Emily Paine Carter

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Maybe you have heard Esther Davis -- the princess of preserved flowers -- lecture about her art and science. She is a sought-after speaker.

Or maybe you own her book, "Sensational Dried Flowers." (It's now out of print, but she is working on a rewrite.)

If so, know that hundreds of people just paid big bucks for similar information: Esther was a featured speaker at the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show.

A few years ago, I had been dazzled by a bridal bouquet preserved for a Blacksburg friend. Imagine my surprise, tinged with a shade of embarrassment, upon learning that the talented woman who had perfectly preserved the posies lived just a few blocks from my house. (The fine framer of Esther's handiwork also was right here in downtown Salem.) I call these my "Dorothy returning home from Oz, finding things that were right here all along" moments.

Esther, 56, said that flower-drying became her vocation after she moved to Salem 18 years ago. In an e-mail she explained that her fascination stemmed from a National Geographic article she read as a 10-year-old on an isolated farm in Washington state. She experimented with a rose from her mother's garden and coarse creek sand.

From there, it has been trial and error with techniques thousands of years old, as well as her discoveries and improvements to existing techniques. Her process calls for "practice, patience and persistence."

She also said she finds gardening to be "a very meditative, creative and rewarding experience." She favors peonies (and has about 50 assorted bushes), lilacs, hydrangeas and bearded iris. The latter had been her greatest drying challenge, so she was relieved to succeed just in time for the Philadelphia show.

Being invited to speak at the world's largest indoor flower show is an honor, a recognition that one's skills and abilities are "worthy of sharing," she wrote. Many people apply to speak at the show.

The weeklong March event draws some 275,000 people, oohing and ahing over 33 acres of displays inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This year's theme was Legends of Ireland.

Esther said the 250-seat lecture hall was filled for her March 5 talks on basic flower-drying techniques and bridal bouquet preservation.

Her van was thoroughly and carefully packed with everything needed for demonstrations, as well as with many finished pieces. She was grateful for the Oregon friend who flew in to help her condense Esther's usual one-hour setup to the allotted 15 minutes. Esther wrote that she also spent a few days at home, unpacking all the "stuff it takes just to show people how to dry flowers!"

In addition to flower shows, including Maymont in Richmond, Esther speaks to local and statewide garden clubs and through continuing education departments at public gardens.

"It's fun," she said, "an excuse to travel places I've not been before and see some beautiful gardens." With her techniques, such beauty can be saved and savored for a long time.

Philadelphia Flower Show: www.theflowershow. com.

Esther Davis: www.floralartist.com. 389-0481.