Flower Preserving Specialists

Please scroll down this page to find:

Wedding Dress Cleaning & Heirlooming
Flower Freeze Drying Without A Display
Memorials and Other Special Occasions
Gift Certificates
Courier Service
St. Paul Art Crawl Fall 2006
Flower Drying Classes
Landscape Design Service
FAQ for Flower Preservation
Driving Directions to Our Location

Wedding dress cleaning and heirooming is available through us. Cleaning and heirlooming service is provided by one of the oldest companies in the United States. Each dress with up to three additional pieces (i.e.,veil, gloves, purse) is cleaned and sealed in an air tight lint free container. This service is also available for christening gowns, flags, or other personal fabric items.

This service takes approximately 6-8 weeks and will be shipped directly to hour home. You can bring in your dress at the time you bring in your flowers or anytime afterward. The key to our service is convenience and we keep our customers peace of mind as our number one priority.

We can freeze dry flowers without putting them in a display should you wish. We dry individual flowers as well as bouquets. All flowers are dried the way we receive them. We DO NOT disassemble bouquets during the drying process.

We can create memorials for your loved ones. These times are very difficult and we can preserve individual flowers or entire funeral spreads (depending on size) to help cherish your memories. Please call us for details.

The small memorial dome will hold a single flower and is ideal for preserving a single flower as a momento for a loved one. Other sizes of domes, plaques or shadow boxes will accommodate additional flowers or larger flowers. We can create any size display and include pictures, poems or other important items from your loved one. Custom sized shadowboxes can be made to order, such as the one shown encasing a veteran's flag.

Gift certificates are available in any amount with a $25 minimum. Gift certificates are a great gift for bridal showers, weddings, anniversaries and other special occassions. Will will provide you with a personalized gift certificate to include as an insert in your card.

Some courier service is available but must be prearranged. We limit the number of pickups per night. Please call far enough in advance to schedule our pickup service.

Flower Preserving Specialists will again participate in the St. Paul Art Crawl in the Fall of 2006, October 13-15. We will be showing in Suite 698 of the Northwestern Building at 4th Street East and Wall Street on Friday from 5-10 pm and Saturday from 12-7 pm only. We will not be showing on Sunday. We can design and create unique floral art pieces for that special place in your home. Some design pieces will also be on sale. Please visit us along with 200 other artists in the Lowertown area. Go to www.stpaul-artcrawl.org for information on participating artists and showing times.

We offer classes on flower drying and preservation to small groups of 6-10 students. Each class consists of three 2 hour sessions and is held in a location of your choice, such as your home, church or social organization. These classes are designed to help you learn the basics of flower preservation using air drying, pressing and silica gel to create dried flowers and arrangements that will last a long time. In these classes you will learn about drying techniques and perform hands on design work, including creating small displays. This class is not designed to substitute for drying large bouquets of wedding or special occasion flowers but will help you preserve flowers from your garden or other small amounts of summer beauty.

We also offer a two hour "crash" course in flower preservation where you will learn the basics of various drying methods. This course is ideal for large groups (10-30) who would like to get a overview of flower drying techniques before signing up for the course outlined above.

Flower Preserving Specialists provides landscape design services to new or existing residential homes. You may choose to have us design part or all of your lot or just redesign an existing landscape. We provide this service throughout the year. Please contact us for details.

Q: What should I do to keep my flowers fresh before I get them to you?

A: Keep flowers as cool as possible but do not freeze them. If they have stems, cut off 1/4 inch of the stems and keep them in water. If they have a foam block, run water into the foam block. During warmer weather you may keep them in a refrigerator provided the temperature in the refridgerator will not cause the petals to freeze. During freezing weather, care should be taken to keep any part of the flowers from the freezing temperatures. Flower petals can be damaged if exposed to freezing temperatures for only a short time.

Q: Is there any color change?

A: There are some color changes: reds darken, whites turn ivory, greens lighten, peaches turn towards pink, some pinks turn darker or turn towards purple and the red in stargazers will turn purple. These changes are no different than if the flowers had been left outside all winter.

Q: Will my flowers shrink?

A: There is a slight shrinkage but it is minimal.

Q: Do I have to put my flowers in a display?

A: No, but most of the flowers we preserve are put in some type of display to protect them from moisture and dust. Should you decide to take your flowers unprotected after they are dried, you should try to keep them in some type of container or cabinet at home. Moisture, humidity, temperature changes and household dust could affect the beauty of your flowers.

Q: Am I limited to the type of display to choose from depending on the arrangement of my flowers?

A: No, we can work with your flowers to fit most of our displays. We may need to rearrange some of your flowers to fit the type of display you choose.

Q: Are all my flowers used?

A: All of your flowers and greens will be used to create your display.

Q: Do you treat the flowers either before drying or afterwards?

A: We pre-treat all flowers to help retain color and shape. After freeze drying is complete, flowers that are put in displays have a post treatment spray to help protect against UV light and humidity. Flowers that are taken "as is" without a display are not given the post treatment spray.

Q: Do I need to decide on a type of display at the time my flowers are brought to you?

A: No. Most flowers are brought to us by friends or relatives. We will freeze dry the flowers and then call you when they are dried, usually 2-3 weeks in our busy season. You may decide later how you would like them displayed.

Q: How long will you keep my flowers after they are freeze dried or after the display is complete?

A: Since our space is limited, we can only keep flowers and completed displays for a period of 90 days.

Q: Do I need to make advance reservations for my flowers or set appointments?

A: Advance reservations and deposits guarantee a space in our dryers. All courier pickups must be guaranteed with a deposit which includes the courier fee. Flowers received during some weekend hours may require an advance deposit. We work by appointment only and we are not always in the studio. You must call in advance to schedule appointment. To give you the best service, we only work with one customer at a time. Walk-ins are discouraged.

Q: What about my wedding dress?

A: We can can have your wedding dress, plus three accessories, cleaned and heirloomed sent directly to your home. Dresses are packaged in an air tight, lint free container with a viewing panel. This takes approximately 6 weeks in our busy season. Shipping and insurance is included. Just bring in your dress and we will take care of the rest.

Mapquest - 275 4th Street East, Suite 698, St. Paul, MN 55101.

Q: Driving from Minneapolis on I94 heading east?

A: Take the 7th street exit in downtown St. Paul. Cross 7th street and go several blocks to 4th street. The Northwestern Building is on your right. The entrance is on 4th street.

Q: Driving from east suburbs or Wisconsin on I94 heading west?

A: Take the 6th street exit in downtown St. Paul (exit is on left side of freeway). Left at the first stoplight (Wall Street) and go several blocks to 4th street. The Northwestern Building is on your right. The entrance is on 4th street.

Q: Driving from north suburbs heading south on I35E?

A: Take the Wacouta street exit in downtown St. Paul. Go several blocks to 4th street. Left on 4th one block to Wall Street. The Northwestern Building is on your left.

Q: Driving from south suburbs heading north on I35E?

A: Take the Kellogg Blvd. exit in downtown St. Paul. Right on Kellogg Blvd through downtown to Sibley. Left on Sibley one block to 4th street. Right on 4th two blocks to Wall Street. The Northwestern Building is on your left.

Q: Driving on Highway 52 heading north to St. Paul?

A: After crossing the Mississippi river, take a left on 7th street and go to first stoplight (Wall Street). Left on Wall several blocks to 4th Street. The Northwestern Building is on your right.

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