A Note From “The Hoe." How to Arrange Flowers

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 7

A Note From “The Hoe." How to Arrange Flowers

Short-stemmed flowers, such as pansies and violas, are awkward to arrange in the ordinary bowl dr vase. They look very fine, however, arranged. in small china bowls, filled to within 2 inches of the top with sand, and then filled to the surface with water. The pansy sralks are placed in the sand, where they stand upright, and if a few of their own leaves are put among them they appear to be actually growing. Long-stemmed flowers in a tall vase have a habit >f falling down into the neck of the vase most ungracefully. This can be prevented by placing a few .pieces of cottonwool upon the surface of the readyfilled vase, then arranging the flower stems on top of the cotton-wool. It sinks exactly as far as one desires and provides the necessary amount of “grip” required to ensure a‘graceful spray effect. Sweet peas look especially well treated in this way and only half the amount of blooms are needed. Crush all flower stems an inch or so after plucking, and they will never flag. Hard-wooded stems should be split up the middle. The bottom leaves of leafy-stem-med flowers, such as aquilegia and chrysanthemum, should be rubbed off a few inches, as they decay in the water and sour it. Never let the stems of flowers and foliage press against the bottom of the vase; change the water at least onee a day, and never indulge in overcrowding. Flowers are best cut in the early morning when the dew is on them; after sundown is the next best time.