Make a Flower Press.

Its February and signs of spring are already here. The mountainside and olive groves will soon be a carpet of wild flowers so this is the perfect time to make a flower press. Each month between February and May you will see another flower not seen previously, so enjoy the regular walks. As soon as the flowers are picked they need to go straight into the press as some wilt, curl up, or close very quickly due to lack of sunlight. On Lefkada you will find daisy, poppy, periwinkle, iris, chamomile, and cyclamen a few amongst many varieties of wild flowers..

To make the flower press you will need -

2 pieces of flat wood. (I used two offcuts of plywood but simple pinewood is fine also)

4 bolts with washers and butterfly/wing nuts (1.50€)

Several pieces of cardboard (recycle an old box)

Several sheets of thick/blotting paper. (I used water colour paper)

1. Place both pieces of identical sized wood together and drill holes directly through in all four corners of the wood. (see diagram)

2. Insert a bolt in each hole of the first piece of wood.

3. Cut the cardboard and paper to size. Snip off the corners to avoid the bolts. Alternate cardboard and two layers of paper as shown in the diagram.

4. Place the second piece of wood on the top. Add the washers and wing nuts and tighten.

Once you have collected your wild flowers choose the best specimens, separate them and place apart on the paper sheets. Some more delicate smaller flowers press better as a whole. Larger flowers; the petals can be removed and pressed separately. I find using nail scissors and tweezers useful.

Flowers such as large white lily's are not good pressed as their moisture content turns the flower black. Some flowers colours change when pressed eg, red poppies may turn maroon. Some leaves look good pressed such as ferns.

Once the flowers are in the press push down the top piece of wood and tighten the butterfly/wing nuts. Leave for 7-10 days. You can personalize your flower press by decorating the top with acrylic paints or permanent ink pens.

Its rather an exciting feeling reveling the pressed flowers. Be careful as they often stick to the paper and are now more delicate and wafer thin. The flowers can be used to make pictures, decorate cards or candles or objects such as vases or tea trays etc.. Use a watered down solution of wood glue (PVA) both to stick and protect the flower if a varnish top coat is needed. Glue the object and stick the flower on. (If you try to glue the flower it will tear.) Do not put dried or pressed flowers in direct sunlight as the colour will eventually fade.