Dorie, If you've had lots of rain there recently like we've had, check under the Magnolia trees...I found several leaves yesterday almost skeletonized by Mother Nature. Also a few Oak leaves. Just needed a little rubbing as I washed them.
Also, I ran across a method in Penny Black's book "A Passion for Flowers". I've never tried it but she's a real professional and uses a lot of skeletonized leaves in her published work, so I'd think it worth a try if I weren't scared of pressure cookers...LOL Anyway, her method is:
"Green Magnolia leaves can be gathered from tree and skeletonized by pressure-cooking them in about 1-1/2 inches of water, to which has been added 1 teaspoon of soda crystals, for about 12 minutes. If leaf tissue can not be brushed away, may need additional 5 to 10 minutes cooking time".
Do you know what she means by "soda crystals"? Someone told me it was Borax...but I'm not sure. As I said, I've NOT tried this, just offering for info. If you (or anyone here) tries it, would you please report back to the rest of us scaredy cats?...jo
