Core skills - Part 6: Pressing a hellebore

Part 6 - Pressing a Hellebore

For more complicated flowers, we approach the pressing process using slightly different techniques.

Tips for Pressing Hellebores

• Hellebores are quite a voluminous plant and hold a lot of moisture, so it's best to cut them into sections and press each part separately.
• To do this, lie the plant flat and work out the most natural place to cut - this could be right down the centre, or in between two stems. Use a sharp scalpel to make a clean and neat cut.
• Use an absorbent cloth to soak up any excess moisture on the cutting before putting it into the press.
• When putting a Hellebore into the press, use two sheets of absorbent paper rather than just one.
• Hellebore pressings will need to be checked regularly and will probably require several paper changes.

You Will Need:

• Freshly cut hellebores
• Absorbent cloth
• Scalpel
• A flower press
• Card
• Absorbent paper
• Masking tape
• Pen

Flowers Used:

• Hellebore