How do you preserve a rose?

How are easy ways to preserve a rose?

• Valentines day is near and today I got my very first rose as an advance gift. And I want to preserve it. But it's an ecuadorian rose and I don't want to press it because it's just so pretty :) Anyway, If I hang it they say I have to remove the leaves... but I don't want to. Is there any other easy way to do it? They say putting it in a airtight box or jar will preserve it... But I really don't know. Help?

• Answer:

  Have it dipped in gold. ;) But if you want a slightly more cost effective method, I've got two other ideas that you could consider: 1) Get a tall and skinny jar that the rose will fit in. (It will probably be a lot wider than it should be, but that's to be expected.) Pour ever clear into the jar. Put the rose in. Better than formaldehyde, baby. The rose will sink, so you'll probably have to have a layer of marbles on the bottom get it to stay upright. Also, this method might make the color of the petals fade. And the ever clear will take on a yellowish/brownish color that's somewhat unappealing. So a better option might be: 2)Put the rose in pure glycerin. Let it soak it up for a few days, and gently brush the outside of the rose/leaves/stem with glycerin as well (Or even soak it in some glycerin so you don't run the risk of knocking leaves and petals off.) It'll take an odd plastic-like quality, but it will be preserved. Unfortunately, this method is also known to skew the petal color. (I once had a cheap red rose turn WHITE from doing this.) You could try sitting it in a box of borax as well, but the results of that are even less desirable. So you might have to just settle on taking a high quality picture of it.