• Old nylon stockings or pantyhose
• Ribbons
• Scissors

It's easy to make potpourri in the backyard! Just learn to recognize plants and flowers, then find a mixture of nature to make a fragrant filling. To create a potpourri bag for drying bits as you go, take an old pair of Mom's nylon stockings or panyhose and cut off a foot. Poke a few holes in the top and run a string through to tie to a belt loop for easy gathering.

Our favorite fragrant suggestions for creating homemade potpourri include: dogwood and apple blossoms, holly berries (be careful!), pine cones and needles, cedar or spruce sprigs, teaberry, mint, wild rose, magnolia, and other flowers.

Beware of plants such as poison ivy and oak that can cause serious allergic reactions, and avoid white spruce and ginko because of the horrifying aroma of the dried plants.