Lindsay Buck’s online herbarium was first inspired by the open meadows of Switzerland, with their abundant wildflowers and lush greens. Having moved to Switzerland in 2010, Buck was fascinated by the diversity of plant life she encountered on her routine daily walks with her husband and dogs. “I was encouraged to preserve and document the wonderful variety I was finding,” she writes on her website.
And so, the freshly pressed project was born: an incredible collection of wildflower specimens which Buck shares on her website and Instagram page. In 2019, Buck brought the freshly pressed project back with her to Minnesota, where she continues to collect, press, and add to her herbarium collection. “It has been an adventure in rediscovering the species from my childhood, which I now view with a new appreciation,” she writes.
“The freshly pressed blog is my way of connecting with others and hopefully inspiring them to further explore the melding of art and nature,” she adds. Having pursued degrees in biology, fine arts, and environmental studies, Buck is fascinated by botanical history – how we as humans have applied meaning and value to different plant species as a way to connect to our surroundings and how we can tap into this history as a motivation to preserve and protect our biodiversity nowadays.
“I believe that designers and scientists can both benefit from exploring across fields,” she says, “my blog brings various projects and musings to press to motivate both professions (as well as those of us who fall in the middle) to approach their work with a fresh perspective and renewed sense of wonder.”
Her website also includes a short guide on how to collect and press flowers. “Plants are easiest to identify when flowering and press best when they have fresh blooms,” she explains. “Keep an eye out for plants that are close to blooming, and collect a sample as soon as the flowers open.”
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