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8.ARRANGEMENTS BY THE SEASON

What plant materials are available when? - What does each mon­th offer ? - How about conservation laws ?

Flower arrangement, contrary to common belief, is not a hobby for spring and summer alone. The "Great Outdoors" offers an abundance of plant material during every part of the year. Each season heralds the coming of a welcome new friend; tulips in spring, roses in sum­mer, Chrysanthemums in autumn. In between we have host of delight­ful flowers which do every garden justice.

The wild flowers of our country are becoming less plentiful every year. There is something very beautiful about the first signs of spring, as wild flowers start blooming in their natural habitat. No one can capture this beauty. We have so many other sources from which to choose, it behooves us to be careful not to break conservation laws, thus keeping this lovely part of plant life with us a bit longer. Consult the Wild Flower Association in Washington, D. C. for information on conservation laws.

Flowering Tree Blossoms Figure 50

A - Peach

B - Dogwood C - Magnolia D - Cherry

E - Tulip

F – Apple

With the exception of the magnolia, which is quite a large flower, the illustrated flowering branches may be used very successfully as complete arrangements or as parts of other designs. In each spray of branches we see the evolution of the flower from tiny bud and leaf to the full grown blossom.

Try an arrangement of three branches with your choice of blossoms.

1. Select your branches, being careful to choose those with blossoms in all stages of growth. Each flower and bud should be accompanied by one or more leaves.
2. Arrange it in Japanese style, in which half opened flowers represent Heaven, full blown represent Man, and buds represent Earth.

Figure 50.   Flowering Tree Blossoms

3. Keep in mind that, though it is acceptable for branches to bend to­ward the ground, they must curve upward at the ends toward Heaven. Those ends which will not be trained upward, should be snipped off.

How to Bend Branches -

Spring branches are sometimes easily bent by the pressure and heat of the hands. Hold the branch vertically and firmly in the palms, one hand above the other, and press gently until bent into the position desired. Another method is arching the branch as desired and tying one end to the other as though making a bow for arrows.

You may bend branches over the knee or bend them until they break provided the broken area is below the water surface, leaving no injured bark above.

Arrangements by the Month Figure 51

This illustration shows the apartment dweller what can be done every month with plant material from the flower shop.

Flowers are inexpensive and bring so much joy into the home. It seems shameful that most of us wait for an occasion to use them, when its so simple to have them brightening up the home at all times. Fig­ure 51 is a glass backed combination display cabinet and bookshelf. Several of the arrangements can be substituted by knick-knacks.

List of Available Flower Shop Material Throughout the Year Spring -

Rose, Iris, Gladiolus, Daffodil, Calendula, Violet, Lily-of-the-valley, Amarylis, Lilac, Anemone, Anthurium, Daphne, Stock,    Carnation,    Calla lily,    Tulip.

Summer -

Primula, Pansies, Chrysanthemums, Celosia, Agapanthus, Zinnia, Aster, Larkspur, Marigold, Tritoma, Rose, Peony, Shasta daisies,    Nasturtium,    Mignonette,    Lily.

Autumn -

Stephanotis, Tuberose, Physalis, Strelitzia, Delphinium, Gloriosa lily, Camellia, Corn flower, Pyrethrum, Heather, Euphrobia,    Ranunculus.

Winter -

Freesia, Bouvardia, Calanthe, Begonia, Acacia, Lilac, Lace-flower, Arbutus, Rose, Carnations, Buddleia, Tulip, Pansies,    Sweet-pea,    Gladiolus.

Figure 51.   An Arrangement

for Every Month

Garden Offerings Throughout the Year

Spring –

Violets,    Wisteria,    Trollius,   Statice,    Rhododendron, Peonies, Forsythia,    Pansies,     Lily-of-the-valley,     Iris, Dogwood, Clarkia,    Bleeding heart,    Muscari,   Primulas,   Scillas, Azaleas, Daffodils, Magnolias, Tulips, Squills, Pussywillows, Crocus, Snow drops.

Summer –

Roses, Delphinium, Snap-dragon, Verbena, Zinnia, Mari­gold, Laurel, Cosmos, Petunia, Blue lace flower, African daisy, Scabiosa, Sweetpeas, Rudbeckia, Iris, Rhododendron, Myosotis,    Pyrethrum,    Kalmis,    Gaillardia.

Autumn –

Bitter sweet, Sun flowers, Moon flowers, Clematis, Nastur­tiums, Zinnia, Goldenrod, Aster, Chrysanthemum, Celosia, Dahlia,    Blue Spirea,    Japanese barberry.

Winter –

Holly, Bittersweet, Eucalyptus, Lady slipper, Poinsettia, Cranberry bush, English ivy, Eugenia, Firethorn, Hakea, Photenia, Juniper, Moonwort.

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

January                         Carnation...... July        Larkspur

February .... Violet        August.......... Gladiola

March                           Jonquil September . . Aster

April                             Sweetpea        October .... Calendula

May                              Lily-of-the-valley         November. . . Chrysanthemum

June                              Rose    December. . . Narcissus

STATE FLOWERS

Alabama......... Goldenrod

Alaska............ Forget-me-not

Arizona........... Sahuara or Giant Cactus

Arkansas........ Apple Blossom

California   ..... Golden Poppy

Colorado........ Columbine

Connecticut   . Mountain Laurel

Delaware........ Peach Blossom

District of Columbia      American Beauty Rose

Florida......... Orange Blossom

Georgia........ Cherokee Rose

Hawaii.......... Hibiscus (unofficial)

Idaho........... Syringa

Illinois........... Wood Violet

Indiana......... Zinnia

Iowa............ Wild Rose

Kansas......... Sunflower

Kentucky..... Goldenrod

Louisiana...... Magnolia

Maine........... Pine Cone & Tassel

Maryland...... Black-eyed Susan

Massachusetts  Mayflower

Minnesota.... Moccasin Flower

Michigan...... Apple Blossom

Mississippi.... Magnolia

Missouri....... Hawthorne

Montana....... Bitter-root

Nebraska..... Goldenrod

Nevada........ Sagebrush

New Hampshire           Purple Lilac

New Jersey.. Violet

New Mexico Yucca Flower

New York.... Rose

North Carolina Goldenrod

North Dakota   Wild Prairie Rose

Ohio............. Scarlet Carnation

Oklahoma.... Mistletoe

Oregon......... Oregon Grape

Pennsylvania. Mountain Laurel

Rhode Island Violet

South Carolina  Yellow Jasmine

South Dakota   Pasque Flower

Tennessee.... Iris

Texas........... Bluebonnet

Utah............. Sego Lily

Vermont....... Red Clover

Virginia......... American Dogwood

Washington.. Rhododendron

West Virginia Rhododendron

Wisconsin..... Violet

Wyoming...... Indian Paintbrush

NATIONAL FLOWERS

Canada........... Maple Leaf

China.............. Narcissus

Egypt.............. Lotus

England........... Rose

France............ Fleur-de-lis

Germany......... Cornflower

Greece............ Violet

Holland........... Tulip

India............... Lotus

Ireland............ Shamrock

Italy................ Poppy or White Lily

Japan.............. Chrysanthemum

Mexico........... Nopal Cactus or Prickley Pear

Persia............. Rose

Scotland......... Thistle

Spain.............. Pomegranate

Switzerland..... Edelweiss

United States.. ?

Wales............. Leek

THE FLOWER VOCABULARY

Anemone........ Forsaken

Apple Blossom Temptation

Autumn Leaves Sadness

Bluebell........... Constancy

Bridal Rose..... Happy Life

Buttercups...... Gaiety

Candytuft........ Indifference

Cape Jasmine.. I am happy

Carnation, Solid color               Yes

Carnation, Striped        No

Chrysanthemum, Yellow .... Slighted Love

Columbine...... Folly

Corn, Broken.. Quarrel

Crab-blossom. Ill-nature

Daisy.............. Innocence

Daffodil........... Unrequited love

Dahlia............. Pomp

Fern............... Magic, Fascination

Fir.................. Time

Fleur-de-lis..... I burn

Foxglove........ Insincerity

Gentian........... I love you best when you are sad.

Goldenrod....... Be cautious

Hawthorn........ Hope

Heliotrope....... Devotion

Hyacinth, Purple           I am sorry

Hyacinth, White            Loveliness

Ivy, Sprig of with tendrils  . . . Anxious to please

Jonquil............ Love me

Larkspur, Pink Fickleness

Lily, Day......... Coquetry

Lily, White...... Purity

Lily-of-the-Valley         Return to happiness

Mint................ Virtue

Oleander......... Beware

Orange Blossoms         Your purity equals your loveliness

Peony............. Shame

Periwinkle, White         Pleasant memories

Petunia............ Your presence soothes me

Pine................ Pity

Pink................ Boldness

Poppy, Red.... Consolation

Poppy, White               Sleep

Primrose, Evening         Inconstancy

Rose, White (withered) Transient Impression

Rose, White (dried)      Death preferable to loss of virtue

Rose, White.... Secrecy

Rose, Yellow                Decrease of love; Jealousy

Rose, Thornless            Love at first sight

Rose, Red...... Love

Rose, Bridal.... Happy Love

Rosebud, Red. Pure and lovely

Rosebud, Moss            Confessions of love

Rosebud, White            Girlhood

Roses, Musk, Cluster of .... Charming

Roses, Garland of         Beware of virtue

Rose-leaf........ You may hope

Scabiosa......... I cannot accept your love

Scabiosa (also) I have lost all

Smilax............ Constancy

Snowdrop...... Hope

Sultan, Lilac.... I forgive you

Sultan, Yellow Contempt

Sunflower, Dwarf         Adoration

Sweetpea....... Blissful pleasure

Tendrils of climbing plants  . . Ties

Tuberose........ Dangerous pleasure

Tulip, Yellow.. Hopeless love

Touch-me-not. Sensitiveness

Verbena, White            Pray for me

Violet............. Modesty

Violet, Blue..... Watchfulness; faithfulness

Vine............... Intoxication

Wisteria.......... Welcome

Witch Hazel.... Enchantment

Zinnia............. Thinking of an absent friend

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