HOUSE AND GARDEN 
August, 
1911 
103 
should maintain the same relation 
to the primary in the flower ar¬ 
rangement as it does naturally. 
The same is true of combinations 
of leaves from varieties of trees. 
In the photograph of autumn 
leaves and cedar, the maple which 
grows to greater height than the 
cedar is so placed in the vase. 
Flowers which seem attract¬ 
ive together are best arranged 
with an eye for combinations of 
those of the same height, as in the 
picture of salvia and wild carrot. 
Here there is a contrast of color 
as well as the contrast of growth. 
When a vine forms one member 
of an arrangement the effect is 
prettiest if the extra length is al¬ 
lowed below, rather than above 
the other flower. This was accom¬ 
plished in the arrangement of the 
morning glory and mignonette. 
In all combinations consider the 
most massive and boldest flower 
the primary, arranging secondar¬ 
ies above and below as their 
growth suggests. 
After primary and secondaries 
are assigned to their respective 
positions, it seems to me there 
are two distinct ways of placing- 
flowers in receptacles, either by 
massing many of the same kind 
together, depending for effect on 
color only, or so disposing a few 
flowers that flower, leaf and 
stem each plays a part in the de¬ 
sign. By the former method all 
individuality of growth is lost, 
but for a large decoration to be 
seen at a distance, it often seems 
the only practicable way. Imper¬ 
fect flowers also can be used in 
this manner with 
good effect. Al¬ 
though some com¬ 
binations of flow¬ 
ers may mass suc¬ 
cessfully, they are 
apt to be spotty 
or so blended that 
the original color 
weakens too 
much. As a rule 
more artistic re¬ 
sults are obtained 
bv sticking to one 
kind only when 
there is enough 
of it. 
The second 
method requires 
few but perfect 
flowers, and the 
larger the space 
to be decorated, 
the bolder the 
flower must be. There is more 
room here for the originality and 
personality of the arranger to ex¬ 
pand. Again study the growth of 
your plants for suggestions. Pre¬ 
sent their most graceful sides to 
view, show a beautiful curve of 
stem when there is one, and so 
place the sprays in the vases as 
to preserve a look of vitality at 
the base from which they spring, 
assuming- that the surface of the 
water is this base. Prevent hav¬ 
ing too much crossing of the 
stems at this point as it tends to 
destroy the look of life, which is 
so desirable. Then balance the 
masses of blossoms and foliage 
against the spaces between them; 
for there must be spaces to show 
off the flowers and leaves prop¬ 
erly. Confusion and overcrowd¬ 
ing is best overcome sometimes 
by discreet clipping here and 
there. 
One of the great principals of 
the art of design is to make 
masses and spaces balance each 
other properly. Why not consider 
your arrangement a kind of ir¬ 
regular design, as it were, and 
see that your masses of color and 
green, and spaces, balance each 
other, so there are no unpleasant 
holes anywhere and one part of 
your arrangement is not too 
heavy for the other part. “Bal¬ 
ance and harmony without repe¬ 
tition, is the governing principle 
in flower arrangements as well as 
other Japanese Arts” says Josiah 
Condor and it is very helpful to 
keep this phrase in mind. 
If we wish we may let our fancy 
play, and ex¬ 
press consider¬ 
able sentiment 
when planning 
combinations of 
flowers. "There 
is rosemar v, 
that’s for re¬ 
membrance, and 
pansies, that’s 
for thoughts,” 
says Shake¬ 
speare. Lilies 
stand for purity, 
ivy for friend¬ 
ship. Grasses 
and wild flowers 
suggest the 
countr y, sea¬ 
weed the sea and 
so on. M any 
pleasant t imes 
spent together 
and feelings of 
A pretty combination of vine and flower, hydrangeas and 
clematis. Be careful to balance masses with masses, and 
not to leave too great a space between flowers 
The lacy blossoms of the wild carrot make 
a fine contrast with the stiffer and differ¬ 
ently formed salvia 
Morning-glories and mignonette look well on 
the breakfast table. The vine lasts several 
days if picked with buds on 
