Types of Flower Arrangements
Flower compositions usually come in four different types:
- Line arrangements: A few flowers, leaves and buds are arranged naturally to display their characteristic lines of growth.
- Mass or composite bouquets: Many flowers are arranged together according to color and texture.
- Platter bouquets: Only the heads or blossom ends of flowers are displayed in flat receptacles.
- Geometric bouquets: Flowers are arranged in design formats.
Line Arrangements. Many flowers, berries, seed pods and branches are suitable for line arrangements. Flowers like jonquils, irises, and lilies are ideal for line compositions, as are lilac, maple, elm, willow, or fruit tree branches, which bloom many weeks earlier indoors. They exhibit a type of beauty that is often overlooked.
Mass Bouquets. Mass bouquets bring color and life into a room. Peonies, asters, lilacs, larkspurs, and chrysanthemums are only a few of the flowers used in such arrangements. These bouquets may consist of one variety of a blossom with its own leaves, buds and seed pods, or they may include several harmonious varieties. In a composite bouquet, one kind of flower should dominate in terms of quantity, attractiveness and, usually, in size, while another kind should be very inconspicuous. All types of flowers should be decidedly different in form, size, and texture.
Platter Bouquet. The platter bouquet is a more unusual and more complex composition of flowers than line or mass arrangements. The stemless blossoms of dahlias or zinnias look great when afloat in water with a few leaves in a flat bowl. Less important flowers of other varieties may also accompany them.
Geometric Bouquet. The geometric bouquet is the opposite of the natural bouquet. Here, flowers are placed in a stylistic, orderly design, which is particularly suitable for modern rooms with geometric forms. Usually, vases for such arrangements are simple geometric shapes that determine the lines of the entire bouquet. Variety in flower form, color and texture adds individuality to a geometric arrangement. One unusual semigeometric bouquet consists of a tall phlox stalk with a small tiger lily and a cluster of geranium blossoms of vermilion and magenta on each side, with the red-violet stock hiding the stems set in a wire stem holder in a flat, green dish. Throughout the bouquet are many long stems with downy soft green seed pods that unify the arrangement.
Uncut Flower Arrangements. Flower lovers who do not like to cut flowers can make pleasing arrangements by combining potted plants. Bulbs and foliage plants look very attractive in a single container and cactus plants of various shapes also make interesting combinations. The possibilities for imaginative expressions in this kind of plant arrangement are endless.
Color. In arranging flowers, color is even more important to consider than form. The best way to get a quick and effective bouquet is to have a single color sequence, such as violet with red-violet and blue-violet, or a more brilliant harmony of yellow with yellow-orange and yellow-green, or red, red-orange and red-violet. It is best to decide on the type of bouquet one desires: "warm" (red, pink, etc) or "cool" (blue, green, etc.)
Mass Bouquets. Mass bouquets bring color and life into a room. Peonies, asters, lilacs, larkspurs, and chrysanthemums are only a few of the flowers used in such arrangements. These bouquets may consist of one variety of a blossom with its own leaves, buds and seed pods, or they may include several harmonious varieties. In a composite bouquet, one kind of flower should dominate in terms of quantity, attractiveness and, usually, in size, while another kind should be very inconspicuous. All types of flowers should be decidedly different in form, size, and texture.
Platter Bouquet. The platter bouquet is a more unusual and more complex composition of flowers than line or mass arrangements. The stemless blossoms of dahlias or zinnias look great when afloat in water with a few leaves in a flat bowl. Less important flowers of other varieties may also accompany them.
Geometric Bouquet. The geometric bouquet is the opposite of the natural bouquet. Here, flowers are placed in a stylistic, orderly design, which is particularly suitable for modern rooms with geometric forms. Usually, vases for such arrangements are simple geometric shapes that determine the lines of the entire bouquet. Variety in flower form, color and texture adds individuality to a geometric arrangement. One unusual semigeometric bouquet consists of a tall phlox stalk with a small tiger lily and a cluster of geranium blossoms of vermilion and magenta on each side, with the red-violet stock hiding the stems set in a wire stem holder in a flat, green dish. Throughout the bouquet are many long stems with downy soft green seed pods that unify the arrangement.
Uncut Flower Arrangements. Flower lovers who do not like to cut flowers can make pleasing arrangements by combining potted plants. Bulbs and foliage plants look very attractive in a single container and cactus plants of various shapes also make interesting combinations. The possibilities for imaginative expressions in this kind of plant arrangement are endless.
Color. In arranging flowers, color is even more important to consider than form. The best way to get a quick and effective bouquet is to have a single color sequence, such as violet with red-violet and blue-violet, or a more brilliant harmony of yellow with yellow-orange and yellow-green, or red, red-orange and red-violet. It is best to decide on the type of bouquet one desires: "warm" (red, pink, etc) or "cool" (blue, green, etc.)
The best opportunity for fine color combinations is with mixed bouquets. It is good to plan ahead so that one color dominates the arrangement, with enough yellow or white for luster and some violet to resume order in case of discord. Green plants should be sparse and unusual, such as wheat, oats, seed pods, etc. A colorful fall bouquet consists of tritoma (red-hot pokers) supported by small purple asters and yellow yarrow. Another pretty bouquet for the coffee table consists of a mass of California poppies sprinkled with blue corn flowers and magenta stock.
An effective, small arrangement is the known as the Dutch bouquet, which is a composite of many varieties of small flowers of all colors. Almost any flowers from the garden will fit into such a bouquet. The stems are cut down to about four inches and held together tightly in a small container about the size of a cup. The effect is that of a pin cushion of solid embroidery, which is jolly and bright.
One dozen red roses, for example, do not make an interesting color effect since there is merely red above and green below, and the playfulness that is expressed in imaginative combinations of color and form is lacking.
Occasions. Any flower arrangement should reflect the occasion for which it was made. The form and color of the flowers are combined to produce the desired emotional effect. Large impressive masses are suitable for formal affairs; a few dainty, airy flowers are best for intimate occasions. Cool colors, like blue and violet, express dignity and restraint, while warm colors, such as yellow, orange and red, are cheerful and friendly.
Personality. Flowers, like other forms of decoration, should express people's personalities. One would not expect an exotic brunette to have sweet peas in her home, a sophisticated blonde to buy red geraniums, or a gentle grandmotherly type to care for bristling cacti. For personal adornment, too, flowers should supplement, not contradict, the person's characteristics. The coloring of the face, clothing and background naturally affect the choice in flowers as adornments.
Rooms and Flowers. The types of furnishings in a room should similarly influence the selection of flowers. A primitive type of room requires flowers of a sturdy character, whereas fine neo-classical furnishings demand refinement in flowers and receptacles. A room's colors also limit flower selection. Rooms with positive colors and patterns may not need any flowers but merely bold foliage plants. A dainty room with a pale pink, silver or pale blue color scheme may have a flower arrangement echoing these very same colors, plus a pale orchid to complete the adjacent color scheme. On the other hand, a living room with rich, heavy colors, such as dark violet with its triad of dull orange and dull green, would make a suitable background for tulips, zinnias or composite bouquets of many rich colors. In a silver, white or black dining room, the flowers, linen, candles, dishes, food and gowns provide color, thus permitting an entire change in color schemes as desired.
