SPRING FLOWERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 11

SPRING FLOWERS

THE ART OF ARRANGEMENT. Spring flowers are lovely just now. Their fragrance and beauty bring a charm unsurpassed into our homes, but they must be arranged properly to look their best. Flower arranging is an art. In Japan it has reached such a high standard that a Japanese girl will spend an hour or more arranging one flower to get the right line and balance. Here, a woman will sometimes fill a room with flowers which do not look very attractive simply because they are stuck any way into and kind of vase. Another woman with one bunch of flowers and a few grasses will group them so artistically in the right vessels that the effect is amazingly beautiful. Simple Vases Best. Choose simple receptacles rather than decorated ones. It is not good taste to have a vase decorated with floral design unless the design is the same as those in the vase. The vase or bowl should also be sufficiently large enough to hold the flowers without crowding the stems, but should not be so large as to appear out the balance with the flowers. The receptacles should be deep enough for the water to come well up on the stems if the flowers are to retain their freshness. For this reason roses arranged in shallow bowls usually wither quickly. Using clean vases, changing the water daily, and removing the flowers from warm rooms overnight also help to retain freshness. If you have a garden, gather the flowers in the cool hours of the day, and cut them with a sharp knife instead of scissors, which crush the tissue of the stalks. Plenty of Water. After cutting, plunge them into a deep receptacle, and leave for several hours in a cool spot. The water should come well up to the flowers, but the petals should not be in contact with the water. This treatment will make the flowers last much longer than if they are freshly gathered and immediately arranged, because the plant tissue becomes filled with water, making the flowers better able to withstand the dry atmosphere of a room. Generally, the flowers should appear to be one to one and a half times the height of the vase, except in the case of a low-broad bowl, when the flowers may be taller or shorter. Short-stemmed small flowers, like sweet peas, violets, and nasturturtiums, should be arranged in masses in plain, low glass bowls, while the use of glass blocks will help in the arranging. Tall flowers like gladioli look best in a vase unbroken in line, and which follows and preserves the beauty of the line of the flowers. Best Colours. A low tone of grey is one of the best colours for vases. Soft tones of green or red are sometimes good, and also lighter tints of yellow and some shades of blue are effective with certain flowers. A vase may form a background to contrast or harmonise. For Instance, orange and yellow calendulas in a blue bowl are usually attractive. Red roses are lovely in a soft grey bowl, while red sweet peas are effective in a rich red bowl. Pink hyacinths are delicately beautiful in a Wedgwood blue vase. HOLIDAY HINTS. The following holiday hints are given by a correspondent in the "Daily Mail’’:— Don't let your figure “go” in the hot weather. It needs support more than ever. Wear the lightest type of belt and brassiere—but don't discard these garments altogether. Take advantage of the fashion for linen shoes, sandals, and fabric and organdie gloves. But don't buy these too cheaply, and have them large enough. Rest for some time during the day, even if only for a few moments. Relax completely, and keep the feet up. Massage the feet after bathing with some of your emollient hand cream, and afterwards rub in a refreshing lotion. If you are not wearing gloves much during the warm spells, devote a few extra minutes daily to your manicure. Coral-tinted nails with bleached finger-tips are cool-looking, a!hd are newer than blood red or exotic shades. Remember to wash your powder-puff more frequently in the summer. CLEANING LIZARD SHOES. When snake or lizard shoes need cleaning, sponge the uppers first with warm, soapy water, and a soft nailbrush, being careful not to allow the moisture to soak into the sole. Dry thoroughly and apply the cream and polish in the usual wuy. If cleaned by this method they will not require cleaning so often, and will look quite new after each treatment.