May, 1gII 
AMERICAN HOMES 
AND GARDENS 165 
Lily of the valley and violets with pine are good 
one cannot fail to accomplish good results with only one 
kind of blossom, if it is supplied with plenty of green leaves 
as a supporting background. With a basket holder that is 
graceful in shape the eye is gratified not only by beauty of 
color, but beauty in line. 
In the illustrations the long-needle pine is the motive for 
some charming floral combinations. Pinks, tulips, lily of 
the valley, roses and apple blossoms are utilized, each giv- 
ing the color note in a quaint and unusual setting. The sim- 
plicity of this arrangement could hardly be exceeded, yet 
the artistic result is most convincing. The round-shaped 
baskets would, naturally, look best upon a round table, and 
the oblong basket be most suitable on a square or oblong 
table. 
A charming idea that is followed out each spring in a 
country home is to bring in from the woods a full-flowered 
plant of wild violets and fit it into an earthen casserole. As 
long as the blossoms are fresh, this decoration is kept on 
the dining table. Other wild flowers are transferred in 
the same way for the living-room and piazza—cowslips, or 
marsh marigold, columbine and azaleas. 
In arranging flowers for the dining table it is well to 
keep to rather low effects, or, if tall flowers are used, they 
should be grouped so they do not obscure the people who 
are to be seated. The latter is possible with carnations and 
stevia, or roses and maiden-hair fern. 
In a parlor or living-room the tall effects are often the 
most satisfactory, breaking up the formality of long spaces. 
During the summertime when the piazza becomes the 
chief sitting place for the household the flower arrange- 
Roses and pine intermixed in a green basket 
ments may well extend to this space. ‘The thrifty home- 
maker will be prepared with flower holders of more sub- 
stantial make than are in use inside the house, and whose 
possible breakage will not entail the expense of a finer 
ware. 
Large green jars to stand on the floor can be filled with 
wild daisies; big brass bowls may hold wild asters and 
golden rod; the blue-and-white ginger jars may also be 
utilized for roses and garden flowers. 
Hanging roses, for cut flowers are now made for us by 
the Japanese, and some of the prettiest of these are laced 
with wicker work. ‘These are particularly suited for hold- 
ing a few choice flowers that one wishes to protect from 
the wind. 
Plant boxes are generally accepted now as a part of the 
furnishing of an open or closed veranda, and increased 
attention is being given to their construction from the ar- 
tistic standpoint. Their decoration should, however, be 
kept subordinate to the flowers that they are to hold, as 
they are merely the frame to the picture. 
On the right combination of colors of the plants in boxes 
depends their success as a decorative element. Nasturtiums 
and red geraniums are pleasing together. Pink geraniums, 
pink begonias and sweet alyssum are another satisfactory 
combination. Marguerites may be fitted in with any colored 
flowers to advantage. 
Flower boxes realize in concentrated form, so much gar- 
den pleasure, that it does not seem a waste of money to 
change the plants from time to time as they cease flower- 
ing. 
Wild roses and pine in a small basket are sometimes used 
Apple blossoms show well, mixed with pine in white willow basket 
