As I mentioned in a former post, I have been getting around to making paper from the plants in my yard and environs. This time it is yucca paper.
I decided to use the old, dried leaves instead of the green ones. These have been “retted” (allowed to break down) by nature, and I hoped would be easier to transform into paper pulp.
After cutting or yanking out the old leaves, I put them in a bucket to soak overnight, just as I did with my daylily leaves.
The next day, I rinsed and drained them and cut them into 1 inch pieces with a serrated knife. The yucca leaves were a lot tougher than the daylily and the fibers were much more obvious. I can see how they have been a source of fiber for artists’ brushes.
Again, as with the daylily, I cooked the chopped fibers in soda ash at a rate of 1 T. per quart, for three hours. I brought the water and soda ash to a boil, added the leaves, returned to the boil, reduced heat to a simmer, and timed the three hours from that point.
After the fibers were cooked and cooled, I washed the yucca with several changes (at least 10) of water until the rinse water was clean(ish). (It looked like wet hair).
I beat the fibers to a pulp (I love saying that), and repeated the papermaking process. The paper dried overnight and here it is:
It is a bit lighter in color than the daylily paper and speckled with golden yellow. It seems very strong and flexible. A big thumbs up on the yucca paper.
Next, I have my eye on the okra and asclepius tuberosa stalks and iris leaves.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful paper! I’d love to know what you come up with for the okra fibers, I’ve got a few of those to work with. When we lived in AZ, I always thought that the palm tree fibers would make great paper/crafting supplies, but never really got around to it.
Thanks for the comment on my blog, it’s much appreciated!
Wow! That’s awesome. I wish I had yucca plants – I’d so try that!
Thanks, guys.
Bethany, I’m looking forward to the okra, too. Still have a few pods growing–almost ready to chop the plants down.
Tempyra- Any leaves that are hard to tear crossways probably have some paper potential–iris, daylily, etc.
I don’t know much about this but it’s fun experimenting. If you try it I’d love to see the results.
Hey Tomato Lady,
I have some yucca plants around and lots of day lillies too.
That is a really good idea. It would make a great card/present to give someone and special too.
Good post!
Pam