The Glycerine Trick

I love fall in Ontario.  The changing colours of the trees all around me are something I can never get tired of.  And I love doing things with the beautifully-shaded leaves I pick up from the ground — such as forming those pretty little maple leaf bouquets that Tego and I made last year.  But of course, fallen leaves tend to be somewhat brittle and are likely to fade after a week or two. To make them last longer, shove them in a bowl or other container.

Then, add some glycerin.  Not even kidding. One part glycerin …

… to two parts hot water.

Put something on top to keep them submerged and leave them at least a day.  The longer you leave them the more glycerin the leaves will absorb and the longer they will last.  When you’re ready, take them out, dry them off, and do whatever it was that you were going to do!