Massed Flowers For Large Room

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29760, 1 March 1962, Page 2

Massed Flowers For Large Room

[By JAY GEE] A large bowl ef flowers can be an eye-catcher in a big drawing room where a smaller arrangement, however well done, may be overlooked. A skilfully-done massed arrangement—as opposed to a quantity of assorted blooms jammed at random into a vase—will be the centre of attraction. The arrangement sketchet above, employing hydrangeas gladioli and aspidistra leaves is done in a large bowl shaped container. Becaust it is big and heavy, a solic pinholder is first anchorec firmly with knobs of plasti cine at the bottom and on to] of this is placed a quantity of crumpled two and a hal inch mesh wire netting, ben over the lip so that it is hel< firmly in place. The wire should protrudi some little height above th< top of the container. Thi; is a help in getting flowin; lines in the arrangement. It will be found that a largi bowl of this kind is bes placed on a table against thi background of a wall—< mantelpiece, unless it ii exceptionally wide, would no be big enough. Height and Width Height and width are givei with pale cream gladioli together with long aspidistn

leaves. Pale blue and darker blue hydrangeas provide the focal point and give weight to the arrangement, while one or two pieces of cream variegated ivy are used to soften the final effect. Take a tall gladiolus stem, one and a half times or more the height of the container, and place it upright as far back as possible in the centre of the vase (figure 1). Add two further gladiolus ! stems, the second (figure 2), , about two-thirds the length , of stem number one, being placed to one side and the > third (figure 3) on the other side. Stem number three I should be approximately, but not exactly, the length of i stem number 2. These three blooms should ! all be right at the back of ; the vase and roughly formI ing a triangle within which all the other flowers will be , grouped. To soften the lines of the . arrangement and avoid a stiff , effect, gladioli with slightly curved stems should be used , for preference. The next step is to add two : further gladiolus stems ’ (figures 4 and 5) on either . side of stem number 1, still . keeping them placed well back in the vase. Make sure they are not so long as to protrude beyond the line of , the basic triangle. If the arrangement is to be , very large, a further one or two gladiolus stems may be added in the same manner. Flowing Line Now place four long aspidistra leaves (which have a cream stripe, blending in with the rest of the arrangement) between the gladioli. These leaves can be gently moulded with the fingers to give them a flowing line. The hydrangea blooms are added in front of the gladioli to form roughly the line across the base of the triangle. They should be kept fairly low in the arrangement, with the lighter blue heads to toe outside and the deeper blue ones forming a focal point in the centre. Added interest will be given if two or three of the light blue heads are slightly higher on one side than those on the other.

To emphasise the line of the basic triangle and help to fill in if necessary, two or three shorter aspidistra leaves may be pushed in among the hydrangeas, together with some shorter stems of the cream gladioli. Finally, add two or more trails of the cream variegated ivy leading down towards the surface of the table. It is most important to avoid a flat effect in the finished arrangement, so be sure to have the lower flowers in the front of the arrangement coming well forward (see smaller diagrams). The lines should form an approximate triangle, not only as seen from the front, but also as seen from the side. As described, the cream in the variegated ivy and aspidistra leaves will blend pleasantly with the cream gladioli. The arrangement would be equally effective in pink tonings, with pale pink gladioli, hydrangeas in light and deeper pink shades, and the aspidistra leaves and ivy. A cream bowl would be pre-

ferable if the arrangement is done in the former tonings and a pink boM in the latter case. (Copyright Reserved) In last week’s article, describing a dahlia arrangement set in a straw hat, two lines were repeated in error in consecutive paragraphs. The paragraph starting at the bottom of the second column should have read: “In front of these, place three more slightly larger blooms; and, finally, add one or two more at the base- The mass of blooms should now almost completely fill the crown of the hat and obscure the basin.”