Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-30
Rules for Bouquets.
From ST. Nicholas.

l. The color of the vase to be used is
Of Importance. Gaudy reds and blues
should never be chosen, for they con-
fict with the delicate hues of the flow
ers. Bronze or black vases, dark green,
pure white or silver always produce a
a good effect, and so does straw basket
with clear glass which shows the grace
full clasping 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 round bowl is always appropri-
ate, or tall vase with saucer-shaped
base. Or, if the centre of the table is
otherwise occupied, large conch shell
or shell-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 slen-
der tapering glasses; violets should nestle
their fragrant purple in some tiny cup,
and pansies be set in groups, with no
gayer flowers to contradict their soft vel
vet hues; and-this is a hint for sum-
mer-few things are prettier than bal
sam blossoms or double variegated holly
hooks massed on a fiat plate, with
fringe of green to hide the edge. No
leaves should be interspersed with these;
the plate will look like a mosaic of splen-
did color.
8. Stiffness and crowding are the two
things to be especially avoided in ar
ranging flowers. What can be uglier
than the great tasteless punches into
which the ordinary florist ties his wares,
or more extravagant? A skillful person
will unite one of these, and adding green
leaves, make the same flowers into half
dozen bouquets, each more effective
than the original. Flowers should be
grouped as they grow, with a cloud Of
light foliage in and about them to set off
their forms and colors.
4. 1t is better, as a general rule, not
to put more than one or two sorts Of
| flowers into the same vase. A great
bush with roses and camellias and car
nations and feverfew and geraniums
growing on it all at once would be a
frightful thing to behold just so a
monstrous bouquet made up of all these
flowers is meaningless and ugly. Ger
tain flowers, such as heliotrope,
AO1ISoeO anu LII olN, lila WILL WI
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.
5. 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 and yell
lows and mauves. IF your vase or dish
is very large one, to hold great num-
Der of flowers, it is a 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 yell
low to make it vivid, but this must be
skillfully applied. 1t is good practice
to experiment with this effect. For in
stance, arrange group of maroon, scar
let, and white geraniums with green
leaves, and add a single blossom of gold
colored calceolaria; you will see at once
that the whole bouquet seems to flash
out and become more brilliant.