Tip of the Week: Techniques for Pressing Flowers
Posted in Gardening Tips on June 1st, 2010 by Sonia Uyterhoeven – Be the first to comment |
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. Join her each weekend for home gardening demonstrations on a variety of topics in the Home Gardening Center. |
Last week I discussed the tradition of flower pressing, the creative uses of pressed flowers, and a few important tips for successfully pressing flowers and making your own designs.
Remember to collect flowers when they are at their peak Avoid any excess moisture on your flowers by collecting them in late morning after the dew has burned off. Below are some simple techniques for pressing flowers.
Waxed Paper
The simplest way to press flowers is the one we all experimented with in grade school—the waxed paper technique. Take two sheets of waxed paper and place your flowers between them.
Cover the waxed paper with a thin cloth and press with a warm iron on a low to medium setting. The cloth prevents the iron from acquiring a waxy residue. Waxed paper today is not as waxy as it used to be, however, so you might need to add some melted paraffin. You can use dried or fresh flowers. Flat flowers and foliage are easier to press. read more »