Pressed Flowers

Today I thought we could share a cup of tea and my way of savoring the beauty of nature.  For the past several years I have been using a Gardener's Press to preserve various flowers from my gardens.

The art of pressing flowers was popular during the Victorian Era.  You can call me 'old fashioned', I don't mind  :-)

Pressed flowers and leaves are nice accents to journals, scrapbooks, cards, bookmarks and gift tags.  Creations using pressed flowers allow me to appreciate the beauty all year long and share my gardens with others.

 

 

If you don't have a press you can always do it the Girl Scout way!  After picking your fresh flowers or foliage arrange them on a piece of wax paper and cover them with another piece of wax paper.  This will help prevent them from sticking or staining your book.  Be sure to pick your flowers when they are completely dry and free of moisture.  Next, place the sheet of flowers in the middle of a phone book or encyclopedia and wait approx. two weeks.  You may want to add additional weight depending on the size of your book.

 

Over the summer I came across this wonderful book entitled 'The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady' written in 1905 by Edith Holden.

 

 

Edith's watercolour paintings are exquisite.  The book is filled with flowers, plants, birds and butterflies.  Her thoughts, anecdotes and writings are interspersed with poetry.

 

 

A time when the only way to capture the close up of beauty was through paint.

 

 

This book beautifully evokes the peace and tranquillity of Edwardian England.

Thank you for having tea with me today and for letting me share my flowers and book with you.  I'm planning a giveway for October 1st.  It will be for a very good cause, so please stop back for a chance to win a beautiful scarf.

Today I am joining ...

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Home & Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home