Winter Decorative Ideas

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 11 (Supplement)

Winter Decorative Ideas

WITH the garden still full of the glories of dahlias, chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies, we are loath to think of that hiatus, when rain or frost will have spoiled them. Even when this has happened, it is surprising what a variety of subjects for filling bowls and vases can be found, if precautions are taken before weather conditions have spoiled them. A sudden flower famine will bring to notice many of the less-obtrusive subjects, frequently overlooked. A patch of nigella seed pods, globes of greenish purple, set with horias ana whiskers is both quaint and attractive. Such delicate beauty calls for a slender vase, too robust or colourful a receptacle would overwhelm them. Opium poppies have large, bulging seed pods, suggestive of fat pots with lids complete. ,The craze for painting them in gaudy colours and gilt has, fortunately, died out, though one or two dyed a 6oft apple-green are enchanting among the natural buff-brown ones. The showy seed cases of Iris foetidissima, known as the Gladwyn iris, split open to reveal the rows of cange scarlet seeds, or feathery panicles of Statice latifolia mixed with the spent heads of spiraea will create an effect in subdued tones. Kipe heads of delphiniums, bocconia, Iris sibirica, or any bold seed pods can all be utilised to give variety. Those whose forethought led them to gather the spiky globes of echinops, when at their prime, the steely blue teasel-like heads of eryngiums, set off by spiny bracts, and the feathery infloresenee of gypsophila, have handsome material with which to fill vases in the hall. Flaming physalis bangs out orange lanterns to brighten the grey days, and is a treasure for indoor decoration, lasting the winter through in undiminished splendour. A Chinese vase filled with steins of physalis and short, tufted pine branches, will give i an Oriental effect, or with honesty one gets the contrast of pearly white and orange .scarlet set off admirably by a dim blue pottery jar. Ideal for Decorations j-he purple honesty of gardens has unique fruits in the shape of small discs airily placed on the main stems. Jnese are green at first, at which stage tney are exquisite with flowers of warm cream or flame pink, then they become tinged with purple, finally dry and burst open, revealing an inner disc of Shimmering silver, which will remain the year round in {>erfect condition. A crystals bowl filled with the wands of fonesty, and set on a dark polished fable, brings to a room something

of the glamour of moonlight. Such a bowl set before a mirror, glimmering in a dark corner, especially a darkpanelled one, will brighten it up unbelievably. In a light room it looks best contrasted with some dark evergreen foliage in a pottery vase of medium tone, neither so dark .as the evergreen, nor as light as the honesty. Fluffy seed heads of the Traveller's Joy among autumn-tinted foliage will give a lightness to the whole arrangement and enhance the rich colouring of the leaves.

Finally, there are the winter flowers, yellow stars ot jasmine which open well in water; the waxy blooms of viburnum tinus and V. fragrans, the spidery blossoms of hamamelis, and twigs of chimonanthus with alluring fragrance. Or one may use twiggy branches of Pyrus Malus Eleyii, with large oval crimson apples suspended on slender stems; Euonymus latifolius with every twig dangling square, blood-red lanterns, beneath which swing the orange seeds; Callicarpa Giralcfinana, bung with deep amethyst beads; pernettyas in white, rose-pink or rosy purple; Cotoneaster horizon talis, each fan-shaped branch beset with scarlet berries, and skimmia with sprays of sealing-wax-red berries among leathery leaves.