Best Methods for Pressing Flowers

With my new expanded garden I have so much more flowers and I was struggling to find ways to use them. I researched different ways to use them and one of them was pressing flowers. So I started learning how to do this. I found that there are two main methods to press, machine pressers and book pressing. So which one works best?  

What to Press

Before I explain the methods, it is important to know what kind of flowers should be pressed. The goal of pressing flowers is to squeeze the moisture out. Flowers with thick or dense petals in the center will just end up molding in the press or book. You need flowers that have very little or no center petals. Cosmos, coreopsis, some roses with very few center leaves, petunias, Queen Anne’s Lace, Fox gloves, columbine, hellebore, forget-me-nots, and lavender are great flowers to press.

Book Pressing vs. a Flower Press

Book pressing is the most well known way of  pressing but the flower presses are on many little girl’s birthday lists. They both work very well and are simple. I have to say there is more guarantee of your flowers getting a thorough pressing with a flower press, but not everyone has a flower press. Using a book works well and is often more convenient. Both methods are on fairly equal standing and both produce beautiful blooms. In short one does not need to go and buy a flower press if they want to press flowers but having one works just as well.