by Paul Brodie

Created on: October 09, 2010   Last Updated: October 15, 2010

Fall is a wonderful time of year for nature enthusiasts. Sure, the summer is over and the temperatures aren't registering as high as comfort might desire, but the cool air is invigorating. Maybe it all depends on where you live. Fall in Vermont is full of the smell of apples and leaves. The hills are lit up with yellow, orange and red leaves. Grass even attempts to protect itself from the impending chill by covering up with a blanket of fallen leaves. For some, the leaves present a nuisance, covering up their lawn and making their sidewalk crunchy, but one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It all happens in the matter of five or six weeks, and then the leaves have lost their beauty and the grey skies of November are on their way. The vibrant fall colors are a memory for another eleven months. I don’t like to let it go just like that, so I prepare a simple reminder of the beauty of Fall.

First of all, leaf preservation is not a topic that I have ever studied or mastered. I only know one easy process of turning a fall leaf into a book mark that has been pleasantly rewarding. The only necessary tools are wide, clear packing tape and some scissors…and a leaf or two, of course. Go for a walk in an area with different types of trees. This will give you many options to choose from as far as leaf shape and color are concerned. Make several selections, there is practically an unlimited supply. Try to find the brightest, or the best shape, or the most multi-colored ones, whatever will help you to remember the feelings of autumn throughout the year.

The process is simple and requires no special understanding of chemicals or fancy equipment. This method isn’t meant to replace other methods of leaf preservation; it is just an easy do-it-yourself way to get the job done. Once you have your leaves, roll out two equal length strips of the clear packing tape, each a few inches in length. You’ll want a higher quality tape so it isn’t yellowish and has high quality glue to make it easier to prevent air bubbles. You might find that laminating contact paper is cheaper than tape, if you do, go for it. I have only ever used tape myself, so that is what I know. With your tape strips lying on a flat surface, carefully apply one leaf to one piece of tape. This works best when you have freshly fallen leaves that haven’t become brittle yet. You might want to practice getting the leaf on the tape with your less favored leaves, just to get a feel for how the tape sticks. Once the leaf is on one piece of tape, apply the second piece of tape to the other side, effectively sandwiching the leaf between the two pieces. If you desire, cut off the excess tape around the leaf.

This method isn’t fancy by any means, but I know that it preserves the color and shape of the leaf long enough to get you to the next year. I have taped leaves and used them as bookmarks. Another option is to put the leaf on paper, and then place the tape over the leaf. This gives a paper backing to the leaf and can help to bring out the color of the leaf. Again, it is a do-it-yourself project that doesn’t take much time, money or skill, but yields functional benefits. Imagine picking up a book in January when the temperature outside is below zero and snow covers everything you can see from your window, and then opening it to find a bright red-orange maple leaf holding your page.

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