An Afternoon of Pressed Flowers in Lauragais

Last Christmas, a good friend gave me a small flower press. At first, I simply thought it was a charming little gift — something pleasant to experiment with now and then. But before long, I was completely hooked.

Soon I found myself collecting flowers on my daily walks, carefully placing them between sheets of paper inside large books, weighed down with anything heavy I could find. What began as a small hobby quickly became a delightful obsession.

And what better place to discover the art of pressed flowers than here in Lauragais? At this time of year, the countryside is overflowing with colour and delicate wild blooms. Walking the dogs is a joy; wandering through fields scattered with marguerites, orchids, poppies, buttercups, and cornflowers. Every path seems to offer a new treasure to collect and preserve.

Before long, I wanted to share this new passion with my friends, so I organised an atelier called “Pressed Flowers.” Everyone arrived carrying carefully dried flowers — each collection slightly different, reflecting the gardens, fields, and lanes around their homes.

We spent a wonderfully relaxed afternoon arranging petals and leaves, experimenting with colours and shapes, and transforming these fragile pieces of nature into floral greeting cards and bookmarks. The room soon filled with tiny works of art: some delicate and minimalist, others bright and exuberant. No two creations were alike. There was something wonderfully calming about the whole process, and conversation flowed easily as we worked.

And naturally, no atelier would be complete without a proper “goûter”. We gathered around the kitchen table to enjoy quince cake, Scottish shortbread, fresh cherries and strawberries, and — bringing a very British touch to the afternoon — fresh scones served with strawberry jam and cream.

By the end of the day, we all left with our handmade creations, a few ideas for future projects, and that happy feeling that comes from sharing something simple and beautiful with friends.

What a lovely time we had.