The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-06
EsuIes for Making EBOquets.

l. The color of the vase to be used
is of importance. Gaudy reds and blues
should nese. he chosen, for they conflict
with the delicate nG6s qf the flowers.
Bronze or black vases, dark green, pure
white or silver produce a good effect,
and so does a straw basket, while clear
glass, which shows the graceful clasp
ing Of the stems, is perhaps the prettiest
Of all.
2. The shape of the vase is also to be
thought of For the middle of a dinner
table Il round bowl is always appropriate,
or a tall vase with sauce shaped base.
Or, if the center of the table is otherwise
occupied, a large oQuch shell, or she'll
shaped dish, may be swung from the
chandelier above, and with plenty of
vines and feathering green, made to look
very pretty. Delicate flowers, such as
lilies of the valley and sweet peas, should
be placed by themselves in slender Ia
pering glasses violets should nestle
their fragrant purple in some tiny cup,
and pansies be set in groups, with no
gaver flowers to contradict their soft
velvet hues; and-this is q hint for sum-
mer-few things are prettier than balsam
blossoms or double yariegated holly
hooks, massed on fiat plate, with fringe
of green to hide the edge. No leaves
should be interpersed with these; the
plate will look like a solid mosaic of splen-
did color.
3. Stiffness and crowding are the two
things to be specially avoided in arrang
ing flowers. What can be u4lier than
the great tasteless lunches into which
the ordinary florist ties his wares, or what
more extravagant? \ skillful person
will unite one of these, and adding green
leaves, make the same flowers into half a
dozen boquets, each more effective than
the original Flowers should be grouped
As they grow, with a cloud of light foil
age in and about them, TO set off their
forms and colors
4. 1t is better, as 4 general rule, not
to put more than one or two sorts of
flowers into the same vase. \ great bush
with roses and camelias and carnations
and feverfew and geraniums growing on
it all at once would be trightful thing
to behold; just so a monstrous bOquet
made UP of all these flowers is meaning
less and ugly. Certain flowers, such as
heliotrope, migaonette and myrtle, mix
we'll with everything: but usually it Is
better to group flowers with their kind / |
roses in one glass, geraniums in another, |
and not try TO make them agree in COM
panies.
D. When you do mix flowers, be care
full not to put colors which clash side by
side. Scarlets and pinks spoil each other;
so do blues and puppies, ana yellow and |
mauves. If your vase or dish is very |
large one, To hold great number Of
flowers, it is good plan to divide it into
thirds or quarters, making each division
perfectly harmonious within itself, and
then blend the whole with lines of green
and white and soft neutral tint Every
group of mixed flowers requires one
little touch of yellow TO make it vivid
but this must be skillfully applied. 1t
is good practice to experiment with this
effect. For instance, arrange group of
maroon, scarlet and white geraniums with
green leaves, aad add single blossom
Of gold-colored calceoiaria, yol will see
1t once that the whole boquet seems to
fash out and become more brilliant
From "Flowers in winter" ST. Nicholas