Pressing flowers

Have you ever received a gift and been so enamored with it that you wonder how you’ve gone your entire life without it? For me, it happened on my birthday this year. My mom handed me a present and inside was what looked like a wooden book with screws on the four corners. I quickly realized that this was a flower press.

My mind started swirling with all the endless possibilities I could do with this. I did not have a lot of experience in pressing flowers. In fact, beyond just pressing flowers in an old book, I really did not know the process. I immediately began researching the best method and figuring out how I wanted to start.

I’ve always thought it would be so cool to preserve flowers from memorable events such as a wedding, or perhaps from the funeral of a loved one. Flowers are so emotional for me, so the idea of preserving them in a memorable way is so appealing.

Fast forward a couple of weeks after receiving my new flower press and my husband and I hosted a baby shower for my sister and brother-in-law for their adopted baby boy. I was so excited to decorate and make this a special event for them after such a long time of waiting. I knew I wanted to incorporate yellow because it’s such a happy color and one that isn’t feminine when planning a shower for a baby boy. I had blue and yellow everywhere. The theme was Noah’s Ark, and at every turn, my house had been transformed into a flood of yellow and blue with animals trying to find their way to the Ark.

Megan’s new flower press (top) enabled her to create this beautiful work of art (above). (Photos provided by Megan Rathz)

I love to host big events, and one of the most important aspects in terms of aesthetics when planning an event for me are the flowers. The flowers dictate the tablescape and that, in turn, sets the mood of your event. I am a firm believer that you don’t go into flower buying with a specific variety in mind, but more so with an open mind. Sometimes what you have in mind is not the best looking when you go to buy at the store. I like to have an idea of the colors I’m looking for and go from there.

As luck would have it, when I went into the store to purchase, the yellow flowers were beautiful. I got huge bunches of yellow alstroemeria and mums. They were accented with the sweetest baby’s breath and purple statice.

The event went exactly as I had hoped; we were blessed with beautiful weather, and it was a day filled with many loved ones excited to give my sister and brother-in-law gifts for their sweet boy and a big hug after such a long period of waiting.

As I began the cleanup process from our party, I noticed how truly beautiful the flowers were and how much they added to the party. I decided what better time than now to try out my flower press and truly try to preserve something from such a joyous event.

I knew the first step in preserving flowers was ensuring that as much moisture is removed from the flower to prevent wilting and browning. I clipped the flowers at the stem and put them in my press. I made sure the flowers were arranged on cardstock paper and placed another piece of cardstock on top, followed by a piece of cardboard. Once the paper was placed into the press, I tightened the bolts on the four corners and left it alone for approximately two weeks, monitoring the process every few days.

When you go to remove the flowers from the press, it is very important to be gentle. I used large tweezers provided with the press when removing and placed them on wax paper. Once the flowers were arranged on the paper, I sprayed with clear spray paint to try and preserve the flower’s color. Once dried, I arranged it in a pressed flower frame and used a small paintbrush to put a little dab of clear glue on the back of the flowers, so they stayed in place.

Pressing flowers is more than just preserving a beautiful flower; it is a way to preserve a memory. For me, the memory of my nephew’s baby shower is one that I wanted to capture from that special day, just as you would take a photo.

Pressing flowers is a timeless pastime. It is one that people have done for many years and one that I know I will use forever.

Megan Rathz is a wife, mother, and teacher. She says everything she has ever learned in life came from her Master Gardener mother.