UNUSUAL BOUQUETS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1930, Page 13

UNUSUAL BOUQUETS

In Aucient Greece parsley was used for garlands to crowu tho heroes. Now casaba melons and honey are used for prizes, says a writer in the "Christian Science Monitor." What could be better, for these and choice peaches, laid on grape leaves, were awarded at a garden club competition not long ago. Tho occasion was an afternoon when llower arrangement was under consideration. Every member "nought her own receptacle and blossoms, later stating what fundamental idea of art was employed or brought out. The first prize, a casaba melon, tied with peach coloured satin ribbon, was awarded to a robins-egg blue fan-shaped holder, with ■many high lights in the glaze. A variety of flowers was used as small as synoglossum, and as largo as tho tip end of a lemon-coloured gladiolus, Paul de Longpre might hay© painted it without changing one flower. The second choice was a Korean brass vase almost a lily form, and this contained three Tritoma or red-hot poker plants with Syberian Iris foliage. The vase suggested Oriental treatment, and the stems of the plants, twistod and fantastic, emphasised this idea. A deep indigo porcelain vegetable dish, built up with balcony pink petunia, was vivid. An unglazed bit of pottery (rescued from being a bean pot by a discerning traveller) held many glowing shades of zinnias. It recalled at once the window of an adobo house in Mexico. On oval green bowl held fantastic sprays of the climbing nasturtium. Their twisted stems and parrakeet colouring always evoko admiration. Two oldfashioned pewter salt and pepper castors were filled with violet-coloured Jersey Gem Violas and artemesia. A pewter oblong plate containing fruit to be used at tho same time, green grapes, and purple plums, repeating tho colour note. A silvery bit of pottery hold shimmering money plant. Every spray had been placed with proper regard for balance and restraint. Many whimsies .were introduced, among them being a most natural frog, in brown and green, holding the leaf ofra real umbrella plant over its head, and a miniature meadow surrounding- it in a brass bowl. This bowl had been welded on a small brass kottJe turned unside down, thus giving the form of a frog stool. One of the arrangements that received honourable mention was extremely simple. It was a crystal bowl with pierced silver edge placed on a hand-some-toakwood stand, say nine inches in diameter. .In tho crystal was placed one of these better white porcelain dancing figures. Tho arms were- outstretched, holding a scarf. Ivy had been placed in tho bowl and twined gracefully all about the figure. It was very effective. So often ivy with the roots placed in brass or copper does well as a decorative touch. No earth is necessary. The water is replenished from time to time and kept sweet.