle floral scent when burned.

Lilac wreath: Create a wreath using dried lilac blooms and other seasonal foliage for a charming spring decoration.

Pressed flower art: Press lilac blooms between heavy books to preserve them, then use them to create beautiful floral artwork or greeting cards.

Lilac Scents

Lilac bath salts: Mix dried and crushed lilac blooms with Epsom salts for a luxurious and relaxing floral bath soak.

Lilac potpourri: Mix dried lilac blooms with other dried flowers and herbs to make fragrant potpourri for your home.

Lilac perfume: Infuse alcohol or oil with fresh lilac blooms to create your own custom floral perfume.

Lilac hair rinse: Steep fresh lilac blooms in boiling water, strain, and use the infused water as a natural hair rinse for added shine and fragrance.

Lilac potpourri pillows: Fill small fabric pillows with dried lilac blooms and herbs to create fragrant sachets for your pillowcase or bedside table. This would also be a great combination with dried lavender as well.

How to Dry Lilac Flowers

After you have gone outside in the warm sun and foraged some Lilac or just simply grabbed some from your personal garden or yard. Here is a great way to preserve the flowers and the memories of the pleasant day. Consider the drying method of your new lilac blooms:

Drying Instructions

To dry lilac flowers for preserving fond memories, follow these steps:

1. Choose fresh lilac blossoms that are fully open but not wilted.
2. Gently shake the flowers to remove any insects or debris.
3. Trim the stems to your desired length, leaving a few inches for handling.
4. Arrange the flowers in a single layer on a paper towel or drying rack.
5. Place the flowers in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
6. Allow the flowers to air dry for about 1-2 weeks, or until they feel crisp to the touch.
7. Check the flowers periodically and remove any that show signs of mold or decay.
8. Once dry, store the lilac flowers in an airtight container (or for asthetic purposes I suggest a book or journal) away from moisture and light to preserve their fragrance and color.

Lilac Music 🎵

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FAQs

Question: When do lilacs bloom and are ready to harvest?

Answer: They bloom in spring, usually from April to June, depending on the variety and location.

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Thanks for reading.