Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20


or FLORAL ARCHITECTURE ASSrScIsrIoS
LILIES, AzALEAs. AND RYDRaSsEAs WILL RE
MOST UsED-FLowERs INSTEAD OF EASTER CARDS
what flowers will be most employed in
Easter decorations" asked a STAR reporter OF
Mr.. Henry Small, the florist.
IF yoE mean in churches" WAS the re-
ply, 1.-The main flowers will be lilies, NV
drangeas, azaleas, the Passion flower and
marguerites. OF course the Easter cele-
braton is the bridal festival of the church.
and the flowers mostly used will be
white, emblematic of purity. Then there
will be palms in great profusion. and smilax.
asparagus vine. and the spirea japonica. The
palms. Of course. are in pots. and they form a
beautiful aud rich background for the flowers
The custom of church decoration is becoming
much more general than formerly Once it
was only the Catholic and Episcopal churches
that decorated their affairs with flowers on
Easter. Now upon the pulpits and within the
chancel ratings of churches OF nearly every
denomination flowers and ported plants will be
seen on next sunday"
The lily is peculiarly the Easter flower, is it
mott"
''Yes-one species OF lily-that which is some
times known a. the Bermuda lily, bat which we
call the annURciation lily. is the flower most
For presentation. however. the yellow jonquil
Is the proper thing. although no lady would
consider IT at all out of the way should she re-
cetve a bunch of roses. prlmroses, marquee
rites. NIOlets, or any of the flowers that are
now in bloom"
Has the demand been very great this year,
II think there has been greater demand
this year than for many seasons. and the floral
decorations IN many of the churches, both in
set designs and in the arrangement of cut
flowers. he 10 han
in this city.
SPEAKING OF LILIES.
the trumpet lily is firmer in texture. blooms
longer, and will last longer than the Bermuda,
but the Latter Is now grown more extensively
than alt other varieties put together in spite of
being rather lacking in substance The familiar
Gala lily is used AT Easter great deal. bat this
is not really lily at all, being an arum. and
the weil-known jack-in-the-pulpIt is one OF its
poor relatives The true inflore scence in the
call Is the yellow spike in the center. which is
close mass of minute flowers. and these are
protected by the large white tract. which appa-
rently forms the flower. While the lilly tvpaiics
the glories of the resurrection. passion flowers
are symbol of the pain and sorrow
OF the three great days. 4 deyout
fancy makes every part of the flower
embiematic of the Passion; the stig-
mas represent the three nails the anthers
the five wounds, and the curious RAYS of the
corona the crown of thorns: the ten petals rep
resent the ten faithful apostles, the digitate
leaves the hands of the prosecutors, and the
curling tendrlls their scourges Ii is a
beautiful fancy, more suggestive of Gerarde or
1radescant than of our modern botanists
though they do not at all belong 20 the Grad
grind school. One of the showiest plants used
IN Easter decoration is the golden genista--
yellow bloom or plant-a-genet. The flowers are
similar to pea blossom: they are bright gol-
den yellow. and so closely massed together that
foliage and stems become a secondary con-
slderatlon. This differs from the ionquil of
which have already spoken
ELABORATE CHURCH DECORATIONS
OF course the display of floral architecture
in set pieces, such as crosses. banners. stars.
crescents, &C.. will be confined TO the Catholic
and Episcopal churches and in some of these
the skill and ingenuity of the florist has been
| taxed to a considerable degree. At st. Matthew's
church the ladies of the Altar society. at the
head of which is Madame Bonaparte. Will decor
ate the altar III the most sumptuous manner.
Great masses OF ported palms will form back
ground, and then i'll front of these there will be
curtains of asparagus vine looped back on
either side On each curtain there will be a
banner feet in length by 2 in width. made of
white carnations with border OF red. and
these will be surmounted. where they Join at
the top, by a massive crown about feet in
height. On the side affairs there will be vases
OF cut flowers of every kind. st. Johns Epis-
copai church will show massive floral cross 5
feet IN length, and palms and other pOtted
plants. as well as cut flowers in great profu-
sion, will be arranged in tasteful display
EASTER WEEK WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS.
Next week will be busv one for the florists,
| for with the end ofLent comes numerous dinners.
parties, weddings, and receptions, which could
not take place during the penitential season. At
al hos Will
III the decorations, and as so many are crowded
into Easter week the supply of the fragrant
beauties will be tested.
The florists of Washington differ from those
in New York and many other large cities in that
here each one has his own greenhouse and
! raises his own flowers. 1t is rare that local
florists are compelled to buy from abroad. and
many regularly fill outside orders. There is.
perhaps. rs much care and attention paid TO the
growing of flowers here as anywhere i'm the
country, and many of the most famous varieties
of roses, chrysanthemams and other flowers
have been bred right IN this District. In other
cities, however, there are florists who don't
raise single flower, but buy all that they Use.
FLOWERS INSTEAD OF EASTER CARDS.
The old practice of giving Easter cards has
died out to a very large extent and in its place
has grown up the custom of sending presents
of punches of flowers as an Easter gift. These
are tied with dainty ribbons and are very
acceptable to the ladies. La France and bon
siiene roses are the most used because they
come within the reach of the average pocket
book. but for those who can afford it the
Baroness Rothschild, American beauty, jacque-
minot and other rare varieties. as well as the
orchid, offer greater attractions. The modest
marguerite, the fragrant violet, the dainty
primrose. the bright jonquil. and others of that
class, will also be used TO a large extent.
A fashionable Easter fad will be flower din
ners There will be rose dinners. lily dinners
violet dinners, orchid dinners, and at each the
only decoration allowable will be the flower
which gives the dinner its name. This will
afford an opportunity for unique and novel
effects. though whether the fad will last
remains to be seen.
Written for the EVENING STAR
April.
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