Plant “taxidermy”

freeze dried

 

Glycerin will preserve plants and keep them soft and movable.

 

Lance is correct. Thin down your glycerin and cut your plant specimen stem at a 45 degree angle. You can tint the glycerin with food coloring and put the cut stem in the solution and allow some time for it to be drawn throughout the plant. You can then position the stem, branch and leaves and put into a box with dry rice. The shape will be preserved but your specimen will never completely dry since glycerin attracts moisture from the air, hence the flexibility. Hope this helps

 

There is (or was, not sure if it's still made) a product called Never-Say-Dye made just for preserving fresh plants. It is also glycerin based but contains other compounds as well to preserve the tissue and much of the natural color and maintain flexibility. I've purchased it in green, yellow, and clear formulations. Plants that I used this on years ago, such as various prairie grasses and Indian paintbrush, are still flexible and in excellent condition. They didn't require any additional dying or painting. I don't know if it is still available through taxidermy supplies companies as I haven't ordered it in a long time. However, unopened (NOS?) bottles occasionally show up on Ebay from time to time.

 

first off it wouldnt be taxidermy but is related in building scenes foregrounds and sets for habitat depiction.. certain grasses can be preserved by soaking/ spraying and freeze dry works excellent for mushrooms lichens flowers and cactus.some however become very fragile and need to be cased under glass. some mosses can be soaked or sprayed with fin flex then dyed or airbrushed.there are a few books on museum preperation

 

The short answer is "NO!" All the "infusions" (really osmosis) of plant with glycerine will leave you with a greasy mess. Dioramas constructed of natural materials has a finite lifespan. As Byrdman discusses, freeze drying works well but the subject matter is still organic. It is quite fragile and if you don't have it enclosed in glass, the quality will degrade quickly. Even Carl Akeley, during a time when quality diorama materials weren't so relatively, constructed his own native habitat materials artificially.

 

"fin flex', haven't heard that in a while, lol.... you're showing your age byrdy