Saving Summer: Endings for a Flower-Pressing Guide

Pressing Flowers to Keep

1Do you wish you could keep a flower from a summer day all year long? You can, if you press it. Pressing is a way to flatten and dry a flower so it keeps its shape and much of its color. My grandmother taught me this hobby, and now I press flowers from our yard every summer.

2The first step is choosing the right flowers. Flat flowers with thin petals, such as pansies and violets, press best. Thick flowers, like roses, hold a lot of water, so they take longer to dry and may turn brown. It also helps to pick flowers on a dry afternoon. If the petals are wet with dew or rain, they can get moldy inside the book.

3Next, you need paper and something heavy. Lay each flower face down on a sheet of plain paper, and spread its petals so they do not fold over. Put a second sheet on top. Then slide the paper inside a thick book, close it, and stack more books on top. The paper soaks up water from the flower while the weight keeps it flat.

4After that comes the hardest part: waiting. Most flowers need two or three weeks to dry all the way. Try not to peek too often, because moving the paper can wrinkle the petals. When the flowers feel dry and papery, lift them out gently. Dried petals tear easily, so some people use tweezers to move them.

5Pressed flowers can be used in many ways. I glue mine onto birthday cards and make bookmarks for my friends. Some people arrange them in a frame to make a picture. Keep your finished art out of bright sunlight, because the colors often fade over time.