Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Pressing Flowers and Leaves

Q. How do I press flowers and leaves, and do you have any idea which work?

A. I have pressed flowers since I was twelve. I did not have success until I got a book as a present and read it thoroughly. Boy, was I off!

First, pick flowers which are not 'wet,' that is not full of thick juicy petals. They have too much moisture and press poorly. Roses, peonies, dahlias and marigolds are such examples of what to avoid until you have refined the treatment.

Collect a lot of newspapers. Fold them so that they are in half, with a thickness of maybe 5 pages. Lay your flowers on top with no edges touching. Stack layer upon layer. When you have about ten sections of flowers, place a couple phone books on top, or something of similar size and weight.

The problem here is that you must change the papers every other day. The wetness will lead to mold and then to brown and black colorings. It is time consuming but necessary. Keep your stack out of heat and direct light in a dry location.

Thinner flowers will dry faster. remove them and place carefully in folders. I sort by variety and color. Foliage is good to press, too, as you can use them to create marvelous flower pictures. I used to sell them at a gallery, with lovely backgrounds and antique frames. I even glued some arrangements onto fine note card paper and sold with envelopes.

Here are good choices:

Pansy, viola, Johnny-jump-up, delphinium, tibouchina, poppy, alyssum, lotus, fern, grass, nut tree leaves, maple, oak, blades, single stock, single geranium, delphinium [except white], blue salvia [I had no success with red], single fuchsia, grapevines, assorted vine tendrils, ivy, passion flower foliage, maidenhair fern, marigold foliage, mint, rosemary, oregano, thyme, lobelia, many wildflowers, and Scotch broom.

Jed writes~
How do you press a flower that is very thick and has just been picked? The flower is a zinnia. If possible, please answer quickly before the flower dies.

A. The problem I have had in pressing thick flowers is that there is so much moisture in it that it rots or even gets mold or mildew. The petals turn brown and the color fades away. It is a total disaster! Roses are another one I wanted to do, but failed. Marigolds and peonies, too.

Thin flowers as pansies, violas, morning glory, individual hydrangeas, poppy, any flower which has really thin, almost paper-like petals press the best since the moisture content is quite low.

I take newspapers and place the flower in between the pages. Lay more under and above and then place on the floor with lots of really heavy books. I love using phone directories! they are the right dimensions since you need the pressure from above equally placed on top of the layers of newspapers.

Every day I take it all apart. I replace the pages with clean, dry ones and replace the books on top. You must change daily since if the flowers sit in moisture, they will rot, thin or thick!

Leaves press really well, again picking the thin ones. Gingko, tendrils of grapes, maple, oak, stattice, poppy, even thin young rose leaves press quite well using the same treatment as above.

Go ahead and try the zinnia. You will see what I mean. What I have done is take petals out, tearing the flower apart and press them separately and then make a pressed flower picture with them making a new flower and gluing lightly.

I used to makes dozens of pictures with various flowers, leaves, frames and backgrounds and sell them at local galleries. As backgrounds, I love using Japanese rice paper or velveteen from an art supply company.

I hope you pursue this hobby. It is one that is dear to my heart. There are books available for sale and also at the library.