Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-26
HOW TO USE WILD FLOWERS FOR
nEHnRATt0N

HOW TO USE WILD FLOWERS FOR
DECORATION.
The natural grace and beauty of wild
flow rs renders them very effective for
decorative purposes. They charm by
what is apparently an unstudied ar
rangement, but underlying this pretty
simplicity is a strict adherence to the
laws of beauty.
A safe rule is to avoid mixtures, while
securing variety by the aid of foliage.
Choose only one or two kinds of flowers
at time, and take care that they are
either of striking form or color. In
grouping them, let there be ease and
lightness of arrangement; crowded flow
ers in mass are fatal to artistic effect.
Formally can be avoided by the judi
cious intermingling of grasses and sprays
of leaves, and by choosing blossoms OF
different form and size to be placed to-
gether. Full-blown flowers give some
what heavy effect, which may be greatly
modified by the use of buds to mix with
them. The more simple the choice OF
color, the better will be the result
obtained. White is very effective if kept
for special groupings and points of view,
but loses its charm, and confers
mediocrity on other tints when used in
discriminatory here and there.
Foxgloves are very effective for corner
decoration, either in hall or on land
ing, or wherever their height can be ap.
preciated. Ox-eye daisies look charm.
ing mingled with light, feathery grasses
/ Tho xuilA ttic 10 ho n1c if v,lonQ6
in tall jar of suitable shape, while
branches of Towering hawthorn are very
useful. Wild roses may be associated
with the water forget-me-not and small
fern fronds, and the graceful harebell
often called the bluebell, lends itself
well to various combinations. The rea
bluebell or wild hyacinth gives yet an
other kind, which is effective in table
decoration, while the honeysuckle goes
we'll with almost any flower, and confers
variety of form by its shape. Black
berry blossom looks best if mingled with
crimson-colored leaves, while trails Of
the pretty wild convolvulus are particu
larry graceful. All trailing plants and
creepers are valuable in floral decoration
and give that touch of lightness so nee
essary to the desired effect of beauty
The ragged robin or pink cranesbill, ant
other tiny blossoms are serviceable il
this way. Then there are the poppy
which always looks we'll, the clover, the
sulphur-colored toad-hax, and other.
which will suggest themselves to the
student of Nature.
Autumn berries and leaves have {
brilliant charm entirely their own. Tht
berries of the marsh guelder rose, hips
bryony, and others, equally valuable
mingled with the ever-useful blackberr!
foliage, so varied and rich in its hues
may all be placed with good effect il
brown or blue and white pottery. Au
tumn leaves, dropped carelessly herr
and there on the white tablecloth, hav,
a charming appearance, PARTICULAR!
those of the maple and copper beech
Bracken of different shades should b,
COLLECTED in autumn, and kept for winte
decoration, while bulrushes make ele
giant corner trophies for room or hall
Red and yellow-berried holly may b,
obtained in many parts of the country
and the dark, glossy green holly-leave
will last fresh for long time.
The berries of the mountain-ash ar
also to be included among the numbe
of Natures products of the forest tina
may serve for home decoration, and the.
may be preserved for continued use b,
steeping them first in strong salt water
Finally, in arranging ones flowers o
berries, it is quite possible to carry on
pretty schemes and devices with com
mon place jars and crockery. Even sucl
ordinary articles as brown jugs, jars o
brown pottery that have held honey
saucers, soup-plates, and baskets of al
sorts may be turned to account by cover
ing them with moss, crinkled paper
dainty odds and ends of ribbon, etc.,
they are unsuitable without alteration
1t must, however, be borne in mind tina
simplicity of style is most in keepin
with the simple flowers they are to hold
I-McCall's Magazine.