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Courtesy of Teresa Rinne
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Courtesy of Teresa Rinne
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Courtesy of Teresa Rinne
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Courtesy of Teresa Rinne
Burnt oranges and bright yellows are starting to pop up in foliage all over St. Louis. Whether you are headed to Forest Park or admiring a beautiful tree in your front yard, one local business owner has a family-friendly activity idea and a kit that can be used to make the colors last.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, "we have had a lot of time in the house with family," says Teresa Rinne. Collecting those fall leaves makes for the perfect excuse to get the whole family together outside.
But what do you do with them after? Rinne has found a way to give those leaves and flowers extra life, with her The Floral Preservation Co.’s floral preservation kit, which was developed in partnership with wedding planner David Tutera.
St. Louis has about three more weeks of beautiful color left. She suggests explaining to kids why leaves change color and make it fun by asking them to try to find the largest leaf, the smallest leaf, the most orange leaf, and so on. Preserving the leaves also gives kids a lesson in appreciating and respecting nature and the environment.
Courtesy of Teresa Rinne
The Floral Preservation Co. founder Teresa Rinne
The kit comes with directions, quick-dry papers, reusable drying boards, holding clips, wrapping cord, special finishing spray, and shaping tweezers. “Fall leaves just need 30 seconds in the microwave before using the kit,” explains Rinne, then you seal them with a finishing spray to be placed in keepsakes, child art, cards for grandparents, or even Thanksgiving tablescapes. It's a personal gift that store-bought fall décor can't compete with.
“There is all of this beauty that is free, and you don’t get any better than real fall flowers and leaves,” Rinne says.
