The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-04
FLORAL DECORATIONS.
There l. IN Art In Arranging E1ov<
ProperlY and Katurally

There b m Art In Arranging Hover
Properly and Naturally.
The preference for growing plants
for decorative purposes is becoming 50
universal that we seldom notice the
subject of bouquets and bouquet-mak-
ing given deserving prominence. While
1t is certainly most sensible idea to
purchase beautiful specimen plants
(which may be enjoyed for many weeks
or even years after the celebration for
which, they are intended, for decorat-
ing our parlors or dining tables on spe-
c1al occasions, or to present to friends,
II is often desira BILE to select instead. a
handsome bouquet of tastefully-ar-
ranged blossoms
Where the purse will allow one tc
order repeatedly, the exquisite bou.
quets on which the experienced florist
is eager to display ms rare skill and
perfect taste. this subject may seem
of little Importance. but there are
many who delight in using for decora.
tive purposes or for floral offerings,
bouquets from their own private green.
houses In this case the subject of ap-
engagements becomes vastly interest
ing.
The art of arranging flowers grace
fully and naturally. is g. rare accom-.
plishment, and one that is worth care
full study. Remember that graceful.
ness and naturalness should be our
aim, and not artistic arrangement. II
he ;c
that perfect degree of art in which nc
art is visible. but everything looks Sc
simple and natural that it could hard.
ly be imagined other than what it is,
we could not employ a more suita BILE
term. But the bouquet usually sup.
posed to be artistically arranged is in
almost every case decidedly stiff. and
unlike any collection of blossoms in art
or nature.
German women far surpass the En-.
glish in their many modes of weaving
flowers into household decorations,
and that flowers are too often regarded
by us as mere accessories. In France
and Germany the wreaths and bon.
quets are especially charming. and
there is not toilet without its appro
pirate flower parure-no family fete in
Germany without its graceful door
wreaths, its garlanded picture frames
and its coronals of flowers, all arranged
with the most perfect harmony in re-
gard to their surroundings
With US, on the other hand, there
often seems to be but slight connection
between the flowers and their sur,
roundings, and it is certain that many
who are fond of flowers, and have
studied their characteristics. ofteu
make the common mistake o. choosing
such as are either in form or color quite
unsuited to the articles which they are
intended to decorate; in arranging on,
vases. decorating our tables or select
ing our corsage bouquets we should
always have in mind regard for the
general harmony. This is of first i'm
portance in decorating with cut flow.
ers, and after making judicious choice
of flowers that will harmonic with
their immediate environments, we
should next consider the best method
of cutting and arranging them, and
then how to keep them from fading
prematurely. Ideas will suggest them.
selves as we work among the plants,
and we soon find ourselves ambition.
to produce some especially attractive
decoration tnat will illustrate our PET
Observation-Disclosures Press