The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-24
EASTER BLOSSOMS.
Flowers That Will Enter Into
Church Decorations.
The Emblems Most in Vogue Prices Current.
How Church Workers Hurt the Florist.
The True Easter Lily.

Easter decorations in the churches this
year promise to be as handsome and elabo-
rate as in the past and-what concerns the
pockets of cheerful givers most-far more
abundant and consequently cheaper.
In San Francisco" said Post-street
florist yesterday. white flowers are the
choice for this purpose, and OF these
the lily is in most demand, though in
diyidual tastes sometimes lean to the
delicate shades OF pink so notice
able in Catherine Mermet and La France
roses. In former years-up to the middle of
the '70s-our Easter business with the
churches was always large, and we fire.
quently had entire charge of the decora-
tions. With the growth of the guilds and
altar societies, however, that business has
since been lost to us, and of late we supply
the societies with cut flowers, growing
plants and occasional floral pieces, which
they arrange to suit their own fancy
THE GOOD OLD DAYS"
Trinity Church used to be perfect
bonanza for us then, and we were always
kept busy up to the last moment in prepar-
ing the floral pieces which the children car
ried in the Easter procession. Many of
these represented lambs, harps, double
harpS, crowns, crosses, stars, and other en-
blemS which you would have 10 see to de-
scribe. From seventy-five to one hundred
OF these would be required. costing from
81 80 to $40 apiece, according to the size and
quality of flowers ordered. Now the frames
are kept and the ladies fill them with the
cut fl overs we supply"
At neighboring establishment it was
learned that few orders had yet been re-
ceived for Easter day, but as the house has
large number of permanent customers,
whose orders rarely change from year to
year, they expect to do as good business
this as In former years.
A CHANGE IN TASTE.
II have noticed" said the gentleman who
acted as spokesman for the firm, "a gradual
change IN taste here during the past ten
years. Formerly we made a variety of
Easter emblems for church use, but now the
set pieces are usually limited to crosses and
crowns, with once in while an anchor. or
course the taste still runs largely to floral
baskets, which are always pretty and ap-
propriate. We also lend our palms and
p0tted plants, and provide great quantities
of WOodwardia iernS-those great large
irons which hide themselves in the jungles
OF Marin and the rocky Businesses OF the
Santa Cruz Mountains-whch are used to
trim the reredos and make an effective back
ground for the chancel. Our principal GUS
toners belong to Catholic as well as Epsco-
pal churches, and for years past the most
conspicuous floral pieces at st. Mary's Ca
thedral and Trinity Church have been sent
from our store.
TWO NOTABLE CROSSES.
SIN each case the selection is a cross that
for st. Mary's standing twelve feet high and
composed of Gala lilies and white lilac,
while the Trinity Church piece is made a
solid mass of Gala lilies and stands two
feet higher"
florist on Suffer street, who Endorsed all
that appears above, and entered into an
interesting chat on the condition of the
business at the present day. Here" he
said. You see all of the blossoms now in
season, many of which are forced in order
to get them in in time for Easter.
:" To this class belong the lilies of the
valley, which, singular to say, cannot be
grown satisfactorily here unless forced; the
byacinths and other small bulbs, pots of
which are frequently used with much effect
in the sanctuarie5.
a POPULAR ERROR.
Then come the Easter lilies, which are
not, as popularity supposed, the Gala lilies,
so abundant, cheap and easily grown. but
the hlium Harrissii, or longifiorum, that so
closely resemble the st. Joseph's lily and
are often mistaken for 1t. Last year only
one grower got them in bloom in time for the
Easter trade and they sold for S24 dozen.
bat to-day they are worth from So to ST., and
next week, after the demand has been sup
piled, they will be much cheaper. Gala
lilies, on the other hand. areIselling TO-DAY at
so cents per dozen. At this price we ship
great quaint ties East where they are not
yet in bloom, and receive So dozen for
them.
The other favorite blossoms at this sea-
son are the nphetos and bride roses, both
pure white; the Catherine Mermet, very
light tawny pink rose, and the La France.
which every one is now familiar with. With
the exception of the Mermet, which is not a
strong grower, all are to be had in album
dance at 81 30 dozen. This handsome
eucharist lily comes at SO the dozen, and a
few rare roses now coming into fashion,
such as the rainbow and American beauty,
sell for 81 and So respectively.
FLOWERS IN SEASON.
The demand at the present time is prin-
cipally for all the description of lilies, white
azaleas, .camellias, carnations, the small an
nual chrysanthemums, the Pere de Jardin,
Papa Gontier and Duchesse of Albany roses
in addition to those already mentioned, and
white lilac, which is just coming in.
The prices already mentioned are for
cut flowers only. For emblems and set
pieces the prices vary according to size and
the quality of the flowers used. Thus
baskets range all the way from 81 90 10
$50, and pieces from So TO $50"