Module 2

You can preserve flowers by pressing them.

Activity C: Creating a Reference Catalog of Flowers — Identifying and Preserving Flowers

This activity is ideal for spring when wild flowers are in bloom. If public or private gardens are used for collecting flowers, obtaining permission in advance of this activity is important.

If this activity is done as a group during the session the cataloging process needs to be planned for a later session when the flower specimens are dry. It can also be used as a "Going Further" take-home activity.

Participants will:

• Collect, identify, and learn to preserve flowers that are attractive to pollinators.
• Create reference catalog of pressed flowers.

Materials needed:

• 3-4 books, large and heavy enough to apply even pressure to flowers
• Newspaper, newsprint, or facial tissue
• 3-ring notebook
• Plain white paper
• Clear plastic page protectors
• Plastic (zip-lock) food storage bags for collecting plants
• Paper grocery bag, 1/group
• Plant Identification Forms
• Ballpoint pens, 1/group
• Clear tape
• Several pair of scissors
• Sunset Garden Book or other good flower reference book or field guide
• Other plant identification reference books

Getting Ready

• Assemble materials needed.
• Have sample plant cutting and a card filled out so you can demonstrate each step as you explain how to collect the plant samples.
• Become familiar with the area where the participants will be collecting samples. Try to learn the common names of the plants and flowers in the area so you can guide them in identifying their samples. If you wish, have someone knowledgeable about plants join you on this activity as a resource person.

Suggested Grouping

Teams of 3

Exploration

Gathering plant specimens:

1. Introduce activity by discussing:

Why is cataloging samples of flowers useful and important?

What other types of items do scientists collect and catalog?

2. Divide participants into teams of 3. Give directions for the activity:

a. Each person in your team has a specific responsibility:

• 1 person will cut samples of flowers (needs scissors)
  
• 1 person will record the information about the flowers (needs record forms & pen)
  
• 1 person will be responsible for placing the specimen in a plastic bag along with the information card and bringing it back (needs plastic food storage bags and larger grocery bag)

b. Make the following guidelines clear:

• Be careful that a bee is not visiting the plant when you cut the sample.
  
• Do not to trample plants in order to get your sample.
  
• Cut only one sample of each type of flower.
  
• Include some plant stem and leaves when you cut your samples.

c. Record the following information on the form provided:

d. Place the form in the bag with the plant specimen, make sure the bag is closed, and place it carefully in your large sack.

e. When you have 3-5 samples, then you will be ready to identify your flowers and preserve them.

Identifying and preserving the flowers:

Leader should go through the following steps to demonstrate what the teams are to do.

1. Using reference books and help from your leaders, try to identify your flower samples and enter the common and Latin names of the plant on the identification form.

2. Prepare the flowers for drying:

Pressing flowers.
Photos by Suzanne DeJohn/NGA

a. Depending on the size of the flower and the thickness of the stem, leave about 3" of stem attached to the flower.

b. Prepare the flowers for pressing by arranging each flower with its stem and leaves on a piece of newspaper or facial tissue. Place another piece of paper over them.

c. Starting near the back of a large book, put the prepared flowers with the drying papers in a large book.

d. After you have closed the book, place additional weight on top of it. The weight can be another book of about the same size.

e. Do not disturb the pressing process for about a week. Then gently open the book to the first layer to see how the drying process is progressing. If the material is still not thoroughly dry, close the book and wait a few more days.

Concept Application/Development (about 1 week later)

Cataloging the flower specimens:

1. When the flowers are dry, attach them to an 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper or card stock with a very small amount of glue. Attach the information form to the paper.

2. Slip the sample into a plastic sheet protector and arrange them on tables or tape them on a wall so everyone can see them.

3. As a group, reflect on their experience and what they have learned so far through collecting and preserving the flower specimens.

How are the samples similar? Different?

How do flowers vary in their suitability for preserving by pressing?

Are there other methods that would have been more suitable for certain flowers?

In what ways can this collection of pressed flower samples be used?

4. Place samples in a binder or a file folder and store in a dark, dry place.

5. These samples can be a reference resource for later activities and used for bulletin board displays about pollinators and the plants that are important to them.

Going Further

Encourage participants to continue to collect and press samples from plants in their yards and neighborhood and add them to the collection.

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