Preserving with Glycerine

As requested, here is how I preserve leaves in glycerine.

Glycerine (or Glycerin) is available from chemists and pharmacies. I bought mine from Boots for 89p.

I used one part glycerine to two parts water. I used cold water but it would probably dissolve better in warm. Give the mixture a good stir to dissolve it.

It is a bit late in the year for deciduous leaves but these rowan leaves from the base of my tree are quite green so I thought I would try them.

Cut the stem on a slant and put straight into the mixture. I recut the stem after I had finished photographing it.

I had to make up more mixture to make sure the cut ends of the stems were covered. Now all you have to do is wait around three weeks.

The leaves will turn brown as they absorb the glycerine.

This is a branch I did in September. The leaves have turned a lovely chocolate brown and I'm glad I left the berries. None have dropped off. 

I added acer and a cotoneaster twig to see if they would work but the acer just shriveled up. I am optimistic about the cotoneaster.

I am preserving more oak leaves. If I have enough,  I will show you how I made the hoop in last weeks post

Good luck.