Learn the art of

flo

A DELICATE or dramatic flower
arrangement is an unbeatable ac-
cent in any room in your home.

Although some people seem to
have a natura! flair for putting
them together, with a little time
and imagination, you, too, can
convert a bunch of flowers and
leaves into a beautiful and satis-
fying home decoration.

Although it won't take very long
to learn, practise does make
perfect.

For about six months of the year
in most parts of Canada, you can
simply take flowers and foliage
from your own garden. However,
there is a wide range of relativeiy
inexpensive bulb flowers from
Holland available today.

Whatever varieties you choose,
always buy bulb flowers in bud,
just as they are beginning to show
color, to ensuire the longest possi-~
ble vase life.

In addition to the familiar tulips
and daffodils, consider fragrant
hyacinths, delightfully. perfumed
freesia and elegant Dutch irises.

Hippaestrum, or Royal Dutch
Amaryllis, familiar. as a potted
plant, is also sensational as a cut
flower. ane

When cut; daffodils tend to ex-
ude a milky fluid which can
shorten the vase life of other
flowers, so always put them in a
separate container of water before
adding them'to mixed arrange-
ments. — - .

You will need a sharp knife.and
scissors, a smail watering can and,
of course, vases or other coil-
tainers of various shapes and sizes.

To fix the flowers in position
you can use some wide-mesh
chicken wire, pinholders to fit
various containers or floral foam
(called oasis). *

You. will find these and other
accessories”. at ° florists’, shops or
garden centres: .

Before starting an arrangement,
visualize the finished display.

Consider the flowers and foliage
you have chosen, the type of con-
tainer, and the color scheme and
layout. of the room where you will
place it.

A mantelpiece may call for a
small arrangement, a side table for
a big, showy one, while the one on

_ the dining room. table should not

hide dinner guests from each
other!

If. you are using large blooms,
like- tulips,. or hyacinths, try a
compact form for the arrange-
-ment, such as an oval or a triangle.
If you are using tall, slender
flowers, ‘such as Dutch iris, ‘you
may wish to arrange them in a

Remember
the damper
Because of the cold, wet weather,
many North Shore residents are
muking - more use -of their

fireplaces. :.
But wheii your fireplace is not in

use, be “suze .that its chimney
damper : is closed to prevent heat
loss from: the house (except when
intentionally used as a means of
ventilation). -;

Because: a room: can be, filled

with | smoke in an amazingly short*

time, be’sure to-open the damper
before lighting a fire.

Water appearing in the firebox
may not necessarily be a defect in
the fireplace. It may. simply be a
result of rain falling directly down
the chimney flue.

flowing curve or fan shape. Other
bulb flowers, like freesia,
anemones or ranunculus, fit well
into a line design, such as an “L"*
shape.

Choose a container of the right
size, shape and color to give a
balanced appearance and to com-
plement or contrast with your
chosen flowers.

Ensure that your  pinholder,
crumpled chicken wire or well-
soaked floral foam is firmly fixed
in the container. Fill about three
quarters full of water before you
begin, because the added weight
helps keep the container steady.
Top it up when you have finished.

Choose one flower as the main
stem in your design and cut it so
that the part visible above the rim

eather
Gallery

er arranging

of the container is at Jeast 14
times the container’s largest
dimension (cither height or width).
Secure this flower in place.

Then, take the others, cut their
stems io varying lengths — but all
shorter than the main one — and
position them so that they radiate
out from the central point. Stems
should not cross each other where
they are visible.

Use foliage as background and
to fill in and carry on the shape of
your arrangement.

Finally, don’t create too sym-
metrical a shape; try for a graceful
balance.

Increase your enjoyoment by
continually trying mew arrange-
ments with different types of bulb
and other flowers.

25 - Friday, January 22, 1988 - North Shore News

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