July 14, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
23 
DINNER-TABLE DECORATIONS j < 
WITH HARDY FLOWERS. 
-x- 
FT is not often that it falls to the lot of any gardener to carry 
-L out a series of dinner-table decorations solely with hardy flowers, 
nor is it altogether desirable that it should be so ; indeed it is 
practically impossible to produce an effective display with such 
materials at many seasons of the year, and it so happens that the 
greater part of this kind of work has to be carried out at tl e very 
seasons when flowers are comparatively scarce, even where great 
resources are at command. When, therefore, a great event which 
necessitated the carrying out of dinner-table decorations on an 
extensive scale fortunately takes place in the summer months, 
when flowers are abundant in the open air, it is well to 
make use of them for such purposes, so that the choicer ones may 
be reserved for the embellishment of other rooms in the castle or 
the mansion. 
I hold the opinion that dinner-table decorations are judged 
principally by the effect produced. If that is beautiful, striking, or 
pleasing, it is only a secondary consideration whether the materials 
used to create these effects are the simplest flowers from the 
garden or the roadside of our own land, or the choicest exotics 
brought from distant climes. Now this opinion would not be 
worth much to readers of the Journal if I advanced it simply as 
such, but fortunately I had the opportunity recently of putting this 
view to a pretty severe test by carrying out extensive table 
decorations for six consecutive nights entirely with hardy flowers. 
That the departure was perfectly successful is shown by the fact 
that I received high compliments from my noble employers, who 
dilated upon the great beauty of the arrangements, and who had 
the satisfaction of knowing they were greatly admired by the large 
and distinguished company present. I trust, therefore, a few notes 
concerning the flowers used, and their method of arrangement, 
may be both interesting and useful to some readers of the 
Journal. 
Before proceeding further it is necessary for me to impress 
upon my readers the fact that the dining room wherein these 
decorations were carried out is of unusual size, and b fitted up 
throughout with regal splendour ; the elaborate decoration of the 
walls and ceilings being executed in white and gold, while at each 
end are beautiful carved figures which rank among the finest 
examples of that ancient art. The dinner table, too, is of unusual 
width—G feet. Amidst all these massive surroundings it may, 
therefore, be easily imagined that fljwe’s of a bolder type than 
those generally used for the purpose must be necessary to produce 
a really effective display. In order to prove this to our own satis¬ 
faction, on one occasion flowers of a light character were entirely 
used. The effect was that with so much that was imposing around 
them they seemed quite out of proportion, and to use a common 
but expressive term were simply lost. In order to be able to 
produce as great a change as possible, the flowers on each occasion 
were, as a rule, of one colour only. This plan, however, had to 
be departed from on the first night, as Pansies and Violas were 
intended to form the chief feature. It was also desirable to use 
three large handsome stands for the centre of the table. These 
had each a beautifully worked base, upon which was mounted a 
circular framework. Into this tins filled with sand were fitted, the 
flowers and Ferns being siuck into the sand. 
The central stand was placed immediately under a magnificent 
chandelier, and was about 2 feet in height ; the other two, being 
placed near the ends of the table, were 6 inches higher. White 
Pmonies, double white Pyrethrums, and Marguerites were arranged 
lightly into these. A few fronds of Polystichum angulare pro- 
liferum were placed so as to stand out lightly from among the 
surrounding flowers ; other fronds of the useful hardy Lady Fern 
were inserted here and there to hide the base of the flower stems. 
The sides of the stands were lightly draped with long pieces of 
Asparagus tenuissimus, which in some instances reached down to 
the cloth and trailed a foot or 18 inches upon it. Field Grasses 
cut with long stems were next inserted at irregular heights and 
distances, so as to stand well up above the surface of the flowers, 
making the whole arrangement appear wonderfully light, and yet 
imposing. A fringe of Maidenhair Fern being next placed around 
the base, this part of the work was completed. Between these 
floral arrangements, which were placed along the centre of the 
table, two candelabras were located, and as these as well as the 
stands were placed a considerable distance apart, the cut flowers 
standing well above the heads of those sitting at the table, the 
view across it was but slightly impeded. All other arrangements 
were kept quite low. 
Ten ordinary large size plates were next obtained ; in the centre 
of each a small graceful Palm was stood, each having a mound of 
moss placed around it. These mounds ve:e covered with 
Lycopodium denticulatum (which had been largely grown in pots 
for the purpose), care being taken to let the moss droop well over 
the sides of the plate, so that when placed upon the cloth no part 
of it could be seen. Four of these mounds of Lycopod were 
irregularly dotted with Viola Yellow King, two with Mrs. Granger 
(bronze), two with Fancy Pansies, all having shades of the same 
colour, the remaining two being arranged with those having white 
edges and pale blue markings. The flowers were picked with 
long stems, which were inserted into holes made in the Lycopod 
with a pointed stick, and arranged in an easy undulating style, the 
centre of the flowers pointing in various directions, or nestling in 
pairs among the verdant green Lycopod. These circular arrange¬ 
ments were then placed upon the table wherever required to break 
the flatness, dishes of dessert being set between them and at the 
four corners of the table. 
The whole of the dessert dishes, as well as the candelabra and 
the base of the epergnes, were traced around with beautifully 
coloured pieces of golden Honeysuckle, and dotted with dark blue 
Viola. This tracing also connected the dessert dishes with the 
whole of the ornaments used along the centre of the table. The 
effect produced by this method of arrangement was bold and 
striking when entering the room, and when sitting at the table the 
undulating surface of interesting groups was in itself a pleasing 
feature. 
The following night the table was somewhat smaller, and silver 
ornaments were used exclusively. Strips of art silk of a soft 
yellow colour were placed across the centre of the table ; these 
were 2 feet in width, the junctures being covered with small sprays 
of Golden Yew. The same material was placed all around the 
outer edges, taking care to have small sprays breaking the outline 
here and there, and wherever the cross lines met the outer ones 
those points were made much fuller. Pink flowers only were used 
on this occasion. A large bowl was arranged with pink Preonies of 
a bright shade, such Fern fronds as those already mentioned, and 
a liberal admixture of the beautiful hardy Ribbon Grass (Phalaris 
arundinacea variegata) as well as field Grasses. Banks of moss, 
surmounted by a plant of Dracaena Veitchi, were formed near each 
end of the table, and lightly covered with Maidenhair Fern and 
Pseonies. Four silver vases filled with plants of the same variety 
of Fern were placed on either side of the candelabra, and four 
Kentias with Lycopod bases were stood in the open spaces inter¬ 
vening. Paeonies were then art anged on the tracing wherever the lines 
intersected, and a few sprays of Ivy-leaved Pelargonium Madame 
No. 629.— Vol. XXV., Third Series. 
No. 2285.—Vol. LXXXVII., Old Series. 
