The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 61PAGE 30
You can enjoy summer flow\yers all year round at home
Have you ever wished you could capture
the beauty of summer's flowers to enjoy
once their season is over?
"It can be done. The cost of pressing
flowers is reasonable and the results are
beautiful", says Master Gardener Marion
Gorrie of London, Ont., one of several
gardening enthusiasts in the province train-
ed in. horticulture through the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Master
Gardener program.
All you need are two pieces of centimetre -
1 wood (cut a little larger than a foliage.
tekphone directory ), two large "C" clamps,
and an out-of-date telephone directory.
Gather specimens on a dry day.
Pick only fresh flowers that show no signs
of fading, as well as some buds, stems and
thick p Y
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Sometimes, if the flower is small I press it
with the stem and foliage intact. But usual-
ly, I remove the flower head from the stem
and press the pieces separately," Gorrie
says.
Press a quantity of each specimen (no
matter how carefully you handle the dried
and pressed flowers, you are bound to break
some).
Place the flower face down, between the
directory pages, pressing gently with a
finger so the flower will lay flat until you
close the press.
Place some of the flowers in profile.
If the foliage is coarse or if it does not
have an interesting shape, discard it.
Fill a page, then skip several pages and
continue to.fill another page.
(If the directory is very thick, tear the
spine into slimmer sections).
Place the directory carefully between the
.plywood sheets and secure the "C" clamps
tightly on two sides.
Drying times vary; some flowers may dry
in a week, while others may take much
longer.
Specimens are dried,' if by inserting a
thwnb nail under the edge Qf a petal or leaf,
the specimen lifts easily or slides over The
page.
(At this point, the specimens are fragil
semi -transparent and very delicate, so t
must be handled carefully).
You may create floral pictures, hasty -
notes, coasters, place mats, lamp shades —
even decorated candles — with your pressed
flowers.
To make a picture, you will need a picture
frame with glass, white glue, tooth picks,
fine scissors, tissue for blotting, a small
square of waxed paper and a good quality
pad of artists' watercolor paper.
Cut the watercolor paper to fit the glass.
Arrange flowers, stems and foliage on the
paper until you are satisified with your
composition.
Now, transfer your composition to a clean
° sheet of paper.
On a small square of waxed paper, spread
a small amount of white glue, diluting it
. with water to a fairly thin consistency.
Dip the broad end of the toothpick into the
glue and with a wiping .motion, holding the
pick flat, spread glue over a small area of
the watercolor paper where the first flower
will be placed.
Dip the fine end of the toothpick into the
• glue and onto the pressed material (flower,
leaf, etc.). Lift the pressed flower and posi-
tion it on the watercolor paper.
"You yvill have a few seconds to reposition
the flower by carefully sliding it over the
glue with a toothpick," she says.
Blot gently with tissue to firm the petals
into the glue.
Continue in this manner, glueing and plac-
ing small areas until you have completed
the picture.
Place under glass, fit into the frame and
secure the backing.
Hang your floral picture away from bright
light to prevent the colors from fading.
The list of flowers and plants that can be
pressed • is limitless.
But here are a fewood ones to try: but-
tercups,
Y
tercups, lobelia, verbena, blue salvia,
Queen Anne's lace, larkspur, African
violets, ox -eyed daisies,. crown of thorn
blossoms, coral bells, coreopsis, 'and the
orange series of cosmos.
"You, may -pressing" find •` ressin " so much fun
that you'will want to plan next year's flower
gardens, with pressing in mind."
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