The Garden Magazine, July, 1924 
337 
WHERE FLOWERS AND CHINTZ GAILY ECHO THE GARDEN 
“The sense of completeness and livableness that is afforded by flowers about the house is a unique thing that 
can be achieved in no other way. They seem to satisfy an unfilled need in even the most opulent surroundings” 
and usually tints that contrast quite vividly with the color of the 
walls will do this: blue or red flowers in the cream colored room, 
yellow flowers in the blue room, or something really outstanding 
and definite. One does not want the room itself to be too vivid, 
and flowers serve just that purpose of affording relief from mo¬ 
notony. It is also interesting if the flowers in the wallpaper, 
or the draperies can appear in reality in the room, as this makes 
an interrelation that provides unity and coherence. 
The color of the receptacle into which the flowers are to be 
placed is also conspicuous in the final result. It may be the 
same color as the flowers, or a contrasting color, or a neutral 
one like glass, hammered brass or silver. If the color cannot 
be selected with reference to the flower, it should be chosen with 
reference to the dominant tone of the room. Then if the 
color of the flower and the color of the room have been con¬ 
sidered together, the color of the receptacle will be in harmony 
with both of them automatically. In selecting the bowl or 
vase, it is sometimes possible to consider the original habitat 
of the flower and select a type of holder that suggests the same 
origin. Tulips, for instance, are much identified with the Dutch, 
and Chrysanthemums with the Chinese. 
A jar that is garish in color or ornate in design defeats its object 
of framing or holding the flower. The relative values of flower 
and holder must always be preserved; the receptacle must be 
subordinated to its contents. Tall, stately flowers require tall, 
stately vases of ample capacity and stability. One cannot 
contemplate a vase of tall, heavy flowers with serenity if it is 
tottering on a narrow, unstable base, or if it is not large enough 
to give the appearance of ample water supply for the sustenance 
of the flowers. In every house having a garden there should 
be vases and flower bowls of various sizes and shapes so that as 
the season unfolds them, the flowers will find suitable recep¬ 
tacles available for their disposal. 
Flowers to preserve their artistic and decorative value must, 
of course, always be fresh. Nothing can be more unlovely and 
oppressive than a lot of wilted, dying flowers or withered greens, 
lienee it is fitting here to refer to the constantly increasing 
and unfortunate custom on the part of motorists to rob the 
roadside of twigs, branches, or clusters of flowers and foliage 
and bring them home where for the briefest period they may 
bring the out-of-doors into the rooms. This practice denudes 
the landscape of its dearest charm, and has no compensating 
effect in the home’s adornment, where, wilted and withered, the 
flowers are only a source of reproach. 
Suitable holders are indispensable for all the simpler types of arrangement where flowers are used sparingly 
with a view to displaying their true form; and a group of metal holders very serviceable for Lilies, Iris, 
Narcissus, flowering shrubs, etc., so much in vogue will be found on page 2ij of the Dec., 1923, issue 
