Dried Flowers For Winter Months

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 2

Dried Flowers For Winter Months

[Bl/ J

JAY GEE]

Fresh flowers are not easy to come by at this time of the year, so the dried arrangement shown in the sketch may be a useful alternative. It will last more or less indefinitely; but it is much better to have it out for a fortnight, put it away and then bring it out again in eight or 10 weeks, than to have it standing in the one spot, gathering dust, for week after week, so that everybody gets tired of it.

The materials used in the sketched arrangement were: a branch of weeping willow (a similar branch from any other tree which has flexible twigs could be used), two bunches of dried, fluffy grasses such as cocksfoot, two or three branches of honesty, the same number of dried fern fronds, and a quantity of small cones, ornamental gourds and small pieces of driftwood. The arrangement follows a vertical line. It is shown off on a Chinese-type bamboo table mat, which must be in place before the arranging is started. The piece cannot be moved once it has been completed. Table Decoration It is suitable for placing on a sideboard or a table against a wall. Take a round tobacco tin, about three inches in diameter, and fill it with plasticine—this will probably take about half a pound. Stand the tin on the mat.

The willow twig needs to have a main stem,,with three branches coming off it. Bend over the top twig back to the main stem underneath where it branches off and fasten it there with wire or cotton. Treat the second branch in the same manner, out the other side. The third branch is not bent back, but should be trimmed a little in length, so that it balances the others in proportion (see diagram). Now push the main stem of the willow into the plasticine at the back of the tin When it is in place, its height should be about one and a half times the width of the mat underneath. Wire three or four of the fine grasses together around the stem so that they will not bend and push them into the plasticine, slightly in front and to one side of the willow. These grasses should be not quite as tall as the willow. Grass Bunch Make up another grass bunch in the same way—a little shorter this time —and put it in place on the other side of the willow.

The honesty branches, which are shorter still, are put in front of the grasses. The bracken used in the arrangement should not be too long. Put it into place low down, so that it’ gives added width at the base. More grasses, too, may be added to fill in at the bottom. Variation Finally, to hide the tin and give weight at the base, place on the mat one or two fir cones and the gourds, which provide a variation in colour and texture. If there is still any of the tin or the plasticine showing, camouflage it with small pieces of driftwood. Bracken for use in dried arrangements should be picked when it is young, placed flat between newspapers and put under a carpet to dry. If no bracken is available, use knobbly pine twigs. As an alternative to the bamboo mat uaed in this arrangement, a Chinese rice basket (or any other type of flat basket), a board, or a natural-colour rice mat could be used.

Dried autumn leaves may be added to the cones and

gourds at the base of the arrangement to provide extra weight, if necessary. (Copyright Reserved)