226 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



arrangement of flowers is not the best for us or for the result far 

 from it. 



Having got a good and constant supply of flowers, and variety 

 of vessels, the question of arrangement is the only serious one 



that remains to be thought of, and it is'not nearly 



Arranging flowers so difficult if we seek unity, harmony, and simpli- 



in vases, etc. city of effect, rather than the complexities which 



we have all seen at flower shows and in "table 

 decorations," many of them involving much wearisome labour, 

 while a shoot of a wild rose growing out of a hedge, or a wreath of 



Lenten Roses, February. 



Honeysuckle, would put the whole thing to shame from the point 

 of view of beauty. In all such matters laying down rules leads to 

 monotony, and yet there is much to be said for ways distinctly 

 apart from the old nosegay masses and the modern jumble, and 

 generally it is best to show one flower at a time, especially if a 

 noble one like the Carnation, which varies finely in colour. The 

 baskets and basins of Carnations arranged by the late Lady Henry 

 Grosvenor, at Bulwick, were lovely to see, and the best of them 

 were of one Carnation of good colour. These were the flowers from 

 her fine collection of outdoor Carnations, so useful for cutting in 

 summer and autumn, when people are enjoying their gardens. But 

 the improved culture of the Carnation as a plant for winter and 



