A is for Althea – AKA Rose of Sharon

When I was a little girl my aunt showed me how to make a doll from the flower of the Althea Rose of Sharon bush. It grew in the front yard of our farm in northern Indiana. The petals made a lovely long dress and the doll’s head was the unopened bud of another flower. While visiting my husband’s family in upstate New York I noticed the same flowers blooming all around and took advantage of the opportunity to make one again.

To make this flower doll:

Pick a flower with the longest petals that have not yet fully opened. Pinch the stem off completely and use a toothpick to make a small hole into the base of the flower where the stem had been. Then pick a green bud that is still tight for the head. Peel away the green sepals to leave only the round green ball of the bud. Trim the stem to about 1/4 or 1/8 in and poke it into the hole you made with the toothpick, and voila, your have a lovely princess doll.

The Althea bush I was familiar with is a little different than the Hibiscus bushes I see in the south where I now live, but I believe they would work to make these same flower dolls.

Did you try to make a flower doll with your children? Please share your experience in the comments below. What are some other simple and fun outdoor activities you can do with your children or grandchildren? Please share them as well.

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