# Preserving autumn leaves

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966 "2003-11-24T07:34:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Thinktank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Thinktank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinktank)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966/1 "2003-11-24T07:34:47Z")

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When I was younger my mother used to press flowers and other foliage inside books and then arrange different flora to be pressed between two pieces laminate. While I was never impressed with the result, I always wanted to find some way to preserve leaves in the fall just like they are when they change. Is there such thing as a chemical that would “freeze” the color change in time so that yellow stays yellow, orange,orange and so forth?  
I thought maybe since it is a chemical reaction that is happening at the cellular level, inside the leaf that other chemicals could be used to achieve my means.

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**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966/2 "2003-11-25T02:01:23Z")

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Do what your mother did: the colour remains without the need for chemical intervention.

You can also hang flowers (long-stemmed roses from your valentine) upside-down and the flowers will dry without losing colour.

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**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966/3 "2003-11-25T02:18:12Z")

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Preserve Autumn Leaves??!!

I’m kinda hoping jazz musicians will just finally let it die!!

_The fallen leaves,  
drift passed my window.  
The Autumn leaves  
of red and gold  
da dee your lips  
ba doomp bah bah doo doo doo…_

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**Author:** ![Psifireus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Psifireus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psifireus)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966/4 "2003-11-25T02:39:03Z")

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A few years back my girl scout troop collected a bunch of leaves and soaked them in glycerine.

We had to leave them submerged for several days (I can’t remember exactly how long, sorry) in the glycerine but they came out really well with only a little loss of color.

I still have them somewhere…

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**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-autumn-leaves/214966/5 "2003-11-25T04:11:59Z")

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A 10% glycerine/water solution will do it. The tougher leaves, like oak, will take longer than the flimsier ones, like maple. Cut branches, with leaves attached, and put them in a vase with the solution. You’ll get a slight color change, depending on what leaves you use. You can use a warm,dry iron and press leaves that are sandwiched between two pieces of regular kitchen waxed paper-easier, cheaper, faster and makes the house smell great.