Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Reviewing The Joy And Creativity Of Flower Pressing


The Joy and Creativity of Flower Pressing

 

I have wanted a hobby for some time that I can pursue during the winter and that is creative. 

Most of the year I prefer being outdoors and active, gardening, long nature walks, countryside and beach walks. However in the depths of winter and to be honest as I get older i have felt the need for something I can do that is indoors in the depths of a cold, wet winter and that is creative, but that still relates to my love of nature. 

I wanted to pursue something useful and make something. I truly admire those who can knit and crochet and make clothes but while I can do basic mending I have never been so successful at those crafts. I like art and drawing but it is not something I am especially good at. I would love to learn pottery but it is not something I can do at home.   

So I was watching a gardening programme and there was a lady who was gathering flowers from her garden for flower pressing! Suddenly it hit me, I could do that! 

Flower pressing is a lovely, traditional craft that allows us to gather and  preserve the beauty of flowers and leaves from Spring to Autumn which can then be made into decorative or artistic pieces at any time, but especially for me in winter.


So the Flower pressing journey for me started this summer. 

pressing flowers


Selecting Flowers

 The first step in flower pressing is selecting the right flowers. I had to do some research on this as I needed to know which flowers were suitable for flower pressing. 

We need to look for blooms that are not too succulent. The reason is that they press well when their moisture is taken out quickly.

 So I learned that all Roses and daffodils are excellent choices due to their thinner petals. Luckily I have a garden full of roses in summer though I missed the daffodils this time i can pick those in Spring. 

Then it was a case of looking for flowers with thinner petals and I found that Aquilegia, Poppies and Forget Me Nots were perfect and with learning and a little trial and error I found a lovely selection from our garden.

 

pressed flowers

 

 I made a decision early on that I would only pick flowers form my garden. We are losing so many wildflowers from the wild so fast that I do not want to contribute to their loss , so I never pick any wildflowers. I only pick the flowers that I grow and I always leave a lot to set seed for next year and for wildlife. 

 

 When to Pick Flowers

 I read that for the best results it is preferable to pick flowers when it is a dry day after the dew has evaporated from the flowers , so about mid morning. The worst time is after it has been raining when the flowers are wet and should be avoided. 

 

preparing flowers for pressing

How To Preparing Flowers for Pressing

It is ideal to prepare the flowers by blotting them with tissue paper carefully in order to remove any moisture. Although I have to say that in my excitement to get going I often forgot to do this step and the flowers were just fine, but for best results I would advise it. 


The Flower Pressing Process

I remembered as a child I used to press flowers with my Mum. We used to arrange the flowers with paper and place between the covers of a heavy book like a National Geographic hardback copy. However now we can buy specific flower presses and once my husband realised I was interested in this hobby, he thoughtfully bought me a flower press for my Birthday! I was so happy with this beautiful gift! 

I simply placed the flowers carefully and not overlapping onto the paper in the Flower press and placed another sheet of the absorbent paper over it and repeated until the whole book was full. Then gentle and carefully tightened the screws

I always used to think you needed a huge weight for the process to work but it turns out you only need a gentle pressure.

This Happinit Flower Press is really lovely with great reviews and can dry smal petals quite quickly

 Happinit Large Flower Press Kit, 6 Layers 11" x7" Even Pressure Flower Pressed DIY Arts, Flower Pressing KitCheck Price

 



The Waiting Game, Drying and Storing Flowers

We need to have some patience as the drying process takes time, up to 3 or 4 weeks ideally though you can get away with 2 weeks, or with some flower presses and small petals you can manage a few days.

The flower press needs to be placed in a warm dry place indoors. It is advised to check on the flowers every day or every few days, however due to family bereavement I did not check for several weeks and they were just fine.

I think ideally I need at least two flower presses so that I can have some drying and some to work with. I like this Aboofx Extra Large Flower Press


 Aboofx Extra Large Flower Press Kit, 11" x 11" 10 Layers Wooden Flower Pressing Kit with Storage BagCheck Price

 


So I have now reached the stage where I have all my beautiful pressed flowers! In the coming year I will have the whole season of flowers so even more to work with.  I am very much still learning what work and what doesn't but I am finding it a very satisfying hobby. The next step is finding out what I can create with the pressed flowers. 


Creating With Pressed Flowers

I am thinking of using the pressed flowers in several different ways. First to make a piece of art that I can hang on the wall or if good enough give as a gift. 

I could make cards from some of the flowers. I could explore how to add flowers to plain glass vases, though I am not sure how I could then wash them. 


Perhaps some of the more crafty people reading this could give me some more ideas.   

dried flowers

  

If you are or you know someone who loves flowers, nature and gardening a gift of a flower press would be a beautiful present. A Flower Press can be an excellent gift for an adult or a child.

I have found flower pressing to be a lovely way to still feel connected with nature even in winter. 

I love the process of collecting them and pressing them and now I can see them all again and work creatively with them which is a beautiful hobby that brings me joy.  


More Reviews By Raintree Annie

Read More Gardening Articles

Essential Wildlife Gardening Gifts

Diary Of A Wild Country Garden

Reviewing Restoring A Metal Garden Swing Seat


Crafts & DIY Reviews By Contributors On Review This Reviews

Product Reviews By Contributors On Review This Reviews




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, July 27, 2023

Photographing Wildflowers in Missouri

 

Purple Coneflowers at the Park
Purple Coneflower

I love wildflowers and, in the spring and summer, they are abundant in Missouri.  It makes photographing them so very easy, I can find them in parks, along the sides of roads, on my neighborhood walks and even in my own yard.  When I am planning to go out specifically to take photographs, I usually bring my Sony mirrorless camera along with a 55-200 zoom lens.  It makes it easy to take pictures at a distance and also to zoom in for closer shots.  When I am taking my dog for walks in the neighborhood, I always have my iPhone handy, and I find that it takes great shots of the wildflowers I find in the neighborhood and at our park.

The photo at the beginning of this article was taken at O'Day Park in O'Fallon, Missouri. It is a purple coneflower, that is very popular in my area in the summer months.  It is one of my favorite wildflowers.  I took my granddaughters to the park and brought along my Sony to capture the wildflowers that were in abundance.  

O'Day Park Wildflowers

O'Day Park is a 57-acre park in O'Fallon that features a lodge, playground, camping and miles of paths and trails throughout the park.  Near the playground area, I discovered a paved trail that had lots of beautiful wildflowers along the sides.  They were in full bloom during our visit, and I was able to capture several different types of Missouri wildflowers. Here are some of my favorite shots.
Plains coreopsis in the park
Plains Coreopsis

Rough Blazing Star in the Park
Rough Blazing Star


Queen's Anne Lace in the Park
Queen Anne's Lace


Purple Coneflower with a Bee
Purple Coneflower with Bee

Around the Neighborhood

The photos in this section were all taken on my walks in my neighborhood.  They were all taken with my iPhone.
Trumpet Vine in a Tree
Trumpet Vine

Neighborhood flowers
Purple Coneflower and Golden Alexander

Lance Leaf Coreopsis in the Neighborhood
Lance Leaf Coreopsis

In My Yard

As I was looking at lists of Missouri wildflowers online, I noticed that many of the flowers in my flower beds are considered wildflowers.  I know that all of them were started with a single clump given to me by and friend and all have spread like crazy.  They make a colorful bordered on the side of my house.
Pink Primrose
Primrose



Front Yard Flowers
Wild Geranium

Purple Bottle Brush
Bottle Brush Blazing

Black-Eyed Susan in my Yard
Black-eyed Susan

Learn More about Wildflowers

There are many books to give you tips on photographing wildflowers.  Here is one I found on Amazon.



Other Articles I have Written on Flower Photography

I love to photograph all kinds of flowers.  Here are some other articles I have written over the years.



Remember the best Camera for Flower Photography is the One you Have with You!  





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, May 11, 2023

Review of Spring Flowers 2023

Photo of Daffodils in early Spring

 I love photography and, in the springtime, flowers make particularly great subjects.  Each year I have been trying to post some of my favorite flowers from that year.  In this post I will highlight some of my favorites from 2023.  The photo above is of some daffodils in one of our city parks.  It was taken in early March when they were just starting to bloom and since it was a rather cloudy morning the blossoms were "bowing down" waiting to be warmed by the sun.

A Few Tips for Photographing Spring Flowers

  • Cloudy days are great for showing off the colors in the flowers.
Bright Yellow Daffodils


  • Right after a rainstorm you can get some great photos including raindrops on the flowers.
  • Be sure to get some closeups and some wider shots of a grouping of flowers.
A group of Primrose Plants

Closeup photo of a Primrose


  • Look for unusual angles.
  • Set your aperture to blur out the backgrounds.
    Bright blooms on Spring Bush

  • Don't forget to photograph the beautiful blossoms in trees as you see in the photo above and the one below.
Bright Pink Blossoms on Bush

  • I like taking photos of the buds of a flower and then of the fully opened bloom.
    Early spring flower buds

    Pink flower Just Opening

Flowers around my Neighborhood

The great part about spring flowers for me is that I don't even have to travel far.  I can find lots of spring blooms in my own yard or on my neighborhood walks.
Yellow crocus Popping out of Ground

Pale yellow Daffodils

Hyacinths in Early Spring

Dark Purple Iris

Enjoy the Beauty of Springtime!!



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Sunday, June 12, 2022

A Tree Stump Vase - Great for Outdoor Decor

A Tree Stump Vase


Unfortunately, we recently had to have our gorgeous English Oak tree cut down. We've had the tree since 1994, so needless to say, it was a difficult decision.

After an Arborist confirmed it was dead, we had to call a Tree Service company to safely perform the sad removal.

We were given a choice to have the tree stump ground down or left standing.

We decided to keep the tree stump and decorate it with flowers.

Why Did We Choose A Tree Stump Vase?

We wanted to feature flowers on top, and since we weren't digging a cavern directly in the stump, we needed to safely secure a weather-resistant outdoor vase to the top.

We talked about a metal vase and a plain plastic vase; however, neither seemed safely practical.
The tree stump is located between two driveways; thus, we needed something lightweight yet durable should it ever break loose after we secured it to the stump and gawd-forbid damage our cars!
Here's a peek at the tree stump vase secured to the stump:


This tree stump vase is painted with weather-resistant UV paint to prevent fading and weathering. It's also designed to insulate plants from extreme heat or cold.

The one we purchased measures 10.5 inches in diameter and 9 inches high. They do come in other sizes. We verified the diameter of the tree stump beforehand. Also, we didn't want anything that stood too tall.


Here's another look at the tree stump with the flowers lifted.

We choose a tree stump vase primarily because it's lightweight, blends with the existing stump, and looks good without flowers. 

In the fall, we'll change the flowers, and come winter, we'll come up with something creative to fill the tree stump vase.

The finished look with the Tree Stump Vase filled with flowers

We selected flowers that trail over the stump. They still need to do some growing.



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, June 9, 2022

Nature Photography Day

pink flowers photo by mbgphoto

 
June 15th is Nature Photography Day.  This holiday was first started in 2006 in North America but has since spread to people throughout the world.  It is a day to study, reflect, enjoy and photograph nature.

While reading about Nature Photography Day online, I discovered numerous suggestions on how to celebrate the day.  Here are a few that sounded interesting.
  • Grab your camera and go for a walk in your neighborhood.  Experience all the beauty in nature that you can observe every day.
  • Share your photos with families and friends and spread the word that it is Nature Photography Day.
  •  Enjoy a local park or a nearby creek or river.  Photograph the beauty of nature.
  • Participate in efforts to preserve nature.
  • Start a photo competition of nature photograph.
  • While you are doing any of the above take the time to breath in all the peace and serenity that nature provides.

Favorite Flowers from my Nature Photography Files


single pink rose photo by mbgphoto


I love to photograph roses.  There is something quite striking about a single rose bud.  In the photo above I tried to isolate the rose bud by using a 6.3 aperture and focusing on the rose bud so that the background becomes a bit blurry.  It is important to keep the background simple so that the focus is on the flower.  The photo was taken in the early evening when the light was soft.  Early morning or evening are great times to take floral photos.  Cloudy days also enhance the colors in the flowers, so they are a good time to photograph.

flower photo by mbgphoto


Here is another photo taken in the early evening and with an aperture that gives the blurry background that enhances the flowers.


purple iris photo by mbgphoto

Another good technique for photographing flowers is to find an interesting background to set off the blossom.  In this photo I found some purple irises in front of a brick wall.  I kept my aperture so that the background would be a bit blurry, and I zoomed in on the flower.  I love the effect of the bright purple against the brick.

fuscia plant photo by mbgphoto

Another time I love to photograph flowers is right after it rains.  It seems to really bring out the colors and the raindrops look refreshing.  The above photo is of a fuscia plant hanging on our deck.

Combining Birds and Plants in Photos


male red cardinal by lilac bush photo by mbgphoto

I particularly enjoy capturing flowers and a bird in the same photograph.  In this photo I saw a Cardinal sitting on our fence and the lilacs were just starting to bud out in the foreground.  I focused on the Cardinal, so you will note that the lilacs are slightly out of focus.

Photographing Backyard Birds


One of my favorite pastimes is photographing the birds in our backyard.  Here is a Hawk that was sitting high up in the tree at the edge of our property.  He sat still for a long time, and I was able to capture several shots.  I zoomed in for the long shot and was quite pleased with the result.  I was able to get him framed in the surrounding branches.

cooper's hawk photo by mbgphoto




A great way to enhance your skills in nature photography is to first study the works of other photographers and then practice, practice, practice.

Happy Nature Photography Day on
June 15th!  Grab your camera and get out and enjoy nature.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, August 26, 2021

Review of Sunflower Facts and Photographs

field of sunflowers photo by mbgphoto
Fields of Sunflowers


Each year during the month of July, I anxiously wait for the sunflower fields to bloom.  Several years ago I discovered some sunflower fields in the Missouri river bottom land about 10 miles from my house.  My granddaughters were visiting and I took them to the fields to take some photographs.  I wrote this article telling about my experience in photographing the sunflowers. Photographing Sunflowers   

Before they Bloom

In reading about sunflowers I have found that there are actually five stages in the life of the sunflower.  Three of those stages take place before they bloom.
 
1.  The first stage, the germination stage, takes places when the seeds are planted.  This stages takes about eight days.  After the seeds are planted the roots develop and seep into the ground and then a shoot will start peaking out of the ground in search of sunlight that it needs to grow.
 
2.  The second stage is called the vegetative phase.  During the first 13 days after the seedling starts its  growth toward the sun it is in the vegetative emergence stage.  Then the first leaf comes and it is now in stage 1 of the vegetative phase, a second leaf comes and it is now in stage 2, this keeps on as  more leaves are added to the stalk.
 
3.  The third stage is called the reproduction phase.  In this stage a bud will form between the cluster of leaves.  It will initially be star like in appearance but in time will grow into the tall beautiful plants with bright yellow flowers that we know so well.  This whole stage takes about 30 days.  In our area I know that this stage should be coming to an end in mid to late July.  This year I was out with friends in mid July and we decided to take a drive to see how the sunflower fields were coming along.  They were right in the middle of the reproductive stage and I got some nice  photos of the flowers in this stage.

field of sunflower buds photo by mbgphoto
Reproductive Phase

sunflower bud photo by mbgphoto


Blooming Stage

During the blooming stage the sunflowers are in full bloom. During this phase you will see lots of bees busy fertilizing and pollinating the flowers.  This stage will only last for about 20 days so I knew I had to get back to the fields quickly if I wanted to see the fields in full bloom.  Fortunately about a week after my first visit a friend posted some photos  showing the flowers in full bloom.  I grabbed my camera and hopped in my car and headed right out to take some photos.  I was rewarded with the following glorious sights.

sunflowers photo by mbgphoto

sunflower photo by mbgphoto

field of sunflowers photo by mbgphoto

sunflowers photo by mbgphoto


Harvesting Phase

After the blooms are finished the seeds are harvested.  You will want to wait till the flowers turn brown and start to bloom and then you cut the stems about 4 inches from the head of the flowers. Sunflower heads should be stored upside down in a dry and breathable bag.

Sunflowers are annuals so they must be replanted each year.

Fun Facts and more Sunflower Photos

The Sunflower has been named the plant of the year for 2021.  In her review of this information, Olivia Morris shares more fun facts and photos about the Sunflower.  Hope for the New Year Sunflowers Plant

Zazzle Products from My Photographs

I enjoy making cards and other Zazzle products from my photos.  Here are a couple I hope you like.



Here some more Zazzle Sunflower gifts from my photographs.

 




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


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