Cabinet of Curiosities

Guidelines for Gentle and Respectful Collecting:

Prefer local, widespread, and abundant species.

Avoid rare and endemic plants; especially those under protection or difficult to find in the wild. 

These are best admired with the eyes, captured with the camera, and left untouched.

Small-flowered species like poppies, daisies, wild thyme, mouse-ear, and violets
tend to dry more successfully.

Flowers with thin stems and leaves and low moisture content are the most suitable for pressing.

Common Methods for Drying Flowers

Pressed Drying (The Most Common Method):

Used to preserve flowers in a flat, two-dimensional form.

Helps retain color and highlights the fine details of petals and leaves.

Air Drying (By Hanging Upside Down)

Best for thicker, sturdier flowers like lavender.

Flowers are tied in small bunches and hung upside down to dry naturally.

Drying with Sand or Silica Gel

Ideal for flowers that you wish to preserve in three-dimensional form.

More complex to do at home, but it produces beautiful, sculptural results.

Pressing Flowers - Materials & Method

Materials:

– A plant press (or two wooden boards, cardboard, blotting paper, and straps or velcro)

– Drying paper / newspaper / uncoated paper

– Elastic bands, velcro straps, or bolts with wing nuts

– A flat surface and some weight (a stack of books works well)

Instructions:

 Begin the pressing process on the same day you collect the flower - freshness matters.

Place the flower gently on the paper in its natural shape, spreading out its leaves and petals.

 Press it between the layers of paper (make sure nothing shifts or smudges).

Close the press tightly and place it on a flat, stable surface.

 Change the drying papers every 2–3 days for 5 to 10 days, depending on the flower’s thickness.

Some flowers dry quickly and keep their colors. Others fade - and that too is a kind of beauty.

– Thin and delicate flowers have a higher success rate when pressed.

– Humid environments can cause decay or mold.

– Throughout the pressing process, flowers must not become moldy;  proper ventilation and changing the paper regularly are essential.

– If the stem is thick, it’s often better to split it in two before pressing - this helps the flower dry more evenly and prevents rot.

Dried flowers should be stored in acid-free paper or archival envelopes.

They must be kept in a dry, dark place - inside boxes, folders, or special plant collection binders.

Each specimen should be labeled with its name, the date it was gathered, and the location it came from.

 If you wish, you can create your own herbarium journal -
a quiet book of petals and memories.

On each page, you might leave a note:
“This flower was found on the quietest day of spring, along a path that strayed from the road.”

Displaying dried flowers is not just a matter of decoration;
it’s a way of honoring the fleeting, of giving memory a shape.

There are many gentle methods:

– Glass frames: A simple press between two panes turns a flower into art.
Perfect for wall display, or placing in sunlight-filtered corners (briefly, never full sun).

– Journals or herbarium books: Keep your flowers in a personal archive. Add notes, dates, even sketches or small poems.

– Shadow boxes: For a more three-dimensional approach, use small natural elements-twigs, feathers, handwritten labels.

– Paper collages and botanical cards: Create postcards, bookmarks, or prints using pressed petals and leaves.

Great for gifting or keeping in a drawer like secrets.

First introduced in the 19th century, Wardian cases are small glass and metal greenhouses, created to keep plants alive during long journeys.

These tiny glass worlds allowed exotic species to cross oceans and brought a touch of the tropics into city homes.

As a symbol of exploration, preservation, and the dream of bringing nature into the home, the Wardian case became an elegant part of the cabinet of curiosities.

Even today, such glass cases are ideal for displaying and protecting plants.

Every piece offered by nature holds a story;
seed pods, broken leaves, soft twigs, and even the tiniest insects.

Each one is part of a greater cycle of life.

When collecting, we must be gentle.
We do not harm.

We learn to recognize the rare, the endemic, the protected-and choose only from what is abundant and permitted.

Some of these finds are difficult to prepare at home, but they often yield the most poetic results.

Pressed gently between papers, these specimens retain much of their natural form and color.

Thin leaves and delicate blooms respond well to this method, preserving their subtle textures.

Seed pods, 

on the other hand, are more fragile-
they prefer slow air drying in a calm, shaded environment to avoid splitting or collapse.

Shrubs and Twigs

Small branches and woody stems are usually dried by hanging. Air drying helps them retain their shape and structure without warping.

Insects

Insects require special preservation techniques;
such as freezing or using ethyl acetate to avoid damage. 

Once preserved, they are stored or displayed in secure, archival boxes, their fine structures protected for observation and study.

Each specimen carries with it a small story and a fragment of knowledge:

– Scientific and local names (Latin and vernacular)

– Location and date of collection

– The name of the collector, or personal notes

These simple labels enhance the scientific value of the collection, but more than that;
they transport the viewer to a specific moment, a certain place, where someone once knelt down, noticed, and chose to remember.

A cool, dry, and dark environment is ideal for preservation.

Dried specimens are best kept in acid-free paper folders or archival boxes.

Insect collections are stored in small glass display cases or preserved in appropriate fluids when necessary.

To prevent damage from mold, pests, or humidity, regular ventilation and careful monitoring are essential.

– Glass Frame Displays:
Flat-pressed flowers can be arranged in transparent frames,
set against a background that offers visual contrast.

They become quiet artworks-simple, natural, elegant.

– Herbarium Style:
For a more scientific approach, specimens can be stored and labeled with botanical names and notes.

This method emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and archival value.

– Artistic Collages:
Dried flowers can be combined with old papers, handwriting, and small drawings-
creating “botanical letters,” memory cards, or nature-inspired journal pages.

– Guestbook-style Presentations:
Each flower can be tied to a journey, a season, or a story.

As in a guestbook of the wild,
each page becomes a trace of where you've wandered and what stayed with you.

Stones Shaped by Time

Rocks and stones, shaped by nature over thousands-millions-of years,
stand as silent witnesses to time.

Carved by glaciers, sculpted by wind, shattered by water-
they hold within them countless textures, forms, and stories.

 Gathering with Respect

Coastlines are full of quiet treasures left behind by the waves-
seashells, seaweed, tiny stones, and remnants of marine life.

This mindful art of collecting is called beachcombing,
and it must always be guided by respect for nature.

Take only what is abundant.
Gather sparingly, without harming the fragile balance of the coastal ecosystem.

Let your curiosity walk hand in hand with care.

These pieces of wood have wandered.

Once part of boats, branches, or seaside homes-
now shaped by salt, wind, sun, and time.
They arrive with the lodos winds,
bleached, cracked, and sometimes carved by the sea itself.

We collect only a few,
chosen not for size or symmetry,
but for the story they seem to whisper.

Before storing natural specimens-especially seashells, driftwood, and stones-gentle cleaning and disinfection helps ensure both hygiene and preservation.

 Seashells

– Soak in salty water for 1–2 days.

– Rinse thoroughly in clean water.

– Scrub gently with an old toothbrush if needed.

– For stubborn debris, a mild vinegar solution can be used briefly (but use with care-it's acidic).

 Driftwood

– Let it dry completely in direct sunlight.

– If there is moss, mold, or soft surface material, gently sand the wood.

– Damp pieces should be aired out to prevent mold.

– Optionally, you can place them in a low-temperature oven (around 120°F / 50°C) for a short time to speed up drying.

Rocks and Stones

– Rinse with water and let dry in the sun.

– If there are organic residues or algae, clean gently with diluted soap, vinegar, or mild disinfectant solution.

– Avoid metal brushes-they can scratch the surface.

Each collected piece-a stone, a flower, a shell-is a fragment of time.

To preserve it is not only to keep it safe, but to continue its story.

 Labeling: Small Notes, Big Meaning

Every specimen should be carefully labeled with:

– Species name (Latin and local)
– Location of collection
– Date

– Name of collector or observation notes

Each label opens a small window into memory.

Storage: Quiet Preservation

– Choose cool, dry, and dark environments.

– Wooden specimens should be kept away from moisture.

– Shells and stones can rest in soft cloth pouches or compartmented boxes.

– Delicate insect specimens may need glass containers or preservation fluids.

– Good air circulation helps prevent mold and pest damage.

Display: More Than Showing

– Use glass cases, natural wooden shelves, or stands made from stone, clay, or fabric.

– Each item is not just an object-it is a silent witness to your bond with nature.