Dried rose petal collection

Composting my Rose Petal Collection

I have been enjoying my post-employment life for two months now. I have been chipping away at many projects & building infrastructure to fulfill dreams. One project has been re-organizing my various Trashmagination collections. I collect many things because in my mind’s eye, I can totally see what they could become. But I also realize that if I have too many collections, it becomes a weight, a clutter not only in my home but in my mind. So I’m trying to let go of certain things.

I decided to compost my dried rose petals because it’s easy to get more if I decide to make projects with them.

So why was I keeping dried rose petals?

Making Rose Petal Beads

A few years ago, I crushed dried rose petals until they were like flour and then mixed it into a dough. I then rolled it into little beads and pushed a long toothpick through.

Did you know that in the past, some rosaries were made from crushed flower petals? I love the imagery of that, even though I am not Catholic and don’t use a rosary.

When I just went to get the beads for this photo, I opened the container and an intense lovely perfume came – still after at least five years or more. Unfortunately, I think they look a bit like rabbit poops:

Beads from Dried Rose Petals
Beads from Dried Rose Petals

So I may do this project again, but I’m not sure if there is a way to make the bead more beautiful. Perhaps painting them? This collection has a thin layer of varnish on them to make them shiny and smooth, and still you can smell the perfume, so paint would be fine too.

Beads made from dried rose petals
Beads made from dried rose petals

On Pinterest, people talk about making your wedding bouquet last forever by making them into beads. Also on Pinterest, I see they intersperse the brown-ish flower beads with colorful wood or glass beads to make it look nicer. Some people make beads from funeral flowers too – that makes me feel too sad.

Into the Compost!

So with a sigh, I dropped my petals into the compost bin. It is the nicest this bin has ever smelled!

Rose petals in my composter
Rose petals in my composter

Later I saw this little chipmunk on my rain barrel. Yep, those beads look a bit like chipmunk poops too.

Chipmunk on my rain barrel
Chipmunk on my rain barrel

Let the clutter become real projects! Let the collections be pared down! To productive Trashmagination happiness!

With focus, comes progress.