Preserving Wildflowers
Pressing flowers is a matter of removing moisture slowly under steady, flat pressure. Place your blooms between layers of absorbent paper inside a weighted book, then leave them undisturbed for several weeks until they feel papery and completely dry to the touch.
Wait for the dew to dry.
Pick your flowers in the late morning after the sun has burned off the moisture, as damp petals will mold instead of press.
- Heavy hardcover book
- Parchment paper or unprinted newsprint
- Weights, like heavy bricks or stacks of other books
Moisture Management
The secret is replacing the paper after the first three days. This pulls away the residual humidity the plant releases during the initial stage of wilting.
The method.
Preparation
Lay your flowers flat on a sheet of parchment paper. If the flower is thick, like a daisy, gently remove the stem or slice the back of the receptacle so it lays flush.
The Sandwich
Place another sheet of parchment over the flowers, then sandwich this inside a heavy book. If you do not have a heavy book, stack weights on top of a flat board.
The Swap
After three days, carefully open the press. Replace the damp paper with fresh, dry sheets. Do not rearrange the flowers if they have started to stick.
Curing
Return the flowers to the press and leave them alone for at least three weeks. Resist the urge to peek; movement at this stage causes delicate petals to tear.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Choose flowers that are naturally flat, like pansies or cosmos, for the highest success rate.
Avoid flowers with thick centers, like roses, unless you have the patience to disassemble them into individual petals.
Keep your press in a cool, dark place to preserve the original color of the petals.
The ones that keep coming up.
How do I know they are ready?
Gently lift the paper. If the petal feels like brittle parchment and has no cold or damp sensation, it is fully dehydrated.
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