1568 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



Al'KiL 19, 1906. 



i^^^^^^S^a^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 



^^^ 



I 



THE RETAIL 



t 



■ I ! 



FLORIST. 



SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. 



It is often necessary or convenient to 

 display two different kinds of stock in 

 a window at one time. If by any means 

 the coloring and habits of growth can 

 be blended and placed in their proper 

 relation, all well and good; if not, call 

 off the proposed combination. 



Once in a while one is caught with too 

 many violets. Eather than set them in 

 vases in rows in the window, stem into 

 groups as for basket work. Make a bed 

 of sphagnum three or four inches deep 

 in the window. Cover with some kind 

 of soft green and sprinkle. Dot the 

 stemmed violets over the space in tri- 

 angular shape, occupying the front sec- 

 tion of the window. A mirror or mir- 

 rors for a deception will greatly aid in 

 a low window arrangement like this. 

 Back of the violet triangle, but close 

 against it, group Boston ferns or one 

 kind of blooming plants, which should 

 be quite tall in comparison to the vio- 

 lets. 



In one case Hermosa rose plants af- 

 forded a pleasing background for the 

 violets, as well as displayed the plants 

 themselves. There was close harmony 

 in color between the soft pink of the 

 Hermosa roses and the blue of the vio- 

 lets, ana a decided difference in grow- 

 ing habits of the violets and rose plants, 

 which was properly inaicated by the vio- 

 lets being grouped low at the foot of 

 the tall roses. The sharp lines of the 

 triangles formed by each group of 

 plants were broken sufficiently by the 

 overhanging branches of the roses, which 

 here and there fell close over the violets, 

 while some other plants, like Dutch 

 hyacinths or Easter lilies, would have 

 stood like soldiers in the ranks and the 

 triangular effect would have appeared 

 too mathematical. 



A few people still cling to the idea 

 that in decorating, the fireplace should 

 be attacked and jammed full of palms 

 which have done nothing deserving of 

 such treatment. Don't waste any good 

 material on a grate unless it is un- 

 sightly, in which case a little wild smi- 

 lax or some cured birch sprays will make 

 a better screen than a dozen palms 

 crowded together. A fireplace doesn't 

 show any trimming after a company of 

 people are gathered in the room. 



It is surprising to what extent care- 

 lessness or selfishness will allow a per- 

 son who calls himself a decorator to de- 

 face woodwork, walls and floors. The 

 after effect is not only to the discredit 

 of the guilty person, but to the whole 

 craft as well. Plants, plant stands and 

 vases are often hauled over polished 

 floors and against woodwork without a 

 thought of the damage being done. 

 Tacks or nails should never be put in 

 the face of woodwork, except by direct 

 orders from the owner. If one cannot 

 suspend the decorative material from 

 tlie top or sides of woodwork, where it 

 is permissible to put nails and tacks, 

 he has yet to enter the primary class of 

 decorating. It makes one sorry to see 



beautiful walls and finishings so reck- 

 lessly defaced. 



A funeral spray one can enjoy in the 

 making is a large one of Murillo tulips 

 well open, with Spiraia Gladstone and 

 plenty of Asparagus Sprengeri. The 

 tie, if any is used, may be a loose, 

 fluffy bow of plain light green chiffon. 



Another creation in pink is the union 

 of Golden Gate and Chatenay roses, th«. 

 latter full blown, with Asparagus plumo- 

 sus and tie of embroidered pink chiffon. 



Anything which one thoroughly enjoys 

 when making is almost sure to have the 

 necessary touch of life to please the 

 customer. Gertrude Blair. 



part of which was covered with aspara- 

 gus and chrysanthemums. Mr. Hall not 

 only secured a prize on it, but he created 

 public comment to a very considerable 

 value by virtue of so large a piece, of 

 so unusual a character and so well exe- 

 cuted. 



THE ELK'S HEAD. 



The accompanying illustration is from 

 a photograph of a prize-winning design 

 made by Charles M. Hall, of Ennis, 

 Tex. It was one of the notable fea- 

 tures of the exhibitions in the southwest 

 last fall. The body of the design was 

 made with white carnations. It was se- 

 cured to a plaque on an easel, the upper 



AZALEA FIREFLY. 



The illustration opposite is from 

 a group of Azalea Firefly, photographed 

 at E. McMulkin's, Boston, just after 

 Christmas. These are the leavings of 

 the stock and not offered as good ex- 

 amples of the plant which has attained 

 so great a measure of popularity in 

 the Boston stores the past season or two, 

 but rather to show the habit of growth 

 and character of the material with which 

 such satisfactory results are obtained by 

 the skillful plant decorators. 



Plants seen are principally grown in 

 6-inch pots, although occasional pyra- 

 midal-trained ones of larger size are 

 noted. The flowers are smaller than in 

 the regular A. Indica section, rosy in 

 color, a very desirable shade for the holi- 

 days. The plant in habit closely resem- 

 bles the well known A. amoena, which 

 latter is hardy in Massachusetts even 

 after very severe winters. It evidently 

 has a considerable proportion of amceoa 

 blood in it. It can be forced into bloom 

 for Christmas as readily as any other 

 azalea. 



Schenectady, N. Y. — J. E. Felthousen 

 has returned from Dunedin, Fla., where 

 he has spent the winter. 



Premiam-Vinning Elk's Head by C M, Hall, Ennis, Tex. 



