Each of us has known since childhood what a herbarium is. Forgotten flowers brought home from walks, crafts in the kindergarten and school from dried flowers, herbs and leaves, in the end, everyone at least once found dried plants in grandma’s book, perhaps reminding her of some pleasant moments from her life. This is all great! But today we offer you something different - to look at herbariums from a different perspective. Let's try to see art in these wonderful dried herbs and leaves!

A little about what a herbarium is and why it is needed

Herbarium is translated from Latin as “herbalist”. These are compositions of flowers, herbs, leaves, and sometimes wood, berries, moss and lichens, dried taking into account certain rules and characteristics. Dried flowers not only look aesthetically attractive and complement the decor of the room, but also contain pleasant odors, which can add additional coziness to your home.

Surely the majority believes that the origins of the appearance of herbariums relate to botany and the scientific curiosity of scientists. But, as it turns out, it all started with love. The girls, in order to preserve for a long time pleasant memories of the bouquets given to them by young people, dried them. Lovers have always existed, but scientists began to show interest in plants only in the 15th century; gradually books began to be created with illustrations of the plants described, and later, in the 16th century, with dried samples of real specimens. The first of them appeared in Italy. Today, the largest and most significant collections are located in museums, botanical gardens and institutes of world capitals - in New York, Paris, St. Petersburg, etc.

Nowadays, there is no longer a need to dry herbs and flowers for scientific purposes, since photography has become a worthy replacement for this method. Nowadays, herbariums are predominantly an amateur activity. Most often, herbariums are dried for children, schools or kindergartens, romantic people who want to preserve pleasant memories for a long time, needlewomen or designers for decorating premises. For whatever purpose you start creating herbariums, they can all be classified into the following groups:

• Special. Such herbariums initially have some purpose behind their creation, that is, they are dried for something. For example, schoolchildren are often asked to bring specific specimens of plants to class in order to more interestingly illustrate the material covered. Or, teachers of older groups in kindergartens often create crafts with children using dried flowers, leaves, herbs and berries.
• Systematic. Such herbariums are created based on some classification in the arrangement of collected plants - species, class, family, color, by the first letters of names in alphabetical order, etc.
• Periodic. Plants are arranged according to the periods of their collection, for example, seasons - autumn, winter, spring, summer.
• Thematic. All samples are divided according to the following criteria: medicinal, weed, cereal, etc.
• Morphological. Literally - a plant is disassembled into parts: stem, petal, leaf, seeds, etc. Changes in the same sample are often captured, for example, a dormant state - flowering, a sprout - ripening - the period of the highest point of a plant's life - wilting, a leaf in its in a blooming state, and then in a yellowed state, etc.
• Floral. Plants are collected and classified according to the area of ​​distribution.

Of course, these are more or less “legalized” classifications; you can invent your own principles in the distribution of collected samples, or create a collection of those plants that you simply really like.

Preliminary preparation for creating a herbarium

It is not an exaggeration to say that the preparatory part for creating a herbarium is the main and more important than the direct creation of decorative items, crafts, etc. The entire process of preparing plants can be divided into several stages, each of which has its own rules and features . We will analyze each of these stages in detail below, so that after reading, you can handle all the steps yourself and ultimately get the result you dreamed of.

Sample collection

The first step is to collect the plants that you want to see in your herbarium. You should start from the purpose for which you are creating it. Before you start collecting, you need to think carefully and decide on the answer to this question.
If you decide to create a decorative herbarium, remember that the most beautiful and original ones are obtained by combining different categories of plants: leaves, flowers, berries, cones, wood, etc.

Advice! If you want to create a herbarium for the first time and don’t yet know what you want, you can simply go collecting plants, choosing the specimens that you like best. Perhaps during the preparation process you will come up with some idea that you want to implement.

What plants are suitable for herbariums and rules for choosing them

Any plants are suitable for creating herbariums. You can use herbs, rowan berries, bird cherry and other fruit plants that can be dried, tree leaves, flowers, tree bark, cones, if you are creating a three-dimensional composition, etc.
The picture shows only a small part of what can be used to create compositions from dried plants

If the choice of plants is very wide and is not limited by any boundaries, then the situation is different with how exactly these plants should be selected. There are a number of rules that must be followed when collecting, if in the end you want to get what you had in mind:

• It is worth going to collect plants only during the day, in warm weather, without precipitation. If it has recently rained, you will have to wait 3–5 hours until the sun thoroughly dries the plants and soil.
• Before you dig up your plant, carefully check each leaf for damage from insects, weather conditions, and other factors. The plant must be completely healthy!
• If the plant implies the presence of flowers or fruits, the best option would be to look for ripe specimens.
• The farther the plant collection site is from roads and industrial areas, the better.
• It is better to collect several samples of the same plant so that later you can choose the best option. And it’s impossible to foresee everything, some of the samples can be accidentally spoiled or some shortcomings may not be noticed on them, it is better to immediately insure yourself against such disappointments.

Rules for collecting plants

Plants are collected in a certain way, never just picked. There are certain rules for all types of plants. In order to carry out the entire procedure according to the rules, you need to take the following with you to the training camp:

• small spatula;
• sharp knife;
• scissors;
• paper for drying (parchment or regular newspaper will do);
• a notepad and pen to write down the name of the plant, place, date and time of collection;
• labels for writing numbers (you can write numbers directly on the paper in which you wrap the collected plants).

Once you have found the desired plant specimen and fully tested it for suitability, properly separate it from nature. If you are making a morphological herbarium, then you will need to carefully dig up the plant right from the roots, after thoroughly shaking off excess soil and insects. If you have other goals, then you still shouldn’t just pick the sample; depending on the thickness of the stem, cut it with scissors or a knife. So, the remaining stem will recover faster, and your part will be fresher, with minimal damage, which will allow you to get higher quality material after drying. But leaves from trees can simply be carefully torn off where they grow to the branch.

With bark and berries, things are somewhat more complicated; in order not to harm the tree, you need to cut off the required twig or bark at an angle, and smear the “wound” with a special product - var. This is a special garden putty that will close the wound from harmful microbes, infections and insects and will prevent the tree from getting sick.

When I was little, there was a huge apple tree in our garden, part of which was already extending onto the roof of the house; it just needed to be sawed off. My dad and I went on a “mission.” When the huge branch lay on the ground, the tree began to seem so small and offended. I immediately remembered what old stumps from cut down trees look like - rotten old ruins that no one took care of. I told my dad about my experiences and he showed me what the relationship between man and nature should be: he took care of the tree, smearing the “wound” with a special ointment, which I wrote about above. This tree bloomed under the window of our house for a very long time and bore fruit, only when I had already grown up and left, my dad had to completely cut down the tree, as its roots began to grow so much that they could harm neighboring buildings.

If you take something from nature, be sure to give at least your care in return so as not to cause harm or serious damage!

Note! Before you go collecting plants and taking samples, be sure to ask if in the area you have your eye on for collecting, there are restrictions on any plants due to the status of rare and protected!

Drying

There are several ways to dry plants for herbariums. Some are fast, some allow you to get a better result, some allow you to dry the plant not in a flat state, but in a voluminous state, etc. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in more detail below.

Note! Before drying any plant, no matter what drying method you choose for yourself, you first need to give the sample the desired shape: straighten all the leaves and petals; if it is a flower, then you can either show it closed, or, conversely, turn its petals out like this so that after drying it appears before you in all its glory, if the plant has a lot of twigs or petals, you must straighten and arrange them on the drying surface the way you need, etc. How you lay out the plant before drying is exactly the same will look like after!

Natural drying

Drying plants naturally does not imply the use of any special devices. The samples dry on their own, staying where you place them, and you can completely forget about them. You can dry plants in this way both flat and volumetric. There is no doubt that they will dry, but you cannot avoid the disadvantages of this method. Plants dried in this way will deteriorate very quickly and will most likely lose their natural color. Samples dried in this way cannot be used for any types of crafts, since they simply may not withstand the “load” and will not meet your expectations, and such samples and products made from them will not differ in durability.

Drying plants without using any drying devices can take from several days to two to three weeks, depending on the juiciness and volume of the raw materials.

Important! No matter how you dry the plant, after it is completely dry, you should only remove it from the drying surface very carefully using tweezers. Any dry plants are very, very fragile! It is better to be overly cautious than to undo such a long and difficult period of preparation in one move.

Flat drying of plant samples under pressure

This drying method is basic in the technique of making herbariums. It is more reliable and, provided that all the rules of this method are followed, the plant will look as attractive as possible and will last for many years.

There are two types of press:

Note! Whatever drying method you use, you need to change the shirt for each sample once a day! For particularly juicy samples, changing 2-3 times may be necessary. This is the only way you will be able to dry the raw materials efficiently. The plant needs a “shirt” to absorb all the moisture it releases. If you do not change it to dry in time, this will immediately affect the color and shape of the sample, and its shelf life will also be significantly reduced.

Volumetric drying in bulk solids

Volumetric drying is the preservation of samples in their original form. Such plants are suitable for creating bouquets, three-dimensional panels and paintings, wreaths, etc.

In order to carry out such drying you will need the following materials:

• Bulk material for drying - silica gel (can be collected from small bags placed in bags and boxes with shoes or bought at a specialty store) / sand. If you can't find any of these materials, you can try silica gel-based cat litter in the dryer.
• Drying container.
• Raw materials.

A step-by-step guide to bulk drying of plants using bulk substances:

1. Take a drying container; its size should be selected based on the volume of each sample and their quantity.
2. Place the samples in the container with the tops of the plants facing down.
3. Now very carefully fill the raw materials with bulk substance. This is the most difficult action; it is very important not to damage fragile plants. The substance should be prepared in such a quantity that it is possible to fill the samples completely; it is necessary that all parts of the plant are covered. It is better to have a surplus than to have a shortage.

When the plants are dry (2-3 weeks), you need to carefully remove them from the container with the filler and send them for storage or make your intended. The bulk substance that was used for drying cannot be reused, since it has already absorbed all the liquid from the raw material and is no longer suitable.

Drying raw materials with glycerin

By drying the raw material with glycerin, you can maintain the elasticity of plant parts. At the same time, the natural colors of the samples after this treatment will become darker and more saturated. With the gradual evaporation of the liquid, be sure to mix the new solution separately, then add it to the container with the plant

Necessary materials:

• glycerin (can be bought at a pharmacy);
• water;
• container (a glass or a small vase, 6–10 cm high, is suitable);
• raw materials;
• sharp knife.

Step by step guide to the procedure:

1. For the solution, mix water and glycerin in a ratio of 3:1 (water:glycerin), pour the mixture into the prepared container.
2. Take the plant to dry and make a cut along its stem, about 5 cm.
3. Place the plant in a container with the solution. It is necessary that the entire length of the stem with the cut be in the liquid.
4. Leave the plant in the solution for several days.

You can remove the finished sample when the plant is completely saturated with the glycerin composition. This will be visible by the noticeably darkened color. Afterwards, simply leave the plant until final drying in a dark place, protected from dust.

Ideas! If you're not happy with the color of the resulting sample, you can carefully spray paint it to get the look you want.

If you are carrying out the procedure with a flower, then you can also add food coloring to the solution of water and glycerin. The plant will absorb it along with the composition and its petals will turn the color you want.

If you cut the stem of one flower and place part of it in containers with dyes of different colors, you can get this unusual result, as shown in the photo

Note! Keep in mind that as the plant is soaked over several days, the solution will gradually evaporate. In this case, simply make some fresh mixture and pour it into the container.

Quick ways to dry plants using various household appliances

There are several ways to quickly dry plants using household appliances. Unfortunately, none of them will dry the raw materials as efficiently and safely as classical methods, so you should resort to such types of drying only in very emergency situations.

Quick drying can be done at home using the following household appliances:

Important! Any type of quick drying should only be done after first placing a plant sample in a “shirt”! Otherwise, you can irreversibly damage the sample, and in some cases even damage the equipment.

Features of drying some types of plants

Some plants do not fit into the general drying system for herbariums, so there are slightly different methods for them:

• Mosses and lichens. Such samples should be placed in a cardboard box and dried in the open air. Accordingly, in dry, warm weather.
• Tree bark, cones. Such raw materials can be dried in any warm place: on a stove or radiator, in sunny weather, etc. After drying, such samples can be coated with any paint or varnish.
• Flowers in blue shades. When dried, flowers of similar tones often lose their brightness. To prevent this from happening, place samples in denatured alcohol for 30 seconds before drying.
• Dandelions. To make a herbarium from this plant, attention should be paid already during collection. Take only those samples whose umbrella box has only slightly opened. Before drying, thread a thin wire through the stem and dip the flower head in boiling water for 10 seconds. After this, very carefully form the required shape and dry the sample.

If you want to increase the density of any of the dried plants, let the desired samples lie in a 4:1 solution of PVA glue and water (PVA:water).

Table: advantages and disadvantages of various drying methods

Drying methods:	Advantages:	Flaws:
Natural.	with a minimum of effort, the plant can dry without your supervision.	possible loss of color and shape of raw materials; excessive fragility of an already dried sample; fragility.
Flat drying under a press from books.	availability of necessary attributes for drying (books); Due to the fact that plants are dried only in a flat form, and the “shirts” are often replaced, some plants can be completely dried in just 2–3 days.	it is necessary to frequently change the “shirt” without damaging the sample; the ability to dry plants only in a flat form.
Flat drying using a special device made from boards.	the ability to dry up to 50 copies at a time; drying even the juiciest samples within 4–5 days, thanks to the ability to take the device out of the boards into the sun during the daytime; a more professional and high-quality option, since wood is also an absorber of excess moisture.	difficulty in accessibility of the design; possibility of drying samples only in flat form; such a device can take up quite a lot of space; the need to frequently change the “shirt”.
Volumetric drying in bulk substances.	the ability to obtain volumetric samples; short drying time; the ability to use different materials, so you can choose the most suitable and affordable one for yourself.	a large amount of bulk material is required, which can only be used once; Difficulty in careful handling of dry samples due to the fact that they must be removed from a bath of bulk solids; There is no 100% guarantee that when pouring still raw samples, none of the parts of the plant are damaged or dented.
Drying with glycerin.	the ability to dry voluminous plants; the sample retains its shape and elasticity even when completely dried; the ability to paint the plant in any desired colors.	a rather long process due to the fact that glycerin impregnation is first necessary, and only then drying, which will take place quite slowly due to the saturation of the plant with the solution.
Quick iron drying.	availability; simplicity of the procedure.	risk of overdrying the sample.
Quick drying in oven or microwave.	the ability to dry the sample very quickly;	the ability to burn samples without calculating the power and drying time; fragility and fragility of the plant dried in this way.
Quick blow dry.	the ability to dry the sample very quickly; accessibility in the procedure.	a very dangerous procedure for the sample due to exposure to air currents; the fragility and fragility of the plant dried in this way; the possibility of drying out or not drying out the plant.

Video: how to properly prepare dried flowers and dry the herbarium

Making various herbariums with your own hands

After you have gone through the most difficult stages - collecting and preparing plants, you can finally start the most enjoyable part, the thing for which, in fact, everything was started - creating a variety of herbariums and decorating the interior, crafts, notebooks, etc. d.

How can you use dried samples?

The plant samples you prepare can simply be stored for pleasure or for future use or use. Here are the most common uses of dried plant samples:

• creation of panels, paintings, applications, etc.;
• storage in special folders, distributed according to any principles, classifications, types, etc.;
• creation of decorative photo albums;
• use of samples for scientific purposes;
• use as nature, for example, when creating jewelry or painting realistic paintings by artists, etc.;
• as decorative elements in albums, notebooks, photo frames, scrapbooking and other types of needlework, etc.;
• creation of various decorative elements for the interior;
• for making souvenirs (for example, glass balls);
• for making jewelry.

There are probably many more ideas where you can use dried plant samples; it’s simply impossible to list them all. And human imagination, as we know, knows no limits.

We will consider the most popular uses from our list in detail below, offer you unusual ideas and show you master classes.

Making a herbarium in a storage album

The method of distributing samples in the herbarium is up to you to choose; above, in the section “A little about what a herbarium is and what it is needed for,” all the types and forms in which you can arrange an album with dried plants are described in detail. If you are creating an album for storage and later use, then it is most convenient to group samples by type, for example: leaves, flowers, herbs, etc. It is also convenient to distribute the plants in the album by color, especially if you plan to use them for needlework.
You can make such an album yourself, buy it at an office supply store, or simply replace it with a folder with files

Each sample should be on a separate sheet, and between each sheet there should be tracing paper inserts. How securely and how to attach the sample to the album sheet depends on the purpose of its production. If you plan to simply store dried plants, then you can safely fasten them “tightly” to the sheets, but if you plan to use them further, then fasten them loosely, for example, with double-sided thick tape, so that when you need the samples, you can easily and without damage the workpiece you need.
The best way to store samples for future use is to place them in a file folder, as shown in the photo

If you want something more original, then perhaps the photo gallery below will give you some interesting ideas.

Photo gallery: creative album design ideas

This design idea is good because the samples are completely visible and are not “spoiled” by paint or decorations, and the painted vases add creativity. Children will really enjoy not just pasting plant samples into the album, but creating such funny appliqués from them. Thanks to the successful combination of the main color of the album and samples placed on it, as well as beautiful nameplates, the album looks very stylish and the structure is clearly visible

Panels of dried plant samples: step-by-step master class

One of the simplest types of creativity using herbariums is creating panels.

Necessary materials:

• paper;
• samples of dried plants;
• scissors;
• frame;
• glue.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a panel:

1. Prepare all necessary materials:
   For convenience and accuracy in creating panels, it is better to immediately prepare all the necessary materials; it is better to also take a cloth to wipe off excess glue
2. Take a blank sheet of paper, place it in front of you and start gluing the prepared plant samples onto it:
   Start gluing from the middle of the sheet, gradually filling the entire space
3. Here is a version of the composition you might end up with:
   The final result depends only on your imagination
4. After completing the stage of sticking up the sheet, you need to place it in the prepared frame:
   For better preservation of the craft and a more aesthetic appearance, it is better to take a frame with glass
5. And this is what a wall panel made according to this master class looks like:
   Such a panel can be made in one or several versions; in both cases, the crafts will fit very harmoniously into almost any interior, giving it individuality

Using the same scheme, you can make other panels, paintings, appliqués for children and much more.

Master class on creating a wreath from a herbarium

A wreath is a wonderful decoration for the doors of any house or apartment, which adds additional comfort, inviting guests.
Such a wreath can be hung not only on the front door of the house, it will also become a wonderful decoration for the door of a workshop, summer kitchen, bathhouse, etc.

It can be made from the simplest materials available:

• wire;
• scissors;
• pliers and wire cutters;
• threads;
• cling film;
• meter or tailor's measuring tape;
• dried plants;
• additional decorations (optional).

Step-by-step instructions for making a wreath:

1. Prepare the frame for the wreath by unwinding the required amount of copper wire and twisting the ends a little to avoid injury in the future. It’s better to make a small loop of wire in advance so that you have something to hang the wreath on later.
2. Fasten the wrapped ends together. Keep in mind that the size of the wire base should be slightly larger than you imagine the wreath to be, as bulky materials will eat up a lot of the space both inside and outside, making the wreath appear smaller than it actually is. The wire is the midline of the circular part of the wreath.
3. Distribute the prepared herbariums into small bunches. Cut the cling film into strips about 5 cm wide. For convenience, you can simply cut a long roll of cling film into small five-centimeter coils.
4. Take the wire frame of the wreath and apply the prepared herbariums one bunch at a time, securing them to the base with cling film. The larger the herbarium bunches, the more voluminous and fluffier the wreath will be.
5. When you have completely wrapped the bunches of plants around the entire perimeter of the circle, you can decorate the wreath as you wish. Not only natural materials are suitable, you can add satin ribbons, beads, etc.

Video: master class on making an autumn wreath

Herbarium in the interior

The herbarium has long been preferred in the interior. Most often, the premises are decorated with herbariums in the form of paintings, panels or bouquets placed in stylish vases. Such decorative elements fit most harmoniously into rooms decorated in the Scandinavian style, in the minimalist style, or with other design solutions in the decor, where light or plain colors and natural materials predominate.

Advice! When decorating a room with herbariums of various types, try to feel the edge in time and stop so as not to overload the interior.

Photo gallery: ideas for decorating rooms with herbariums

Contrasting combinations look stylish and unusual, for example, as in this photo, herbariums decorated in light colors in combination with a dark wall of a rich lilac shade
Herbariums can add even more freshness and naturalness to a room, decorated in light colors with elements of natural wood.
By placing herbariums in brown shades on a wall of a similar color, you can create a harmonious combination with a sense of antiquity. Glass herbariums placed on windows or glass walls look very unusual, especially if the view overlooks natural landscapes
Herbariums with plants of the same type and color, divided into two or several paintings, look very harmonious and stylish. Nothing could be more natural than a combination of plants and paper; herbariums look great, supplemented with books, notebooks or notebooks, paintings and minimalist drawings, or arranged right on your desktop
Herbariums from the same plant specimens, but made in different forms, harmoniously complement each other, for example, paintings and small bouquets in stylish vases, located at one point in the room, will perfectly complement the interior
Herbariums made in the same shades will perfectly complement and additionally refresh the interior in white and green colors. A great way to decorate a boring wall is to decorate it entirely with herbarium paintings, which can be of absolutely any size and style, the main thing is that they are harmoniously combined with each other and echo with the general mood of the room. Wreaths made from dried plants look incredibly beautiful; they will especially harmoniously emphasize an interior decorated in natural colors and materials. Paintings from herbariums look very stylish in the interior, the colors of which echo the shades of the room. A bouquet of fragrant herbariums will be an ideal herbarium decoration in the kitchen. herbs, for example, lavender A bouquet collected from autumn leaves, bright flowers, complemented with dry twigs, pine cones, etc. will help revive the interior. One of the non-standard options for using dried plants could be a chandelier like this, decorated with garlands of dried golden leaves, reminiscent of golden autumn Herbariums can not only be practically included in the interior or hung on the walls of panels and paintings, you can create a whole corner with a composition from different herbariums. The combination of herbariums placed on mirrors and glass and on the walls of the same room looks unusual, it creates the feeling of being in a fairy tale , due to the “mosaic” nature of the general appearance of such decor

How to store a herbarium

If all storage rules are followed, the herbarium can be stored for years and even centuries. They are all very simple, but no less important:

• dried plants must be stored in a dry and ventilated area;
• each sample must be properly formatted; this is described in detail in the section on storing samples in albums and folders;
• if you plan to store the samples for a very long time, then it is necessary to treat each of them with insecticides that will protect them from various insects;
• Do not expose samples to moisture or store them in damp or excessively humid air;
• Store all samples away from light.

Photo gallery: ideas for creating herbariums

By creating a small composition of dried plants in a glass bowl, you can stylishly complement the interior and discover your creative abilities. A picture created from samples of flat and dry plants looks very beautiful and believable, due to the gradually increasing volume of the composition. An excellent option to preserve memories for a long time, include dried flowers in decoration One of the most beautiful and stylish types of herbariums are those framed in glass; they will highlight any interior without cluttering up the room. Minimalism is in great demand today, both in the interior and in art and decorative elements; the picture shown in the photo is an excellent example of this , how attractive a picture with just one dried leaf can look. A very creative idea for creating a world map from dried herbs and inflorescences. If you sign important objects, then such a flower map may well replace an ordinary one. If you follow all the rules in collecting and drying dandelions, you can create such a wonderful picture

We hope we were able to show all the beauty of herbariums. Over so many years of their existence, they have not simply ceased to be relevant, but they have gradually acquired more and more perfect and incredibly beautiful forms in art and creativity, decorating our lives. With a wise approach to the entire process, from collecting to storing and creating any products, you can quickly and easily learn a new activity and leave a piece of nature near you, as a reminder to us of the eternal and deep connection with it.

Galina Shinaeva

Each student studying biology receives an assignment to create a thematic herbarium as part of the educational program. So my granddaughter and her classmates received an assignment for the summer, to collect leaves from plants in the area where they will relax. It was necessary to find five complex and five simple leaves. The task is not difficult. This year we vacationed on the Taman Peninsula. The Taman Peninsula is steppe and floodplains, densely overgrown with reeds and other aquatic plants; there are practically no forests. Trees and shrubs were brought and planted to the peninsula at different times by people. We tried to find plants that do not grow in Moscow or are very rare in the arboretum or botanical garden.

So from complex leaves they collected

Albizia Lenkoran leaves,

walnut,

Robinia (acacia bela),

campsii (thecomas),

ailantha,

from simple ones -

leaves quinces,

mulberries,

white poplar,

silver sucker,

hibiscus.

We didn’t have a special folder for collecting leaves, we bought a thick sketchbook and Nadezhda, that’s the name of my eldest granddaughter, put leaves in it. At the hotel, the leaves were dried by ironing them through paper. Returning to Moscow, Nadezhda discovered that the complex leaves had almost all crumbled, and her homework was on the verge of failure. Before going to the arboretum for new specimens, we decided to glue the scattered leaves with PVA glue; there was nothing to lose.

We decided and did it, each complex sheet was reassembled and smeared with PVA glue.

The glue dried, and the resulting film held each leaf blade well on the petiole.

Moreover, the sheet plate has become plastic and flexible.

And we smeared PVA glue on all the leaves, both complex and simple.

The difficulty was caused by the double-pinnate, lacy leaf of Albizia Lankaran, because the torn leaf folds along the midrib and droops.

Each specimen was secured to a separate thick sheet with narrow white stripes.

Compound leaf of campsia (tekoma,

Compound walnut leaf.

Ailanthus compound leaf.

Compound leaf of Robinia (white acacia)

A simple quince leaf.

A simple mulberry leaf.

A simple white poplar leaf.

A simple leaf of the oleaginus argentum.

A simple hibiscus leaf.

In the lower right corner under each sample, a label was pasted with information about which plant, when, where and by whom this leaf was picked and educational information about the plant from which the leaf was picked. A photograph of the plant was placed in the upper left corner.

The sheets were placed in files and in a folder - a binder.

Creating a herbarium is a fascinating and educational activity.

Thank you for your interest and attention!

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A herbarium is a traditional decoration that has been around for many years. Compositions from dried plants, previously popular only among botanists, can now decorate almost every home or apartment. They are used to make paintings, bouquets, albums, and even postcards. To create such beauty, you must not only have a sense of taste and imagination, but also perseverance.

What it is?

Translated from Latin, herbarium means “grass.” It is a collection of plants dried according to the rules. Depending on their type, it can be either a single flower or branch, or a whole plant. Initially, herbariums appeared in Italy at the beginning of the 15th century. The founder of this art form was the famous botanist of the Pisa Botanical Garden, Luce Ghini.

To date, not a single copy created by his hands has survived, but some collections of his students still remain.

Almost all exclusive herbaria are registered in international databases. In addition, each plant is assigned a special letter code, which consists of six letters of the English alphabet. However, today plants are dried not only for the sake of science. Most people turn collecting plants, flowers and creating compositions from them into a hobby.

What is necessary?

You can store the herbarium in a special album with files, which will contain not only dried plants, but also inscriptions about their origin. Albums can be purchased in special stores or made with your own hands. To do this, you need to take either very thick sheets of paper or cardboard and place them in files. There is no need to fasten them together. It's better to buy a regular binder. In addition, you can use dried plants as bookmarks in a book or create paintings or panels from them.

Some craftsmen also use herbariums to decorate boxes or plates, or make postcards from flowers.

Classification

A classification of herbariums can be made into several subgroups.

• Special. Such a herbarium is intended for a specific purpose. For example, a teacher at school can ask for the creation of a thematic selection of plants based on the material covered.
• Periodic. Most often, this distribution is done by season. For example, in the spring you can dry bird cherry shoots or cherry blossoms, in the summer - flowering medicinal or ordinary plants, in the fall - multi-colored leaves or bunches of rowan, and in winter - unusual branches from trees.
• Systematic. Most often, such herbariums are compiled on the basis of already collected plants. But they are placed in alphabetical order or by type. That is, everything is gradually being systematized.
• Thematic. Such a herbarium consists of certain specimens of species. Medicinal plants are included separately, such as chamomile, mint, sage or wormwood. Weeds or cereals can also be selected for the collection.
• Floral. Such a herbarium is collected in a specific place of residence.
• Morphological. In this case, an individual plant is collected in parts. In addition, you can collect the same plant at different periods of its growth.

How to collect and dry plants?

To make a herbarium, you can collect completely different plants. These can be leaves from trees, flowers of different sizes, cones, and even moss or tree bark. This variety is suitable for those people who create voluminous compositions. However, before you start collecting plants, you must be familiar with the following rules:

• You should not go for plants early in the morning, when the dew has not yet dried or in rainy weather; you should collect the herbarium only in sunny weather; if it has recently rained, you need to wait at least 2-3 hours;
• before harvesting, it is necessary to thoroughly inspect the entire plant and make sure that there are no damages or insects that could damage it;
• if there is no need to pull out the plant along with its roots, then you need to carefully cut it with a sharp knife or scissors; if all of it is needed, then the roots need to be well separated from the ground and also washed;
• no need to collect more plants than needed;
• it is necessary to bypass those specimens that are listed in the Red Book;
• it is better if the collected samples are of different sizes, which will allow you to make more beautiful compositions; In addition, you need to remember that plants should be collected during their full opening.

In addition, if you decide to collect a herbarium, you should definitely take with you the following items:

• small shovel for digging;
• knife or scissors;
• special drying paper or plain newspaper;
• a pencil or pen, as well as a notepad, so that you can write not only what kind of plant it is, but also the date and place of its collection.

There are different ways to dry any plant, each of which has its own pros and cons. Whatever drying option is chosen, first you need to give the plant the desired shape.

Drying naturally

In this case, you will not need to use any devices. The plants found will be able to dry on their own in the place where they were placed. In addition, they can be made both voluminous and flat. Using this option, you need to be prepared for the fact that the herbarium can quickly collapse or lose its natural color. In addition, such samples are not very suitable for various crafts, since they simply do not withstand the effects of glue and other similar materials.

It takes 1 to 3 weeks to dry the herbarium without using special equipment. It all depends on the volume of the plant itself.

In addition, after completing this process, you need to remove the plants only with tweezers, so as not to damage them, because after drying they become very fragile and brittle.

Drying press

This option is considered the basic one, because it is more reliable, and the plant will look beautiful in the end. In addition, it can remain in this condition for many years. You can use two options.

• Unnecessary books. This option is more suitable for amateurs and has been used for a long time. First you need to level the plant well, and then place it on the page of an unnecessary book. You need to cover the top with a sheet of paper, which experts call a “shirt,” and also put a piece of paper with the necessary information here. Next, the book needs to be carefully closed and placed under several books. It is very important that the sample does not accidentally move during this process.

• Herbarium press. This device is designed for drying various plants. It consists of two boards of the same size. Along the edges there are holes through which ropes are threaded. With their help these boards are held together. Prepared samples must be placed in “shirts” and then placed between the boards. After this, you should firmly clamp the device. It can dry up to 45–50 collected samples at a time. To speed up the process, you can take the device outside during the day and bring it in again in the evening.

Important! Whichever option was not used, the “shirt” must be changed daily, because it absorbs all the moisture from the plant. If you do not change it in time, it will lose its natural color.

Volume drying

Most often, this drying method is used to preserve plants in their original form. You can use them to make not only paintings, but also bouquets. First you need to take a container in which the plants will dry. Then carefully place the samples in the prepared container, top down. Next, you need to cover them with a special drying agent called silica gel.

The entire plant should be completely covered. After 15 days, you can take out the dried plant and use it for its intended purpose. It is not recommended to use silica gel a second time, because it has already absorbed all the moisture from the dried samples.

In addition, you can try drying herbarium specimens using glycerin. To do this, you need to mix glycerin with clean water in a ratio of 1: 3. Then it needs to be poured into a container prepared in advance. A small cut (up to 5 centimeters) should be made on the stem of the plant and carefully placed in a glycerin solution. Every millimeter of the sample needs to be treated with this solution, so it is better to do just that.

After 2–4 days, you can remove the sample and place it in a dark place to dry.

Quick drying

Using some household appliances you can quickly dry plants. However, this does not mean that the quality of the samples will be good. This type of drying should only be used in the most urgent cases.

• Using an iron. When using such an electrical appliance, you must make sure that there is no water in the steam compartment. Then it should be heated to medium power and only then can the drying process begin. You need to apply the iron to the plant for a few seconds, and then remove it and give the same time to cool. Repeat this until the plant is completely dry.
• In the microwave. By placing flowers or leaves and turning on the electrical appliance at full power, you can literally dry the plants in 2-3 minutes.

Important! Using any of the selected methods, you must first place the sample in a “shirt” before drying.

How to make a herbarium?

When all the drying stages are completed, you can try making various crafts with your own hands. There are many ideas for such compositions, since human imagination knows no bounds. However, the choice always remains with the person who is doing this.

In album

If this method is chosen, all samples must be placed according to certain types. Leaves, flowers, medicinal herbs, and tree branches should go separately. In addition, if you plan to use such an album for needlework in the future, it is better to place all the samples by color to make it easier to work with them. You can make such an album yourself, or you can just go to a craft store and buy it. In any case, samples should be placed separately on each sheet. In addition, between the sheets there must be inserts made from tracing paper.

You can attach plants in different ways. For example, if in the future you plan to use them to decorate some crafts, then you need to glue them lightly. Double-sided tape is suitable for this; it can easily peel off from the sample.

Panel

This use of the herbarium is considered the simplest and easiest. Not only an adult, but also a child can cope with it. Or you can make such a creation together. To create it, you need to prepare the following materials in advance:

• thick sheet of paper or cardboard;
• dried plants;
• frame – samples can be stored either in glass or without it;
• glue;
• sharp scissors.

Next, you need to draw a drawing of the future picture on a blank sheet of paper, and then glue all the necessary elements. After this, the sheet should be placed in a frame, more correctly if it is with glass. This way the samples will retain their appearance longer, and in addition, the composition itself will also look more beautiful. In this way, you can create not only panels, but also paintings in the Provence style or various applications for your children.

Wreath from the herbarium

A wreath on the doors always looks very beautiful. In addition, he immediately attracts glances, as if inviting him to come and visit. It won’t be difficult to make, you just need to take the following materials:

• a small piece of thick wire;
• wire cutters;
• sharp scissors;
• cling film;
• plant samples;
• threads to match the plants.

The first herbariums appeared long before books with color photographs began to be published. At first, these were romantic attempts by girls to preserve the flowers given to their lovers.

Healers put dried plants in books and described their healing properties in order to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

Later, scientific books appeared that described the properties of herbs and flowers. Some information was clearly exaggerated.

Along with the description of the properties there were legends and fictions about the magical powers of herbs. Such literature had drawings of plants instead of photographs.

Today, herbaria are used to obtain knowledge and develop skills. Both children and adults do this.

If the first children's herbariums are an attempt to make a craft, then adults can sell their works as exquisite handmade products.

Each page is like a wonderful fairy tale with the smell of herbs and the feeling of touching nature.

Types of herbariums

If you decide to make a herbarium yourself, you should decide on its type.

Types of herbariums:

If you are making a herbarium for aesthetic reasons and love for nature, you can place poems next to each leaf and add a description: personal opinion.

If your goal is to create a scientific book with descriptions and characteristics of flowers, take a systematic or thematic type of herbarium as a basis.

Important! Often a herbarium with medicinal herbs is compiled.

Along with the attached dried herbs there are descriptions of medicinal properties, methods of preparing decoctions and tinctures, recommendations for collection and preparation.

This is not only a handmade book, but also its own reference book on medicinal herbs, which can be passed on like a family heirloom.

How to collect plants correctly?

To make a beautiful and durable herbarium, you need to remember the 5 main commandments of collecting plants.

5 most important rules for collecting herbs for a herbarium:

• Collect herbs in dry and sunny weather.
• If you cut flowers, do it at an angle.
• The best option is to dig up the herbs and store them along with the root.
• Try to gather while plants are in bloom to capture not only the leaves but also the flowers.
• Collect several plants of the same type so you have a choice.

Preparation stages

Before you go on a plant hunting trip, you should be well prepared.

Step-by-step preparation for collecting:

1. Find out the weather forecast for the day you gathered to buy herbs for the herbarium. The weather should be dry and warm.

   If it rained the day before, it is best to postpone the hike until the vegetation has completely dried out.

2. Dress appropriately for the weather so you can fully work on the task.
3. Have the necessary equipment with you.

It is not advisable to go shopping for samples with just one bag. You should have digging tools with you and separate newspaper bags for each group of samples.

Stickers or sheets of notepad are needed to record the date, place of collection and type of plant.

When hiking, a small spatula will be useful to carefully remove the roots. A special knife or pruning shears will allow you to easily cut the desired samples.

A large, roomy backpack bag will allow you to keep all your equipment on your shoulders.

Important! Do not place herb samples with equipment to avoid crushing or damaging them.

Design ideas

There are many ways to make a beautiful herbarium. Use these tips to make your own original herbarium.

Tips for designing a herbarium:

• For children's creativity, it is good to design each page in the form of an animal or landscape, part of which will be laid out from different leaves and flowers.
• Children's works do not need detailed descriptions of plants; it is enough to post an aesthetically beautiful picture.
• A herbarium on a specific topic can be supplemented with photographs of plants in their natural environment. To do this, they must be photographed before cutting.
• You can make a book with your own hands, but it is better to buy a special one from a craft store.
• Make small forms with the same design for each page. They should have lines to describe the species, date of collection, and other details.
• If you are making a herbarium according to the seasons, each winter page can be supplemented with a background of winter landscapes on which specimens will show off. This can be done with every season of the year.

  To assemble such a book, you will have to independently find large-sized pictures on the Internet and print them on paper. You will get an unusual and original herbarium.

• The original pictures may not be related to the time of year. Print out images of meadows and forests, rivers and mountains. Against their background, dried plants will look great.
• For lovers of gothic images, background pictures in black and white are suitable.

  If you complement them with red letterheads with calligraphic font, you get a stylish book of plants.

Secrets of storing a composition

When drying plants, details matter. If you follow this procedure correctly, you can preserve your samples for a long time. Durability is the main criterion.

Tips for preserving dried samples:

• Collected samples must be dry.
• If you are drying herbs between the sheets of a book, you should change the sheets a couple of times a week to prevent the released liquid from spoiling the samples.
• Blue flowers retain their color well if first dipped in denatured alcohol.
• Dry several identical samples to choose the best one.

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