St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-03
The Use We Make of Flowers.

Captious critics will remark that the
"fashion of using flowers" is declining, but
our own observations, and notes from cor
respondents abroad, assures US that their
use becomes more general every day. June
early sustained her reputation this year for
weddings and roses Field daisies and
June roses furnished decorations that out
did the usual palms and ported plants of
the florist. Especially fortunate were
those brides married in the country or
suburban churches where this seasons
abundant bloom from shrub and tree made
redolent church and residence, and the
blossoms were not counted by the dozen or
hundred, but often arranged in unwonted
abundance by loving friends, until aisle
and chancel seemed filed with driven snow.
QUANTITIES of white, with pink, was the
favorite combination with the pale green's
of early summer, white and delicate yell
low coming next. In one instance, the
dark red peonies were the only colored
flowers admitted Blue hydrangeas were
in demand, but hard to find of that color
so early in the season. Long branches of
outdoor growth and freshness, in huge
vases or temporary pots, the flowers reach
ing above the heads of the company, made
a relief from the repetition of potted green
house plants we have seen SO many times
before. Sometimes the abundance of
flowers crowded out good taste, but on the
whole it is making steady advances.
Foreigners acknowledge that our best
efforts surpass theirs. The English love
flowers, but are prone this year, as ever,
to arrange them regardless of colors; but
at the Queens last drawing room the beau
ty of the flowers was the subject of uni
versal comment. AS with US, every man
seems ready to wear boutonniere on fes-
tive occasions if he can get one. The
spring fetes in France were forally bril-
liant, although some of the new greens
worn in costumes were rather trying to
natural foliage. As rule, French flowers
are arranged in a simple manner-few
colors being mployed-although like
some of US, they are prone to the use of
ribbons, stuffed birds; etc. We are told
that little velvet mats, on which are laid
flowers to harmonic in hue or contrast in
brilliant colors, are popular for dinner
tables; a square of scarlet velvet, on
which Marechal Mel roses are put, being
one that is much admired. These little
velvet mats are often employed by French
florists on their counters, to display to ad
vantage their cut-fowers to customers.
The German distaste to everything
French prevents the use of French taste
even in floral arrangements. and they still
cling TO the round bouquet, starting with
a camellia, and having successive rings of
flowers to the final one of geranium leaves
and finish of paper lace.
Nothing new in dinner arrangeme nts
seem to have originated on either side,
individual taste being allowed sway.
Some spring dinners in New York were
very brilliant, but we hear no more of
those in Washington.
When flowers are sent to friends, long
stemmed ones, loosely arranged in box,
are usually chosen. If basket is wanted,
it is usually a ng-handled fiat one, of
one of the shapes so plentiful in the
florists windows 7he american Garden.