Evening star., 1938-05-07

in your arrangement, then do not mix.
the different species. They look much
better in their own company or in
combination with other flowers Of very
different construction.
Spanish and Dutch iris, for instance,
look equally we'll when arranged by
themselves or in combination with
other spring flowers, On the other
hand, the bearded iris is not so readily
mixed and usually stands very little
company.
Iris tectorum is so quaint by itself
and the color SO distinct that II will
lose character when combined, except
with moss. In it's native land It
grows by preference on the moss
covered thatched roof.
For the Siberian iris I know Of
nothing which will accentuate its
beauty better than a branch of fresh
green weeping willow A veritable
springlike landscape can be suggested
merely by placing the willow in
large fiat container With the deep blue
iris blooming under Its swinging
branches.
~ ~
THE japanese iris. the last to unfold,
is charming when arranged with
flowers that grow in moist places or
in slight shade Bullrushes, water
lilies, water hyacinths, water anemo-
MES. foliage OF arrowhead or pickerel
weed. if used sparingly, enhance the
iris and add to its distinction
Thus you see how important it is
to select your material before you
cut. The sun lover. the bearded iris.
which will rot II it gets its feet too
wet will be perplexed and very upset
il a cluster Of water hyacinth is put
at the base Of the arrangement. That
is so. however, only If one tries 10
combine flowers without having OBJ
served the plants associates. If Moth
ing but an astonishing effect is TO be
created, a sunflower can be allowed
to swim around an iris tectorum. This,
Of course. brings the two seasons,
spring and late summer, into COLI
sion. but it may not matter. What
really matters is the idea-the main
stress and how we'll it is accomplished.
I like flowers when they are ar
ranged 10 reveal a love for living
plants. With this in mind I try to
arrange my iris so that the foliage
and the blossoms still look as though
they are growing I watch the spring
season and combine the iris with what
will bloom at the same time I watch
every other gardeners border for new
inspiration.
NO matter which species nf iris you
choose. cut generous amount of
foliage with it. Some leaves from the
back row will do. II is amazing how
confusing an effect will result II iris
is arranged without any foliage Then
the delicate blossoms which look so
fragile and ethereal are overpowered
by their crowded proximity An am
pie supply Of leaves will remedy this
danger
When scaling down We fold up the
wide fanllke spread Of foliage and
shorten it to the proportion of the
container. Right here We cannot fail
to observe that nature has curved the
lines in each iris leaf TO fine point
We find that the leaves are of varied
lengths and we note that the bloom
stands well above the foliage This
gives us the key for arranging foliage
and flowers in proper relation to each
other. When composing group Of
iris. plan a foreground. middle
ground COR focus) and a background
The whole picture should give then
the appearance of a restful, stable
unit.
You will find that it pays to pick
some stalks that still have buds to
open for you. since the full-blown
flower will last for only a day or so.
If you are careful TO snip off the dead
blossoms each day. you will have an
arrangement Of fresh appearance un-
til the last flower passes.