ART IN FLORISTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 4

ART IN FLORISTRY

WIDE SCOPE OF WORK LONDON EXPERTS' TRAINING NEW ZEALANDERS' INTEREST [from OUR OWN conkK.sr<indent] LONDON, August 25 Floristrv is a profession that is making an ever wider appeal to the giil who possesses an eve for colour and the gift for the artistic arrangement of flowers, foliage, berries and fruit. Certainly it, is fascinating to gaxio through the windows 1 of the luxury flower shops of London, Paris and Brussels. The arrangement of each piece displayed, whether a spacious vase on a tall pedestal, a presentation basket of wonderful architecture, oi a simple bowl of an old-fashioned flower, is so effectively shown that its individuality is emphasised. There is no crowding in tho well-arranged window, and no offending clash of colour, although every shade of every colour may bo in juxtaposition. In tho hands of an artist in flowers the Effect is compelling and soul-satisfying.

Training of Student 3 Proficiency in the floral business is not achieved in a day, for the student course, which brings a certificate at tho end, lasts a year. There aro a number of schools in London devoted to floristrv. Even then, study lias not ended, for the floral lyorker must always bo on the look-out for fresh ideas in form and colour schemes. The business entails early hours at tho market, knowing how to buy, what to buy, and how much to buy. Thestudent course includes the accounts side and the salesmanship side, but the early stages seem to be devoted a good deal to the wiring of flowers. The tender-hearted must always steel themselves when they pierce a lovely flower head with a piece of wire, or when they amputate a natural stalk and substitute' one of wire, as they must do continually, particularly in tho make-up of floral funeral tributes. Each flower in a compact Victorian posv, too, lias an artificial stem. Tho finished effect, with its paper edging, is fascinating. Some heads are heavy, and a circlet of wire is a support, while a strip of wire wound round and round a lonp; and massive spray seems indispensable. Each big florist must use hundreds of miles of wire annually. Tremendous Opportunities The worker in choice flowers, all grown under glass, has tremendous opportunities to give expression to individual taste and original ideas in London, where people entertain lavishly and do not mind how much money is "expended on floral decorations. Figures often run into hundreds of pounds. As the student gains in proficiency, she visits the houses or flats to bo decorated so as to find out the setting, tho colouring of the furnishings, and whether suitable vases are required. A bride-to-be likes to discuss with the floral artists the details of dresses so that the accompanying bouquets may be suitable in colour and design. It is not every bride, for instance, who has the poise to 'carry with easy grace the shapclv sheaf of arum or lilium auratuin important in dimensions. Tactful suggestions are expected and appreciated whero help is sought. The bride likes suggestions for herself and her attendants, not alone for colour, but for style. Floristrv is appealing to New Zealand girls who come to London. Miss Farey, of Wellington, is one of the most experienced, and Miss Barbara C'layden, of Christclmrch. is another. Thcv both aro well established and their opinions are frequently sought. Miss P. Blundell, of Wellington, recently obtained her certificate. Other students, all of whom are in Park Lane, include Miss Skeates, of Auckland. Miss Kli/.abetli Trcwin. of Christchurch. and Miss Man* Stuart Stevenson, of Dunedin. They are being trained bv INI iss Fa rev.'