Blog article by Karen Metz, UC Master Gardener
Many of us have plants in our gardens or yards that remind us of people or places. Sometimes trees or shrubs are planted to honor the birth of a child, a milestone birthday, or in memory of a loved one. We might have plants that we have grown from cuttings from friends’ or relatives’ yards. Working around these plants can bring back many fond memories.
But I also have botanical objects inside the house that elicit remembrances. Amidst numerous pictures in several baby books, I have pressed leaves. Each of these was from our first nature walk with the respective moms and grandbabies. The babies ranged in age from 3 weeks to 2 months old at the time of these adventures, so they have no recollection. But their moms and grandparents certainly do. I also have a cypress cone from an anniversary hike along a Sea Ranch trail.
Other special occasions that generate botanical souvenirs include proms, weddings, and even funerals. Some people successfully dry intact corsages or bouquets. Petals from wedding or funeral flowers can be dried and made into potpourri.
Sometimes, it’s a special place, rather than an occasion, that you want to remember. So, you pick up a dried leaf from the trees that surround the 9-11 Memorial in New York City, an acorn from a Central Park carriage ride, or a cone from the Black Forest in Germany. Other times the memory comes prepackaged, like the postcard with the attached, pressed Edelweiss flowers.
It makes sense that if we love being around plants and flowers, we also love having tangible mementos of them. I take plenty of photos and I love looking at them, but it’s also nice to have things we can touch and hold. That being said, I try to be very careful when I am gathering specimens. Most of what I gather is already on the ground in public spaces or growing abundantly. Otherwise, I would ask permission.