The Florida agriculturist., 1884-10-29
LADIES COLUMN.
Some Principles of Flower Arrange
ment in Gardens.

"All that makes home beautiful is
necessarily conducive to all that makes
home happy" While we are quite sure
that no one will dissent from this truth.
vet the question, What is the beautiful;
and how is it best expressed in the sur
roundings of home? is one not so easy
to answer. In our own fair Florida,
where there is such wealth Of material,
and 50 nany-conditions pointing to sue
cess, the wonder lis, that a garden can
ever be BE- nnloveiy, Or an APPROACH to
dwelling ungarnished with blooming
rose or trailing vine But here, as else
where, nature Yields her charms to those
onlY. who seek her. earnestly, With de-
votion and perseverance, that is worthy
OF her favofs. Labor alone cannot give
us what we seek Exceeding care may
make our flowers bloom, and reduce. a
sort of order outof the heSeifaos of beauty,
and9yet be. only-a ppeintment to Vail
lovers of taste and refinement. A good
writer upon the subject of flower gardens,
.says, ''It is not an easy task, in the ar
rangement of plants, to avoid 60rfcutar-
ina natureI'I To save ourselves this
transgression, we must study the nature
and habits of plantsy obseryeShow ma
ture has grouped them, the soils they
love, the times and seasons for complet-
ing their growth, and how the harmony
OF size and color is preserved i'll the
shaded dell, or upon the exposed high
way. For instance, ii we We're tochoose
a spot in our garden for a clump of ferns,
we must remember that their wildwood
home is in the deepest shade of the for
est, and so we should give them the pro-
lection of some plant of more imposing
growth. Again, the proximity Of the
house, and its style Of architecture,
should govern the plan of flower beds,
and walks, and drives. Near the house,
there should be such regularity as would
preclude all clumsy or dense compo-
sition.
Plants of compact growth should be
placed farther away, where they can
better develop their habits. A few hints
from ones who is considered the very
highest authority in flower arrangement,
ire so full of practical suggestions that
We may be pardoned for permitting him
@ speak for us, better than we could /
peak for ourselves. He says of flower |
the subject of color, that |
the richest display of flowers will be
without effect if the harmony of colors is
reelected. In planting together, in one
arger bed or border, or in small beds or |
,orders near together, yellow, orange, or
carlet flowers, or dark red, purple, and |
-iolet flowers the finest effect is lost. |
again, it is important to consider the
,ower of some colors in rejecting light, |
while placing the flowers on beds at GER |
tain distances. White flowers, for in
stance, can be placed with good effect at
I greater distance than red flowers from
he point where they are observed, while |
he flowers of blue, or violet color, must |
,e placed in beds or borders adjacent to
he walk-the yellow color coming next |
O the white, with the view of far shin
ng effect. White color represents the
ull light; therefore white flowers are
lsed with success in separating other
olors, which, placed together, would |
ose their effect. All white flowers are, |
the most effectual for edging |
lower beds, filled with blue, purple, red |
and orange flowers. Again, dwarf or |
plants, without regard to !
colors, must be placed on beds and bor-
ders near the walks, or where they can
be seen from above. Plants of an erect |
habit, or with tall flower stems, will
serve for groups far in the distance, or as
single plants before dark background.
Hanging or clinging plants with small
flowers, are suitable for small arbors, for
covering trellis work or stumps of trees
near resting places, where their beauty
can be easily observed. Other plants of
like habit with larger flowers Gas the or
namental gourd), can be used for SINH
lar purpose, at a greater distance from
the observer"
There is no lack of designs for the
shape of flower beds, and one general
principle ought to be observed. If the
beds possess a geometrical or architec-
tural character, such should be placed
nearest the building. Farther from the
house, a good plan is to copy
directly from nature-to plant flowers
in the shape of group of leaves set in
the green turf. In the shape of leaves
may be found various expression, from
the simple, graceful and sweet, to the
naughty and austere. And so with the
flowers grouped in such way there is
room for the tenderest feeling-the
noblest expression of thought
NJ. NJ. L.
*Prof. Demcker, OF Central Park, NY.