The Neurology team at Carolina Veterinary Specialists was kind enough to send me a lovely flower arrangement in honor of Kodiak’s passing on the 1st (more on that when I can write about it without so much ugly crying). I decided that I wanted to keep some of the flowers so I could put them in his memory box, along with a few other mementos.
So, how to preserve the flowers? I was surprised to discover that there are actually several fairly simple methods for doing just that.
Hang the flowers to dry. I remember doing this as a kid, generally with roses and wildflowers. Take the leaves off the stems and tie the flowers into small bundles using rubber bands, twine, etc. Hang them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area, and wait. Air drying can be a long process, depending on the flower. They become brittle when they’re air dried, so you have to handle them gently.
Press the flowers. This is another technique I’ve used in the past. Place the flowers between sheets of paper or inside a telephone book. Set a very heavy item on top of the paper or book, and wait. This method can take a few weeks, and may not work if a flower is too thick.
Microwave the flowers. I’d not heard of this method before. Using coffee filters to absorb any excess moisture, put a layer of silica gel on a flat microwave-safe dish. Place the flowers in the gel and then add another layer of gel. Using a moderate temperature setting, heat the flowers for a few minutes at a time, checking periodically. Once the flower is dry, remove the dish from the microwave and let it sit for several hours to cool. This is a much faster method than the first two, but it is possible to overcook the flowers and make them brittle.
Dry the flowers with sand. Cover the flowers with sand and wait. The sand will eventually absorb all of the moisture from the flowers.
Dry the flowers with silica gel. The process is essentially the same as with sand. Cover the flowers with silica gel and wait until the moisture has been removed.
Preserve with glycerine. Place the flower in a container of glycerin and wait. This process can take a few weeks, but the glycerin will eventually replace the water in the flower. This means the flower won’t dry out and will keep its texture. The color does typically fade over time, though.
Encase the flower in epoxy. This method is a bit more complicated than the others, but can be used to turn the flowers into decorations. Select a mold and fill it halfway with epoxy resin. Arrange the flowers in the mold, and fill the remainder with resin. Once the resin dries, remove it from the mold.
I decided to press three of Kodiak’s flowers. I actually have a telephone book, although the town I live in is very small, so the book is rather thin. Thankfully, I have several much heavier books available to provide the necessary pressure. The pink flower is rather thick, so it may not work for that one. I’ve placed the flowers between paper towels to help absorb the moisture, and the two smaller flowers are in the telephone book. The larger flower is in a significantly larger book. I’ve placed several more books on top of those. Now we wait. I’ll check them in a week or so and see how things are progressing. Fingers crossed.
We were lucky, and I’m grateful for it.