The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-03-10
FLORAL DECORATIONS.
There II IN Art In Arranging !FloweRa
Properly and Naturally.

Properly and Naturally.
The preference for growing plants
Tor decorative purposes is becoming 50
universal that we seldom notice the
subject of bouquets and bouquet-mak-
ing given deserving prominence. While
it 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 decorate
Ing our parlors or dining tables on spe-
cial occasions, or to present to friends,
it is often desira BILE to select instead, q
handsome bouquet lof tastefully-ar.
ranged blossoms.
Where the purse will allow one to
order repeatedly, the exquisite bou.
quets on which the experienced florist
is eager to display his 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-
propriate selections and tasteful ar
rangements becomes vastly interest.
ing.
The art OF arranging flowers grace
fully and naturally, is rare accom-.
plishment, and one that is worth care
ful study. Remember that graceful.
ness and naturainess should be our
aim, and not artistic arrangement. II
the word artistic is used to indicate
that perfect degree of art in which nc
art is visible. but everything looks so
simple and natural that it could hard
ly be imagined other than what it is,
we could not employ a more suitable
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.
1t is claimed that the Russian and
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 wrcaths and bou- |
quets are especially charming, aud |
there is not a toilet without its appro-
pirate flower parure-no family fete il |
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 tho other hand. thers
often seems to be but slight connection
between the flowers and their sur.
roundings, and it 10 certain that many
who are fond Of flowers, and have
studied their characteristics, often
make the common mistake of choosing
such as are either in form or color quits
unsuited TO the articles which they are
intended 10 decorate; in arranging ous
vases. decorating our tables or select
ing our corsage bouquets we should
always have in mind regard for the
general harmony. This il Of frs; i'm
portance in decorating with cut flow |
ers. and after making judieious eho.es
Of flowers that will harmonic with |
their isnmedizt. environments, We
should next consider the best method
Of cutting and arranging them. and
then how 70 keep them from fsdsns :
Ideas viii suggest them
selves as we work among the plants
and we soon find ourselsss ssntyitions J..
TO produce soIne especially s:trsefirs
decoration tnst will illustra.. our pes /.
theories Philadelphia PrsaA