Seasonal Autumn ForestPick good leaves
The best candidates have only just fallen: bright, flat, and free of tears or dark spots. Collect them on a dry day, because damp leaves tend to go moldy in the press. Take just a few from each tree, only where collecting is allowed, and carry them home flat between the pages of a notebook so they don't curl on the way.
Method 1: pressing in a book
- Place each leaf between two sheets of plain paper (printer paper or parchment works). This protects the book from moisture and stains.
- Put the paper inside a large, heavy book, leaving a few pages between each leaf.
- Stack more heavy books on top.
- Leave for one to two weeks. Check after a few days and replace any paper that feels damp.
Pressed leaves are flat and brittle, which makes them perfect for cards, frames and journals.
Method 2: a flower press
A flower press works the same way, with straps or screws that apply even pressure and absorbent layers that dry leaves a little faster. It's a good choice if you plan to press leaves often.
Method 3: glycerin for flexible leaves
Glycerin replaces the water in the leaf, leaving it soft and bendable rather than crisp. It's ideal for garlands and table decorations.
- Mix one part vegetable glycerin with two parts water in a shallow dish.
- Lay the leaves in the mixture and weigh them down with a small plate so they stay submerged.
- Leave for two to five days, until the leaves feel supple.
- Remove, pat dry with a paper towel, and let them air-dry for a few hours.
Leaves preserved this way often darken slightly, but they last well indoors.
Displaying your leaves
Pressed leaves fade in sunlight, so a frame on a wall that doesn't get direct sun will keep them bright for longest. Writing the tree's name, the date and the place under each leaf turns a pretty picture into a small record of the season (our free field guide can help with the names). Keep them somewhere dry; humidity is what spoils them.
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