On a now-viral episode from 2025 of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” when asked to give tips on how to make cut flowers last longer, celebrity florist Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht took Barrymore by the hands, looked her in the eyes and said, “Flowers are not supposed to last.” Barrymore and her co-host, Ross Mathews, appear slightly disappointed, then visibly stunned when the florist continues: “Listen to me. Listen, listen, listen. Their job is to help us stay in the present. They grow, they blossom, they thrive, and then they’re gone.”
For local artist Kyla Welch, however, this encounter with the ephemeral wasn’t enough. Her seasonal garden was a source of joy, and when winter’s frost took the last flowers, she wanted more. Her journey includes being diagnosed with Lupus, discovering her talent, and creating custom, in-demand pieces for private clients, primarily deconstructing bridal bouquets and framing them into abstract art.
This fall, as your flower garden begins to fade, take some notes from Welch on how to make them everlasting.
Park City Home: How would you describe your art?
Kyla Welch:My art captures life’s transient moments. Things that wither and die get to have a second life. It captures the chaotic beauty of nature. The bouquets that come to me are very structured and organized, and I make them less structured, almost natural in a way.
PCH: How did you first begin to make this type of artwork? What were the first renditions like, and how did your craft evolve?
KW:I started because I was diagnosed with Lupus, which had impacted my life in that I couldn’t participate any more in all the sports and activities that I loved doing, like rock climbing and beach volleyball. I began to get closer to my garden, and I hated the end of the season when I couldn’t see my flowers anymore. So, in winter I decided to start pressing. At one point I had so many flowers—boxes full—and every book was full of flowers. My husband said, “We can’t open every book and have flowers come out.”
I tried to mimic other artists whose work I had seen online, and it just wasn’t working. What they were doing, I couldn’t make work for me. Instead, what I decided to do was just start laying out, collage style. I used to do that as a kid. Every piece I make, there’s no structure to it. In my mind, I just start in one section and build from there. That’s how my brain works.
PCH: You started with your own flowers, creating for yourself. When did it become a business?
KW:It took the people that are closest to me seeing what I was making and convincing me that it was actually good enough that people might like it. It began in 2024, with one posting on Etsy of a framed flower bouquet. I was overwhelmed within a month with over 100 brides who wanted me to do their bouquets.
PCH: How did this change your life?
KW:I was overwhelmed with joy, and super validated at the moment, but I knew I couldn’t possibly do that many bouquets for people. I’m booked now through the end of 2027, but I always allow time for two requests a month for memorial pieces. Those are the kinds of things you can’t plan for.
PCH: What is the first thing people should know if they want to start pressing and drying their own flowers?
KW:Different flowers have different pressing needs. Before you press a flower, research what type it is, look at how thick it is, what type of water does it hold?
PCH: What are the best types of flowers to dry?
KW: Wildflowers dry really well. Peonies and ball dahlias are difficult to press, but it can be done, with more knowledge and care, to complete deconstruction and reconstruction. Water content is important—but not always a problem. Orchids hold a ton of water, but you can have a beautifully pressed orchid that shows the veins and colorations. Roses change color, orange to yellow, red to purple. Lisisanthus is interesting in that lavender will turn royal blue. Cosmos are wonderful, and larkspur, aster, echinacea, poppies, and yarrow.
Kyla Welch’s Drying Process
1. Pick Dry, Fresh Flowers
Best results come from flowers that are freshly picked and completely dry (no recent rain or early morning dew) that have just opened and are free from bruises or browning. Flat blooms with single layers of petals are best for beginners, such as pansies, poppies, daisies, or cosmos. Leaves and grasses add beautiful texture to your final composition.
2. Prepare Your Flowers
Trim away excess stems and damaged petals. If pressing thicker flowers such as roses, zinnias, and peonies, reduce bulk by removing all but two or three layers of petals or even cutting the bloom in half. Extremely wet flowers like orchids and dahlias need to be deconstructed (petals removed and pressed separately from centers) to be reconstructed after they leave the press.
3. Layer Your Press
How you build your flower press is just as important as the flowers themselves. For the best results, assemble each layer in this order:
• Cardboard
• Chipboard (optional)
• 12–15 sheets of copy/printer paper (but honestly… the more the merrier)
• Flowers
• 12–15 sheets of copy/printer paper
• Chipboard (optional)
• Cardboard
The cardboard promotes airflow throughout the press, helping flowers dry evenly. Chipboard provides a smooth, firm surface, but if you don’t have it, simply add extra sheets of printer paper so the texture of the cardboard doesn’t leave lines or impressions on delicate petals.
4. Press with Care
Place your layered press under firm, even pressure using a flower press, or, if you don’t have one, use heavy books, bricks, or cinder blocks. During the drying process, replace any damp printer paper with dry sheets, ideally every 24 hours for at least the first three days. For thicker or more moisture-rich flowers, you may need to continue changing the paper for up to a week. Fresh paper helps preserve color, speeds drying, and prevents mold.
5. Be Patient
Flower pressing isn’t a rushed hobby or craft. Leave your flowers to dry for four to six weeks depending on their thickness. Once they’re crisp and completely dry, carefully lift them from the paper using tweezers.
6. Get Creative
Pressed flowers can be used for framed artwork as I do, but they can also be made into handmade cards, wedding invitations, jewelry, bookmarks, suncatchers, or seasonal decorations. (My 4 year old loves turning them into holiday ornaments!) Stored away from direct sunlight and moisture, they’ll retain their beauty for many years to come.
PCH: What are some pitfalls beginners may encounter?
KW: One of the biggest pitfalls is that you’ll see a lot of resources online that say you can just stick a flower in a book, and it will work and keep its color. Not true. You have to change out wet paper for dry paper, every day, for the first three to four days. Switching out paper will help keep the color and prevent rot. The biggest pitfalls are mold and color loss. Also know that, the thinner the petals, the less weight you want to have on them, or they will adhere and be hard to remove.
PCH: What is the most enjoyable aspect to this type of art?
KW:Checking on the flowers, over eight weeks of drying, then seeing the finished press, seeing these flowers that are just vibrant, perfectly dry, looking so gorgeous. It makes all the hours worth it. Second, it’s fulfilling for my soul. When the brides see the piece or loved ones who have someone who has passed away—the joy that brings them is most fulfilling.
Kyla Welch is the program director for the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy
Instagram @aleafinthenight | www.leafinthenight.com
