Five Flower Shows 
Easthampton 
FLOWER The Easthampton Garden Club has evolved a permanent equipment for 
o their Annual Flower Shows. After struggling for years with an out-door 
-j-, show in the beautiful grounds of their public library, they decided that an 
KiQUIPMENT indoor show was better for the exhibits and for the tempers of the 
exhibitors who sometimes saw their summer 's achievements ruined by wind 
after being staged, or hastily caught up and re-staged inside the building at 
the approach of a thunder storm. 
The old Clinton Academy which was built in 1785 has lately been 
restored by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Woodhouse and given 
to the Easthampton Historical Society. It is rented for lectures, musicales, 
etc. The beautiful grey walls and white paint, queer old woodwork and 
handwrought hinges and latches, fine high windows which let in floods of 
light on two stories, make this an ideal background for flower arrangement. 
An enormous attic in which the club is allowed to store its paraphernalia 
is also one of the greatest assets. 
The vice president of the club, Mrs. Albert Herter, designed a series 
of tables, benches and long stands, the legs of which pull out and pack 
away compactly. They are made to fit the rooms of the Academy but are 
equally practical for outside use, if necessary. They include a series of 
boxes about two by four feet, which can be used to build up the tables to 
any height and in which all the vases, milk bottles, wire holders are packed 
and then stored in the attic. 
A local carpenter made the tables of pine and box units of boxboard 
and then stained them a beautiful glaucous green, No. 39 in Eidgeway's 
chart. This color harmonizes with every flower as well as with the grey 
walls. Three varieties of flower containers are used. For the specimen 
flowers the usual good looking clear glass vases in three sizes: for the 
three blooms of one variety of flower, Mrs. Seabury invented and had made 
(by Eeed & Keller, 122 W. 25th Street, New York City) a wire stand hold- 
ing three long glass chemist 's tubes ; and for the bunches of flowers or 
collections, Mrs. Herter conceived the brilliant idea of painting the much 
abused milk bottle (which is really the best shape in the long run), with 
Prang's light blue-green waterproof Enamelac in the same shade of 
glaucous green as the tables. Over two hundred of these milk and cream 
bottles were painted by the club members. They were an instant success. 
DlNNEB The two large rooms on the second floor were given over in the Dahlia 
TABLES Show to specimen Dahlias, one room for club members and a separate room 
for open class, professionals, etc. Downstairs was entirely given to "artistic 
decorations ' ' arranged on bridge tables along the sides of the room, the 
covers being black oil-cloth which showed off the colors to perfection. Four 
large refectory dinner tables were arranged in the center of this room and 
the four most accomplished arrangers of flowers in the club, competed for 
the prize which was awarded by popular ballot, a vote being handed out 
at the door Avhen the admission was paid. These tables were allowed to 
have everything on them except small silver. Most of them were set for 
the last course which gave the chance of using interesting finger bowls. It 
was the opinion of disinterested people that they were the most finished, 
harmonious and distinguished tables yet seen at any Flower Show. 
THE JUNIOR Tea was served in the grounds behind the hall by members of the Junior 
CLUB Garden Club and the two days proceeds of the Dahlia Show nearly covered 
the cost of this dignified, practical and really beautiful equipment. 
Folding 
Tables 
and Stands 
Paint Your 
Iilk Bottles 
