Written By: Phaedra, a Pressed Bouquet Shop Designer
An Introduction To Quicksand Roses
The fact that each blossom is a gift from nature means that they are not without their quirks. All flowers are unique, even within a single species. Of roses, the quicksand stands out for its pale pinkish hue when fresh, making it a lovely addition to a timeless color palette. The true magic of a quicksand is really on display when it is pressed, and that’s what we’re here today to talk about. The rose is infamous amongst our designers and preservation specialists for the way they change from their light, delicate pink to a pale bluish lavender. This completely natural change may make you swoon at the appearance of the new color, or you may have been hoping to see the perfect palette you chose replicated in your frame or resin pieces. If your bouquet includes multiple of these special blooms, we will be sure to let you know so you can decide how you want to move forward to make your preservation pieces perfect for you.
So, what’s happening that makes the quicksand roses do what they do? Quicksand roses get their coloring from anthocyanin pigments, which are responsible for creating shades of red, purple, and blue. These special blooms have an undertone of light bluish lavender, with the gentlest of pink overtones. Other pink florals have warmer undertones, so when the delicate pigments start to dissipate they are left with fewer obvious changes. This is all to say— this is all natural! Though the shift from pink to something blue can be surprising, it’s another way of showing through florals the beauty of change, making the quicksand all the more special for those who want to maintain the sentiment of the flowers they held.
Quicksands can be a little complicated, but we hope this guide gives you some insight as to why they change and plenty of options if they do! We want you to have the bouquet of your dreams on view for years to come, so no matter what you decide, our team is committed to creating beautiful and lasting pieces of preservation artwork.
How You'll Know, and What To Do
When your flowers begin the preservation process, our preservation specialists will be keeping a close eye on your blooms. If they notice the pale, dusty pink fresh rose, they’ll know to observe the way the color changes. Not all pale pinkish to beige roses change to the degree that a quicksand will, and it can be hard to know until they have had a little time in the pressing process.
Once we notice the changes, we are on it! If there are more than two present in your preservation specialists make a note of how many quicksands there were, and snap a photo of the flowers. If there are only one or two, and your other florals have blush tones, we leave the choice to our talented design team, who will either keep or omit the blossoms depending on the palette, amount of flowers, and their long-honed expertise. If there are multiple, you’ll be contacted by our client relations team with a photo of how your roses changed and given your options. How your finished preservation pieces look is totally up to you, but if you have any questions our professionals can help you make the best choice for you.
Keep
Your first option is, of course, to keep your quicksand roses. Though they do go through changes from their original appearance, the outcome is just as lovely. We recommend going this route especially when you have other pink flowers, such as peonies or pink scabiosas, so the overall look is similar. Those of you who are looking to keep the sentiment of gazing for years to come at the very flowers you held - well, color changes probably don’t matter too much! We think that the quicksand color is absolutely beautiful in both its fresh and pressed states, and our designers know how to use them to their best advantage in any color palette.
Omit
You may also choose to simply omit your quicksand roses. This can be done so long as they were not the bulk of the bouquet, as we’ll need enough florals to make a full design, but often the quicksands are just a part of a larger collection of roses and other florals within a bouquet and their absence won’t have a great effect on the overall look of the finished product. Omitting these roses is not usually suggested if your bouquet was on the smaller side, unless you are ordering one of our more petite products, such as a ring dish, small frame, or coaster set.
Replace
Your final option is to replace. We have worked over the years to find the perfect alternative rose. The quicksand replacements have the light, dusty pink look that matches the fresh quicksand when they are pressed. Feel free to ask our team whether they suggest replacing or omitting— if you had only quicksand, or they were your only sources of pink, it may be important to you to replace them, so that the final preservation piece looks just like the fresh bouquet. If you’re concerned about having to purchase more flowers, rest assured that you will rarely have to purchase more than five to ten, as our design standards and the spacing of our products don’t always require each stem in a bouquet. You will be sent an invoice, as well, so you can check out the costs and make the best choice for you!
