The process of obtaining preserved flower blooms and other natural predominantly carbohydrate products such as flower stems, leaves and vegetables which are free standing and have a natural fresh appearance maintained over prolonged periods which comprises removing most or substantially all of the water present in the substrate, said substrate including naturally occurring active hydrogen compounds as part of its structure, exposing the substantially dried substrate to a cross-linking compound containing a plurality of groups which are complementary reactive with the said active hydrogen groups to form a high molecular weight three dimensional cross-linked polymeric network between the active hydrogen groups of said substrate and the compound containing said complementary reactive groups. A process of dehydrating flower blooms, and other natural carbohydrate products such as flower stems, leaves and vegetables with good shape and color retention which comprises immersing such substrate in a water-miscible, organic solvent which forms a minimum boiling point azeotrope with water, and evaporating the solvent-water mixture in a controlled atmosphere that keeps the water vapor concentration leaving the substrate in the evaporating gas greater than it is in the liquid present.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 922,538, filed Oct. 23, 1986, now abandoned the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
A composite flower assembly includes a preserved natural flower head 37, a natural receptacle 46 and a natural pedicel segment 51, the flower head being securely fastened atop an artificial calyx 66 and secured to an artificial pedical 33.
Long-life cut flowers characterized in that their tissue water is replaced with a substance, particularly polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is unsuited to the metabloism of saprophytic agents, and method of treating cut flowers to obtain these long-life flowers.
There are provided decorative articles, and methods of making decorative articles, by applying adhesive and coloring agent to a plant, such as a dandelion, the plant having a stalk and an achene assembly, the achene assembly including a receptacle and a plurality of pappus structures; and then drying the adhesive and coloring agent. Also provided are kits for use in such methods.
The process and product obtained thereby of obtaining substantially dried flower blooms and other natural predominantly carbohydrate products such as flower stems, leaves, other vegetable matter and insects, which substantially retain their original shape and color, comprising the steps of covering the substrate with particulate matter and then subjecting the covered substrate to a reduced pressure environment to remove most of the water from the substrate.
A process generally for preserving fresh-cut flowers and plant tissue, particularly fitted for fresh-cut flowers and plant tissue for use in manufacturing applications to form permanently flexible high-wear products to be used in a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. A method for preserving the plant tissue wherein the plant tissue is formed and substantially dehydrated, whereupon the plant tissue is subsequently saturated with a saturating mix, removed from the saturating mix, drained, dried, and then subsequently coated with a coating mix, removed, drained, and dried. An optional polishing mix may be applied for cosmetic purposes. The finished product retains the integrity of the original flower in shape, texture, size, and color and is highly flexible and durable under conditions of constant physical wear and disturbance.
