Pressing Plants:
Connecting Science, Art,
and the Natural World 

In this class we will learn classic and more modern herbarium procedures, with emphasis on methods of pressing and mounting plants. We will collect, press, and mount plants, and record important information about each. We will discuss how best to preserve color and form and compare a variety of plant presses. We will peruse the Sewanee Herbarium and learn about herbaria in general and their role throughout history, as well as in current plant conservation efforts. 

Scientific and educational plant collections have been made for hundreds of years. They provide vital, scientific information that help us classify and better understand the living world. They inform our understanding of the scale and scope of our natural heritage. That, in turn, helps researchers and land managers to make educated decisions and to establish conservation priorities that are critical to our environment.

This course will be held at Sewanee TN and Mary Priestley, Curator of the Sewanee Herbarium, will discuss the historical role of herbaria as well as their current role in conservation of plants.  Each student will press some plants and in the process learn plant structures, and plant ID, and become more familiar with plants in his/her own yard.  Students will leave knowing how to press plants either the amateur homespun way or what to purchase to do it as a scientist would.  Students will mount a specimen to take home.

Participants should bring a few native plants for pressing and possible identification. Dress to go outside, weather permitting. Bring water and a snack.

Instructor: Mary Priestley, Sewanee Herbarium Curator

This course is an elective course and provides 4 credits toward the completion of the Certificate in Native Plants program.

Registration Policy:  As with all Certificate in Native Plants classes, class size is limited.  To give everyone the best opportunity to participate, there is a non-refundable cancellation fee of $10, with the balance refunded if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the class will be held.  If the class is cancelled by the instructor or the CNP program, registrants will get a full refund.  

If you do not pay online, you will need to mail your check to Wild Ones-Tennessee Valley Chapter, 4918 Marlow Drive, Red Bank, TN 37415.  Please put the date of the program in the memo line as well as the last name of the person you are registering.  You will not be registered until your payment is received.