“In one of my college art courses I had touched 
upon flower arranging; now I began to study it in earn- 
est. I acquired an assortment of needlepointed holders 
and other equipment, and began to collect vases and 
baskets especially suited to gladiolus, and to devise new 
ways of using and arranging them. I read all the 
books in the library on flower arranging and bought 
a few for myself. I had always loved to work with 
color and here wes a rich abundance of it! No matter 
what one does with glads, they are beautiful; with a 
little imagination and effort at composition, they are 
breath-taking. I cannot imagine why the frequent 
assertion that glads are hard to arrange and difficult to 
work with! To me, they are the most rewarding of 
all flowers. 
“My first sale was a basket of blended pinks, from 
very pale to quite deep in color to be taken to a baby 
shower. Next day ladies who were there phoned in 
several orders. After a gift to each of the dress shops, 
they became steady customers. A card placed incon- 
spicuously by the basket or arrangement told by whom 
they were grown, and our address. No further adver- 
tising was necessary—the flowers themselves did the 
rest. 
“Last summer, all through the blooming season, our 
glads were everywhere, all over town. They decorated 
the dress-shop windows, the beauty shops, the theatre 
lobby, and the restaurants. Each Sunday the churches 
were filled with them, (I gave many of these, but often 
they were bought and taken there, too.). 
“The jeweler lets me design arrangements to illus- 
trate the uses for his line of vases. One intriguing one 
I remember was a little iridescent swan, proudly bear- 
ing a beautiful tail of Wedgwood. It was just realistic 
enough to be amusing, and certainly did attract atten- 
tion. 
“Hundreds went to the hospital and dozens were 
used for wedding decorations. Parties, lodges, teas, 
banquets, and school affairs—all such functions—are 
eager to use them. I sell them for $2.50 a dozen, and 
will lend the containers, if desired, for a small deposit. 
If there is any surplus, the florist at Shelby, twenty- 
four miles east, will take them at $1.50 a dozen. Often 
he will call up and beg for some for special occasions. 
I usually let him have them. The most beautiful 
funeral piece he ever saw, he told me, was one in 
which he used Friendship; also, the most exquisite 
bridal bouquet was one in which he had used Wedg- 
wood. 
“My favorite containers, aside from baskets, are 
vases in shell shapes. Of these there is an infinite 
variety. Other favorite containers include a pewter 
pitcher with a fairly large mouth. Pastel is stunning 
in it, and Oklahoma with a few Patrol or Autumn Gold 
is exquisite. 
“I like a hammered copper bowl for the bronze 
smokies. Such varieties as Vagabond Prince, King 
Tan, Buckeye Bronze, Tony, Dusty Miller or Tunia’s 
Mahomet acquire a barbaric splendor in it. 
“So much for the smaller containers; only one cau- 
tion, and it has been repeated many times: Keep the 
container plain and simple. Ornate vases are not for 
glads. 
“For most arrangements I like the gladiolus’ own 
leaves for foliage. Iris leaves will substitute nicely. I 
use huckleberry, too, a great deal, and have used 
choke-cherry leaves in baskets and found them highly 
satisfactory. I do not like baby’s breath with glads. 
They seem incongruous—never designed to go to- 
gether. I am careful, too, about using ruffled and 
plain varieties of glads together; I prefer not to. 
“In arranging baskets, I love to blend colors. I re- 
call an enchanting salmon-pink one using Bengasi, 
Genghis Khan, Susannah, and Enchantment. I gave 
this basket to a friend for her wedding anniversary. 
I have never seen anyone more deeply thrilled. 
“I am still hearing about an exquisite rose-and- 
silver basket, featuring the new Noweta Rose and a 
sister seedling of nearly the same shade. The spikes 
themselves were superb, and in that silver basket they 
were magnificent. 
“A combination of Mighty Monarch and Flying For- 
tress in an immense basket was shown in a dress shop 
window with red suits and grey accessories. People 
crowded out onto the sidewalk to look at that one! 
“The range is limitless. Close harmonies like most 
of those I have mentioned are always pleasing, but 
occasionally a sharp contrast like Abu Hassan with a 
pure white like Summer Snow will ring a bell. There 
are some new ones I want to try this coming season— 
there always will be, each year! 
“No one could have a more fascinating hobby. It 
has led John into color photography, and me into 
flower arrangement, the most challenging and in- 
triguing pursuit I ever knew. Through it, we have 
quite literally obeyed the injunction to “Brighten the 
Corner Where You Are!” and we have gained a host 
of new friends thereby. 
“When my friend Alberta, who owns one of the 
dress shops, introduces me as ‘the Gladiolus Lady’, 
the pleased recognition that usually follows always 
delights me, and I acknowledge the introduction 
proudly. What greater compliment could one have 
than to be identified with this lovely flower?” 
Our Display at the Central International Glad Show at Madison, Wisconsin, 1950. 
