Gathering Autumn’s Rich JewelsThe Harvest Home
To exult in the splendors of the seasons, ladies would often gather leafy branches in a glorious medley of patinas, ranging from rich glorious gold’s to deep crimson reds, to decorate the home and to celebrate the harvest. So universally regarded was this autumnal tradition, that in 1882, Mrs. J. R. Rees observed in Appleton's Home Occupations...
“It is needless to enter upon suggestion for the appropriate use of autumn leaves. They are universally known, and whether they serve as ornaments alone, or are used in combination with berries and burrs, they are always graceful, appropriate and beautiful.”
Preserving Leafy Branches
It is fortunate that both fruit and flowers have, at this season, a more lasting quality. Autumn flowers have more stamina than the fugitive flowers of midsummer and this allows me time to complete the harvest...
Leafy branches should be gathered which are 12-36 inches in length, which have just begun to turn in color. The stems should be split, three inches from the bottom, and placed in a bucket of warm water and allowed to remain there for approximately eight to twelve hours or overnight, with any leaves which are brown or wilting being removed. After the branches have soaked, a solution of glycerin and distilled water should be prepared, which will act as a preservative, keeping the branches beautiful for several months or even years.
And one cried to another and said “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory."
--Isaiah 6:3
--The Riches and Treasures of Home
