Preserving Spring

Spring is my favorite season of the year. The warm weather, sunny days, and blossoming flowers on all the trees always help to pull me out of my winter slump. Between the cozy days inside as the April showers downpour and the active days outside preparing for May flowers, spring offers the perfect balance of relaxation and recreation.

I only wish that the few weeks where all the trees are in bloom lasted longer. Seeing the pink and white colors on the foliage and the occasional rain of petals as a strong breeze brushes past sparks a sort of happiness and joy in me. Looking for a way to preserve the beauty of spring blossoms, I've made flower pressing and drying an annual activity.

The process itself is simple: collect the flowers you wish to preserve, whether they come from tree branch or sprouting from the ground. To press the flowers flat, I like to line a heavy book with wax paper and flatten the flowers in between the pages for a few hours- or days, if you're feeling really patient. Drying flowers is much easier. Simply leave the bud or blossom out in a sunny, dry area and allow time to do its work. You can also dry entire bouquets of flowers this way! For long-stemmed flowers, I like to hang them up-side-down to allow the petals to dry in an upright position. In my opinion, it makes the bunches look more natural.

I like to send these dried flowers to friends in postcards and letters. I either use wax to keep the pressed flowers trapped against the paper, or simply tape the whole thing down flat so that it has a glossy finish. I've also seen some people press their wax seal over the envelope folds with a dried flower. The idea of sharing the flowers with friends that maybe don't get to see the same four seasons of weather as I do makes me happy.

Another way to keep your dried flowers is in a jar or glass container. Allowing the container to fill up with the memories of spring and joyful occasions is a good way to preserve the delicate blooms. However, being careful with moisture is critical if you take this route, as mold can quickly form from the water held in the flowers. Make sure your blossoms are completely dried before storing them in a jar. You can also fil the bottom of the jar with silica gel: the little packets that often come when you order clothing or electronics. The silica gel absorbs excess moisture. You should also make sure the flowers are stored at low humidity: about 30% to 50% should do.

Dried flowers can last a long time, too. After drying, they don't wilt any further or require watering, and some even retain their smell! Dried flowers also don't trigger pollen allergies: during the drying process, flowers lose any pollen they may be carrying. Be aware that some flowers, when dried, will lose or change colors slightly. Sending dried flowers to your friends and loved ones as a gift is both sustainable and a great way to express your feelings, especially since the last longer than live flowers!