Women’s topics

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 306, 10 December 1936, Page 2

Women’s topics

STUDY YOUR FLOWERS

THEY ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE HOME THAT THEY REALLY DESERVE SOME ENCOURAGEMENT.

Flowers are such an important feature of the home that they deserve a little petting, both as regards arrangement and care. In “The Australian Journal” for December, Georgia Rivers, the popular writer on women's topics, gives the following hints about cut flowers:

Flowers should be cut either early In the morning, while the dew is still on them, or in the cool of the evening. Gladioli, paeonies and dahlias after sunset.

It may not always be convenient th arrange them as soon as cut, and this is all to the good, as they should really be soaked for several hours in big, open jugs or bowls in a dark, cool place. Indeed, the fleshy-leaved opes, such as stock forget-me-not a<id snapdragon, will last longer if staked for at least 12 hours before tliey are arranged. ■ 'Paeonies should be cut when they begin to show colour, dahlias in full bloom and poppies and iris while in the bud, and all cutting should be done on the slant with a sharp knife. Shears are apt to bruise the stem, stopping the free rise of ■water to the flowers, and a slant is always fetter than a straight cut as it presents the flat end of the stem resting on the bottom of the jar and so blocking the flow. Strong though it looks, the number Of hints one can pick up regarding the dahlia makes one feel that it is decidedly “choosey” flower. Rather like the princess in Hans Anderson, Who could feel’three, peas through half a dozen feather mattresses. Not duly should dahlias be picked after sunset and when in full bloom, but they should never be Exposed to a draught of air. (This applies in. a greater of*' lesser degree to * ail flowers). The dahlia should also be plunged into boiling water before it is‘ arranged. This boiling water process takes naturally, as soon as the powers are cut, and should be applied to poppies, hollyhocks, heliotrope and mignonette. The flowers themselves should be protected from heat and steam.

Woody branches, as in chrysanthemums, roses, paeonies and lilac should be split, pounded or scraped at the ends before being immersed.

Tulips should not be mixed with other, flowers or they will probably fade. A little starch, and a pinch of salt added to their water is quite a good idea. Any ■ disinfectant, such as permanganate .of potash or potassium nitrate (that is, anything that prevents the growth of bacteria), tends to prolong the life of the cut flowers. Some £owers, such as violets, should have their leaves and flowers sprinkled. from time to time, and all flowers should be kept out of a strong Sunlight once they are cut.

I have heard that if roses, large chrysanthemums,- lilies or. almost any woody-stemmed flowers droop, it is a good idea to plunge them up to their necks in warm water—using hot water if they are very far gone. They are said to revive very quickly and remain fresh until their appointed hour.

Though visitors to Melbourne exclaim at the beauty of our gardens, quite a number of homes are flowerless. Perhaps there is no gardener in the family and little spare money for buying cut flowers. In the country districts, naturally, it is often very difficult for the busy housewife •with little time and less water to spare to keep even a small plot going. But even if flowers themselves are scarce, what about 'the many other decorations which lighten a room so wonderfully. Gum is one pf the simple substitutes which has caught on here, and thanks go from all of us to the sensible creature who first decided to decorate his or her room with these cheap, fresh-scented

branches. Tall grasses, gorse, thistles, wild berries, cool clumps of any green leaf are available to many people who live “out” a little, while flat-dwellers can make their small porticos delightful with big pots of nasturtiums (these flowers seem to grow while one looks at them), boxes of bulbs or any dwarf variety of plants. When arranging flowers, give some thought to the various pots and try to harmonise the colours. Though the walls and furniture may be neutral, it is a pity to mix colours such as orange and pink, brown and corn-flower-blue, even though the jars may be some little distance apart. The eye as it roams round the room is apt to be jarred by too much clashing, for a mixture which is charming in a garden may not blend nearly so well indoors.

Lilies, daffodils and fruit blossom should be placed near a wall, so that they may cast shadows. As a rule flowers look best against a solid background, and not with the light behind them, though naturally there are exceptions to this rule.