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#Scoutspiration // Preserving Leaves and Flowers

March 24, 2014 Libby Zay
pressed-flowers.jpg

Spring might not have officially "sprung" everywhere, but there's no doubt the trees and flowers will start budding and blooming soon. How do you make a little piece of spring last longer? One way is to collect your favorite leaves and flowers and preserve them.

(above) A collection of pressed flowers from the garden of My Petal Press ($7).

pressed flower tutorial
pressed flower tutorial

To get you started, The Dainty Squid has some great plant pressing tips. You may have done this process in grade school, but it's definitely not just child's play.

Herbarium
Herbarium

Once your plants are properly pressed, you'll need somewhere to keep them. If you're the type of person who likes systematic categorization, this herbarium folder by ARMINHO ($54) is a perfect way to archive spring.

pressed flower jackelope art
pressed flower jackelope art

Of course, you don't need to keep the pressed flowers in a notebook or herbarium. There are numerous ways you can put them on display year-round. Here one idea from Sofia Rose Vintage ($26).

light switch plate pressed flower
light switch plate pressed flower

And another crafty idea in the form of a light switch plate by My Petal Press ($11).

pressed flower necklace
pressed flower necklace

With a little bit of help from some resin, pressed flowers can also make gorgeous wearable items, like this Queen Anne's Lace necklace by Lowe Lowe Jewelry ($26).

pressed flower artwork
pressed flower artwork

Or, if you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can try your hand at pressed flower art. This amazing, intricate work is by Irina's Art by Nature ($150). Yes, those are all real pressed plants!

pressed plant print
pressed plant print

If you're not a plant-pressing pro yet, you can also purchase prints like this one by Day Three Creations ($10) for your home. Happy pressing!

In gardener, friend of the forest Tags scoutspiration, create, learn, collection, how-to guide
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#Scoutspiration // Barking Up the [Right] Tree

March 9, 2014 Libby Zay
birch-pillow.jpg

At camp in middle school, each of the cabins were named after trees found in Ohio, and my cabin was birch. I've since had a special affinity for the whitish, gray tree with paper-thin bark, and it seems I'm not the only one. Here are some birch-inspired housewares and jewelry currently for sale on Etsy. For more, check out this treasury list.

(above) Birch tree bark throw pillow cover by Brooke Ryan Photo ($38).

birch-bark-housewares-hooks
birch-bark-housewares-hooks

Birch branch hooks by Woods of Narnia ($10 each).

Birch Bark Paper Straws
Birch Bark Paper Straws

Birch bark paper straws by Kiwi Tini Creations (25 for $4.25).

Birch Bark Cuff
Birch Bark Cuff

Birch bark cuff by Bettula ($35).

birch bark arrows
birch bark arrows

Decorative birch arrows by Northwest Midwest ($35).

birch-bark-housewares-bunting
birch-bark-housewares-bunting

Birch  bark bunting by F Collective ($18).

Birch Bark Illustration
Birch Bark Illustration

Birch grove digital print by Becca Stadtlander ($30).

In friend of the forest Tags scoutspiration, collection
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Edible Plants A to Z // Chicory

March 7, 2014 Libby Zay
edible-plant-glossary-chicory1.jpg

Chicory is as versatile as a foraged plant can get. You can use just about every part of it: the fibrous leaves, the hearty root, and even the dandelion-like flower. Since it was first cultivated in ancient Egypt—and, by the way, also in ancient Greece and Rome—this plant has been developed for many different uses. You'll find it in a variety of sizes and colors, and it is known by several different names: radicchio, sugarloaf, and Belgian endive, to name a few.

Although chicory is mostly consider a weed in the United States, the plant's root is the not-so-secret ingredient in the coffee brewed at Café Du Monde in New Orleans. As the story goes, the endive was used to stretch out meager supplies when coffee was scarce during the French civil war. The French brought it to Louisiana, and today, you can still order up a cup of the coffee/chicory mix with the cafe's world-famous beignets.

Using this Plant

  • Greens: used for salads, juices, and other recipes; can be harvested through the growing season but will be most tender and less bitter before flowering in Spring
  • Roots: can be roasted, ground, and used as a coffee substitute; best harvested autumn through winter
  • Flowers: can be used for dye and have many medicinal qualities; flowering can happen April through October, depending on the variety and zone
chicory recipes
chicory recipes

Chicory Recipes from Around the Web:

  1. Braised Chicory (gluten free, meat free)
  2. Chicory and Grapefruit Green Smoothie (dairy free, gluten free, meat free)
  3. Chicory, Leek, and Chicken Stew (dairy free, gluten free)
  4. Chicory Salad with Anchovy Dressing (dairy free, gluten free, meat free)
  5. Raw Salad with Fennel, Seville Orange, Chicory, and Kohlrabi (dairy free, gluten free, meat free)
  6. Pickled Eggs with Mayonnaise on Chicory Leaves (dairy free, gluten free)

Warning: Only consume plants you can positively identify and know are safe to eat.

Top photo by joeldinda, Flickr. All recipe images are copyright their original owner. Sources: Hungry Native, Temperate Climate Permaculture, and Wikipedia.

In gardener, friend of the forest Tags edible plants a-z, learn, taste, how-to guide, foraging
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I'm Libby Zay, a Baltimore-based writer and all-around curious person. I love roadside attractions, taking photos, and campfires. Let's earn some badges and explore together!

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