37 FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

B. Loganayaki

FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

Objectives:

To understand the importance of flower arrangement in the interior
To identify the principles of flower arrangements
To know the types of flowers and foliage used in flower arrangement
To learn circular, vertical, horizontal, asymmetrical and Ikebana arrangements

Introduction:

Every one of us are more interested to keep the home beautiful and attractive. In these days whether residential or commercial areas, decorating with accessories are playing an important role. Among these accessories, arranging flowers create liveliness to the room. No interior decoration can be complete without the presence of a few flowers in a room. They add glamour beauty and Charm to one’s residential life. Today arranging flowers has become fascinating hobby to many house wives and it is a specialized art.

Purpose of flower arrangement

The arrangement of fresh flowers and foliage brings nature indoors
A good flower arrangement can convert a dull corner into a lively, beautiful place.
It is to present a centre of interest in any event organized
Its purpose should be to bring in cheerfulness.
As fresh flowers are changed almost daily, a new detail is added to the interior on a regular basis.
It is to express ones personality and aesthetic taste through flower arrangement

Principles of flower arrangement:

Even though the art of flower arrangement involves many principles, the below mentioned are some important principles:

Design: It decides the structural pattern of the floral arrangement. The outline should be clear and pleasing. No mechanics should be visible.
Balance: It emphasizes on the use of materials in a floral arrangement which gives stability to the arrangement. To bring about a good balance the buds and smaller flowers are placed on the top and sides, larger and brighter flowers in the centre of the design.
Scale: It deals with the proportions of different components of the floral arrangement that is base, container, flower and foliage. The arrangement should be at least one and a half times the size of its container. Texture, shape and colour must also be proportionate.
Rhythm: It emphasizes on directing the viewer’s eye along the main line of arrangement. It is obtained by continuity of line by balancing of curves and lines. There should be movement, flow of energy and life.
Emphasis (Focal Point): The central portion of the floral arrangement from where the flowers and foliage of the arrangement appear should be emphasized. It is the principle by which the eye is carried firs to the most important thing in any arrangement and from that point to any other detail, in the order of its importance.
Harmony and Unity: This principle takes care of the appropriate use of flowers and its colours for the occasion. Colour, texture, sizes and shapes all play an important role in building harmony.
Colour : Colour provides the endless combinations where the contrasts are very stimulating and brings in variety. Contrasting ferns enhance an arrangement. Colours like red and orange have the ability to create an atmosphere of warmth. Blues and green colours give receding effect.
Environment: The arrangement should be one that fits into the environment in which it is displayed. It also means planning the design and taking the room and background into consideration where it is placed.

Materials requirement for arranging flowers:

1. Flower and foliage:

For people without a garden, a florist shop, super market or flower stall is the main source of fresh flowers. Cut flowers for flower arrangement include Chrysanthemum, Carnations, Gladioli, Asters, Roses, etc…

A good floral composition is practically impossible without the support of right kind of foliage. The leaves of indoor plant varieties, will invariably last better in a vase because they are harder in character. Feathery ferns like asparagus and fish bone look dainty when combined with roses or small seasonal flowers. Tough and strong palm varieties can be mixed with heavy flowers. As these are slow growing plants, it is a better idea to cut leaves from the base. Some ornamental shrubs such as thuja and cyprus (cupruses) have leaves that are resilient for cut use .If bushy branches are used, trim some leaves to prevent a top heavy look. In this way the outline of the branch will also stand out better..

2. Equipment:

A few basic pieces of equipment are necessary before one begin arranging any floral display. They include the * Container or vase, a good and strong *pair of florist scissors *a small watering can * Small sharp knife (for cutting tough stems or stripping away excessfoliage). Apart from this actual supports may also be necessary to arrange the display. They are *florists foam /oasis/Wire mesh/Pin holder and objects such as * marbles, pebbles, shells and so on.

3. Container or vase:

(1) A container should be one to hold sufficient water for the flower to drink for a limited period (2) Simplicity should be the aim in selecting the vases or containers (3) They should be well proportioned and in good shape. (4) Colours naturally suitable for vases are soft earth colours, wood browns, soft dull blues, grey green, white and black (5) Clear glass containers give a good effect for most flowers. (6) Baskets can also be used (7) A block of wood or bamboo can be used.

If wood or bamboo is used,a cavity made in the wood, wet mud is filled in and the flower arrangement is made. This is very cheap and attractive (8) Porcelain containers available in various shapes and sizes are not very expensive. (9) Metal containers like silver, lead, copper or brass should be used very carefully since the texture of the containers need careful blending with the flowers.

4. Florist’s foam:

Foam is most popular among the florist. It is specially manufactured substance which readily absorbs water and support any stem inserted into it, provided they are not too heavy. For fresh flower arrangement soak it in cold water before using .Never let an arrangement in foam day out, as it will not take up water again .Foam’s only disadvantages is that it tends to break up if the stems are too heavy or if it is over soaked or over used. Florists foam is also available for dried display.

5. Wire mesh:

It is best for heavy stems and random fresh display. It also provides support for many dried flower arrangements.

6. Pin holder:

A pin holder is a heavy metal base studded with a large number of small upright pins on to which the stems are inserted. These are useful particularly when designing an arrangement using a limited number of flowers in a shallow container. When introducing the stems to the pin holder, place them vertically and ease them gently to the required angle.

7. Marbles and pebbles

The florists foam / wire mesh / pin holder should be hidden by the flowers, foliage or container itself. However, pretty, translucent marbles or attractively coloured pebbles provide a form of support which can look particularly impressive when seen through striking glass container. Shells can also provide an attractive support for the arrangement.

Rules for flower arrangement :

1. While arranging flowers if tall containers are used flowers should be twice the height of the container, for low containers, add height and width.

2. A defenite plan is needed before beginning the arrangement.

3. Containers are selected to harmonise with decorative mood of the room.

4.All stems of flowers should be cut in different sizes. short stem flowers require low bowl, tall ones need broad or tall vases, to balance the height of flowers. Low wide containers will take any arrangement.

5. The tallest flowers are arranged first. The flowers selected as focal point should be large, bright and fully bloomed. The focal point has to be low and near the centre.

6. The fully bloomed and large flowers should be placed low. All small flowers need to be placed in groups or bunches. Long slender stem can be extended outwards.

7. Sort colours and these should be arranged such that the light ones are at the top and the dark ones at the bottom.

8. Various shades of one colour should be graduated. It is wise to use dark colour bloom as accent at the top or focal point.

9.Arrange flowers so that they fall as nearly as possible in their natural position. Flowers should never appear cramped.

10. While selecting the large varieties, choose flowers with tightly curled petals at the centre, having a depression.

11. Plant materials should cover the rim of vase.

12.Do not mix delicate and fine textured flower with heavy coarse ones. Paper and artifical flowers are best avoided but use twigs and other greenary.

Methods of arranging flowers :

Flower arrangement is an art for many florists, Interior designers and creative artists who will take this art more seriously. It is not necessary that only exotic flowers are used but simple and even wild flowers are arranged to make beautiful flower decorations. Types of flower arrangement depends on the focal point, shape and fillers used. Here you can see the different types of flower arrangement.

1.Line arrangement: Here the element of line dominates the art of arranging flowers. Very few flowers are used. They contribute height and linear emphasis to the

arrangement. E.g, gladiolus and astromaria. These types of arrangement are normally used in smaller rooms.

2.Mass arrangement: When large mass of flowers are used, these arrangements are called mass arrangement. These flowers are usually round and big with single stem and solid head. E.g, Gerbera, Anthodium etc.

3.Line and mass arrangement: These are mass arrangements using the element of line as the dominant element of art used. This arrangement is also called as Hogarth curve.

4. Side triangle – This is the easiest one to arrange.

The height and the width may be on the right or on the left. The focal point is at the base. A flat container is often used.

5. S – Shaped arrangement – A rhythmic arrangement with a figures ‘s’ sometimes the figure ‘s’ comes to the point below the vase.

6. Circle – It is a curved arrangement. The centre of interest is lowered half the interest. A round bowl is ideal for this arrangement.

7.Floating arrangement – Flowers can also be alternatively arranged in different fashion. Drawing one’s inspiration from such flowers like lotus and water lily .One can arrange them in such a way that they seems to be floating in a pond or tank. This arrangement can be done in shallow bowls and trays with flowers whose stems are short. The largest, highest and most attractive flowers can be allowed to float in the centre with others grown around. The flowers should not completely cover up the water. Flowers of different colours may be used in this type of arrangement.

8. Diminutive arrangement :

Also called as miniature arrangement is one that does not exceed 5 inches in any dimensions. These type of small arrangements may be used on food trays, on small end tables or in children’s play house. All diminutive arrangement depend largely upon and containers. A shell, ash tray or egg-cup may serve as a container.

9. Foliage and berry arrangements :

For the average busy house – wife foliage provides the best material for her semi-permanent every day arrangement. Flowers may also be added to foliage arrangement. Interesting foliage arrangement are created by combining 2 or 3 varieties of leaves which are of different size and shape.

10. Weed arrangement :The materials should usually be gathered in the summer or autumn and hung head downward until they are thoroughly dry. Dry arrangement with seed pods, stalks of wheat, sunflowers, caster seeds, cotton, date palm and the tops of corn, stalks are useful. Dry everlasting flowers like statice

11. Fruit and vegetable arrangement

Fruits and vegetables are not normally combined in the same arrangement. Foliage is employed in most fruits or vegetable arrangements to give height and to supply variety. A special stem holder in its own cup stand be used for the leaves. It can be hidden by fruits or vegetables.

12. Artificial flower arrangement

.Persons who are allergic to fresh flowers as well as those who do not have the time or money to procure and arrange living flowers may find that the artificial substitutes provide the cheerful, colourful accents that their homes need.

There are three main styles in arranging the flower known as.

1. Traditional 2. Oriental 3. Modern style.

Traditional style

The beauty in this type of flower arrangement is mainly from massing. Full bodied composition in which comparatively large amount of plant material employed and also are known as mass arrangement. In massing or grouping of flowers care must be taken to have proper balance and proportion between the containers and flowers. In this type the arrangement of flowers must present a multicoloured mass effect. It is always attractive to combine all light colours or bright colors in a vase.

The Oriental style :

This style is also called as Ike-bana, a Japanese word. Literally ike means to arrange while bana denotes flowers. Though there are different schools of ikebana, one of the fore runners is the Ohara School. In this style, simplicity is the keyword. It is also symbolic, meaningful and informal. One important rule however is that the plant materials used must be those which are associated with nature. In other words flowers, trees and shrubs which grow in a similar environment. The flowers chosen are always in odd numbers 3,5,7, etc.

In Japanese arrangement, flat containers is generally used with only a pin holder securing the flowers. In its 3 main lines, it represent heaven, man and earth. These are called respectively Shin, Soe, Hikae.

Shin : It represents heaven, which is always longest and the most important line wherever it may happens to be placed. It must be cut to measure the width of the container plus its depth. Shin is placed at an angle of 15o (15 degree is practically upright in japanese flower arrangement.

Soe : It represents man and is chosen for its lovely curve in the middle. It is cut to three quarters the length of shin and is placed at an angle of 45 degree.

Hikae : Representing the earth is the shortest line. It is cut to three quarter the length of soe and is placed at an angle of 75o container with flower and leaves leaning towards each other from the ends of the dish, the Rimpa style that uses a lot of flowers and the Hana isho which is visible from all sides.

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