F _ Flower Arrangement696 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management _ ——— After the 1930s, rules and guidelines were formulated for which the first flower-arranging experts made their appearance on the scene Professionally Now this art is used in hotels, offices, and hospitals on an everyday basis. Even at homes and venues of festivities on auspicious occasions, flowers are used in a big way in the form of garlands, wall hangings, and floor decorations. Flower arrangements grace tabletops, window sills, corners, fireplaces, banisters, and so on to suit the occasion, Today, flower arrangement may be defined as the art of organizing and groupin together plant materials (lowers, foliage, fruits, twigs, and so on) to achieve haces of form, colour, and texture, thereby adding cheer, life, and beauty to the surroundings I) FLOWER ARRANGEMENT IN HOTELS In hotels, flowers are used extensivel the foyer and in lounges and restaur Some hotels provide a bud vase in one arrangement. Figure 28.1 shows a contemporary arrangement suitable for lobbies. Guests appreciate time and trouble spent on the arrangements and the pleasing atmosphere they create. Various types of arrangements are chosen, as appropriate to the area and occasion Medium-sized ‘round’ arrangements are often provided at the guest relations executives desk in the lobby and on coffee tables in the lounges. In most five-star hotels, one can see huge, spectacular arrangements in the lobbies. Restaurants generally have bud vases on each table, with one or two flowers in them. Table arrangements for conferences must be low so that guests may see over them. At informal banquets, large arrangements may be seen. At wedding banquets, wall arrangements using gerberas are very popular nowadays. On special occasions and festivals, a large amount of flowers is required for making up var- ous types of arrangements—some hotels even make beautiful traditional flower carpets iw the lobby. The extent to which flowers are used in hotel interiors depends on the degree 0! luxury provided, the number of special functions held there arid, of course, the hotel Leas The housekeeper is responsible for all flower arrangements and their placem : in most hotels. He or she may arrange them personally or delegate the or es assistant. Another possibility is employing a part-time or full-time florist. te arrangements such as a bud in a vase : be done by room attendants themselves Alternatively, flower arrangements ™ be provided on contract, in which cast" arrangements are brought in and akeo 2" at agreed times and little or ne floral is carried out on the premises. by Unless the decorations are provide’ a contractor, the housekeeping sr needs to have a flower room eq! all the necessities for making up aang including a sink with running water, © buckets, vases, scissors, and so 00: amateur florists, followin, ly. There may be a large arrangement of flowers in ‘ants, as well as smaller arrangements in the suites, every room. VIP rooms may even have more than the| wee FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Bacicg __Flower Arrangement 697 Making Up a good flowe, arranger, and beginners different plant materials magazines for ideas is o, developing skill in flow, Basic Ingredients The materials used for maki elaborate (compared to aa ie orran The following groups of ee + Mechanics T arrange, Ment re can develop thi ‘quires a lot of creativity on the part of the . Study 8 a g pictures rough study and experimentation with ne way of learnin th interesting arrangements in books and er arrangement, 8 this art, but actual practice is essential for : igements are not necessarily expensive or ut as with all other crafts, they are a necessity. and aids are essential to flower arrangement: + Equipment * Accessories + Containers * Plant material + Bases * Support Mechanics These are items used to keep the flowers, foliage, and stems in place within the con- tainer. Mechanics must be fixed securely and should be hidden from view. The most popular and basic mechanics are florists’ foam, pin holders, and chicken wire. Many of the mechanics listed below are not necessary for a beginner. The various mechanics used in flower arrangement are shown in Figure 28.2. Floral foam This is also called ‘oasis’. Itis a cellular plastic material. A few plants, such as tulips, find water intake difficult when set in foam, however. There are two types available—green foam and brown/grey foam. Green foam This needs to be soaked in water for at least half an hour and then fresh plant material may be inserted into it. The popular shapes for green foam are ‘rounds’ and ‘blocks’. This type of foam is extremely light when dry, but its weight increases by over 30 times when saturated with water. The green foam should be stored wrapped in plastic or foil after use to prevent degradation from atmospheric moisture. ««ig used only for dry plant material or artifical display materials. Brown/greyfoam ea foam is that stems can be held at any angle in both shallow sey nee The problem of smelly water is also eliminated for longer-lasting pai leep aa a aa of large ements, however, extra support with chicken wire \gements. ane is required. hy or ‘wi tting’. A fine- ire should jg js also called ‘wire mesh’ or wire netting’. ‘gauge wire sho —— ng a vith, a -inch mesh may be bought. To use, you cut off the thicker, Pe = i et cee wire into a tube or crumple into a ball to fit the container. This is the preferred type of mechanics for tll O» heavy stems. Bligtaich mesh grade is aad ae floral foam blocks in large displays. Florists Talvinta wire and plastic-ooated wire. However, al dried before storing for later use.698 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Setting clay Florist cone Pin holder kenzan Frog Non-setting clay eS Jo~ CF Adhesive tape ‘Adhesive clay Pebbles Glue gun Fig. 28.2 Mechanics used in flower arrangement Pin-holders These are also called kenzan or needle-point holders. A series of sharply pointed pins are firmly held in a solid lead base, which may be circular or rectangular. Feholds thick and heavy stems securely by impaling them on the pins. The holder may be used on its own in a shallow dish or with other mechanics for a large display in.a deep container. Choose one with a heavy base and a large number of sharp brass pins placed close together. Avoid iron ones, as they rust in water. It is best to start with ane basic pin holder, as they are expensive—most useful is a round shape of 3 inches Giameter. It may be stuck to the base of the container with adhesive clay. Well-type pin holders are also available, which do not call for a container as the dish around the pin holder holds water. prong Thisis the simplest type of flora foam anchor. Itisa small plastic disc wi . : tic vertical prongs. The base of the prong is attached to the coe a en a a and the block or round floral foam is pressed down onto the prongs. M esive clay prong may be required if a large block of floral foam is used. prongs. More than one Florist’s cone This is also called a ‘flower tube’ or ‘fl A ‘i lower funnel’. I i pan vase. Itis ute in ae arrangements, where foliage or ewes rare a aa their stem oe its length is about 1 foot and the pointed end is e placed above cane, which is then pushed into floral foam or chicken wire. Fil is generally tied to a before inserting the stem. wire. Fill the cone with waterFlower Arrangement 699 Adhesive clay This i form which hold in’ 280 teferred to as ‘oasis fix’. Tis a non-setting sticky clay in strip candle cup to the eae Hees together. Its used for securing a prong, pin holder or it, simply wipe away ae Adhesive clay is sold in brown or green colours. To remove va Y with white spirit, Plasticine can be an alternative. pemanientiny ae Sometimes available under the name of ‘dri-hard’ and is used in hours, which saan wtificial flower arrangements. This material sets solid after a few ‘cans that neither the clay nor the plant is reusable. Plaster of Paris is a opular i i popt alternative for securing the stems of topiary trees in pots. -setting cl ai : ean eeTTa oe lay _ This is also available under the name ‘stay-sof”. It is used for dry and at a later dat ‘er arrangements, where the plant material is to be removed and reused Platticn ne OF where non-permanent accessories such as candles are to be inserted. lasticine can be used as an alternative. Non. Adhesive tape This is also called ‘oasis tape’. This strong sticky tape may be wide or narrow and is used mainly to secure floral foam or chicken wire to the container. Narrow tape is occasionally stretched across the top of a shallow wide-mouthed container in criss-cross fashion to form a grid to hold plants. Glue Quick-drying glue is used in dried flower arrangements to attach flowers or leaves to the container or to other plant materials. The most convenient way to apply the glue is using a glue gun. Pebbles and marbles Small pebbles have long been used to hold the stems of cut flowers. Round marbles or flattened glass nuggets in a glass vase can also add to the attractiveness of the display. Equipment This includes tools or other aids used to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement of plant material is created within the container. Only a few pieces of equipment out of all those listed below are essential for a beginner-bucket, scissors, knife and watering can (Figure 28.3). Bucket A water-filled bucket is a vital piece of equipment for collecting flowers from the garden and for conditioning the blooms before making an arrangement. Choose the type with side handles, as the standard free-swinging single handle can damage flowers during transport. Florist’s scissors Ordinary scissors are not suitable for cutting plant stems~they tend cierrush, the tissues. Choose a pair of florist’ scissors instead. In these, the blades are short and one is serrated. At the base, there may be a notch to be used for cutting thin wires (but not woody stems or heavy gauge wire). Mister A hand-held spray bottle to produce a fine mist of water droplets is an aid to keeping an arrangement looking fresh in warm weather. Spray the mist slightly above the top of the display as soon as the arrangement is done and then repeat daily. ‘These are used to cut through thick and woody stems. The garden type is Secateurs it there are narrower ones made especially for the florist. commonly available, but Watering can This is used for topping up the water supply in the container or re-wetting the florists’ foam for holding a fresh flower arrangement. Buy a plastic one and look for700 _Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Gan se 0 Bucket Floral scissors oire Floral tae y alinile Dolce ie ital) villistes Cecateurs ire cutter Cocktail sticks ul) Out (dUer Dreseratitid Fig. 28.3 Equipment used in flower arrangement two important features—the spout should be long and narrow and it should arise from the base of the can. Floral tape This stem-binding tape made of plastic and waxed paper is “2 inch wide and is used to cover artificial stems made of wire. It stretches slightly when wound around the item to be covered and sticks to itself when warmed in the hands. Wire This is used to support drooping stems and for making posies, corsa on, Itis also used to make false stems for dried and artificial flowers and to bend droge of blooms together. Three types of wires are used: clumps Stub wire Strongest; available in green, blue, and black colours, Rose wire Thinner silver wire for fine work. Reel wire Available in blue, green, silver, and black; wound on a bobbin: . used for binding plant material. a bobbin; extensively Knife Buy acraft knife with a sharp blade for scraping stems, removin, ; ping away thorns. Itis also employed for preparing stem ends by oui a and strip- pcasionally a vertical shit Itmay also be used to cut floral foam Bes eno eis cess clay, ire cutters These are useful for heavy cutting work i 7 plastic Miems of artificial flowers, and thick stub wires, w* *S Cutting chicken wire,Flower Arrangement _701 Paints and finishes as plant material. Candle holder Vi floral foam or plac rather th: Paints can be Fs used on containers, mechanics, and bases as well riou: placing bars plastic candle holders are available for inserting in an serve purely as es a metal-lined holder if the candle is to be lit Cocktail sticks aeOR SESE to es octal stick or a tooth pick to make holes in florists’ foam for Romie aaa the foam holding a flower display. Several sticks are und the base of a candle to secure it in a table arrangement. Cut flower pre: toa Bere i enervative ae is available in powder or liquid form under different brand vase water, plus su ly a bactericide to prevent slime and smell from developing in the in-house by addi i to prolong the life of fresh flowers. A preservative can be made y adding three teaspoons of sugar and one drop of bleach to half a litre of water. Turntable This is useful for an all-round balanced arrangement. Containers Pe acorns api that hold the flower arrange! ial. The container must be wat base material from which the container is made d such as soft grey, dull brown, off-white, or earth colours are are inconspicuous and do not detract attention from the flowers displayed. decorated containers are unsuitable. Theme and simplicity should be kept in mint choosing the design of the container. that is at least as tall as it favourite container for cut flowers. Ifa gl marbles so that underwater stems do not single specimen of rose, tulip, or xy and plastic ones are common. d is useful for old-world and ment. They may or may not be hidden erproof if fresh flowers are used. The letermines its texture. Neutral colo ¢ most suitable because they Elaborately d while urs Vase and jug A vase is a container tis wide and is often quite narrow, with a restricted mouth, It is a lass vase is used, it is best to partly fill it with glass nuggets or look unattractive. A bud vase is @ tall, thin vase that holds a onchid, Metal vases were once very popular, but now potte ‘A jug is a lipped container with a single handle an ‘natural’ arrangements. Basket This is a popu: packets are easily available. Colours range fr choose a closely woven one so that the mechanics are hidden from view. A purpose selection is a shallow, wide basket with a high handle. For fresh flower arrangements, it is necessary to have a waterproof container within perhaps a hamper, @ square or rectangular lidded basket. Bowls and trays These are shallow containers. Cups and dishes are shallower than the Fenbow! type and are widely used for tabletop arrangements. A taza is a cup borne on a tall and narrow stem. An um is a robust cup in pottery, stone, or plastic, borne on a cat tout stem and often with handles and a square base. A tray isa flat container wi a taised sides, used for dried and artificial flower displays and also for line ar ere ra fresh plant materials. A board isa piece of cork, decorative wood, o arrangements as a container without any sides; on this, some florists’ foam emo or similar, used or artificial plant materials are inserted into it. or clay is placed and dried ar container for dried flower arrangements. Willow and bamboo om pale cream to near black. It is wise to good all-702 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Rose bowl This used to be a popular container for table decorations. The low cylin- drical base of pottery or glass holds water and the plant-holding lid consists of either a criss-cross frame of thick silvered wire or a series of round holes for the stem. Itis useful for a posy-type arrangement. Wreath frame Wreaths bedecked with seasonal flowers, berries, and foliage are favourite features for the table and door at festivities such as Christmas. Choices may be made from a woven cane ring, a wire frame in which moss has been inserted, a frame covered with real or artificial conifer foliage, and a florists’ foam ring. Candle cup This is a shallow dish of plastic or metal that holds a block or round of florists’ foam and has a short stem at the base. This stem is fixed in a candlestick with adhesive clay and taped in place before beginning the arrangement. Florists’ foam container This is a plastic container which has internal projections designed to hold a block or round of florists’ foam. Miscellaneous objects Common items of daily use, such as wine glasses, jelly moulds, decanters, kettles, saucepans, coffeepots, and so on may be used as containers as well. Other objects, such as shells and driftwood, also can serve as containers. Hollowed- out vegetable marrows and melons are eye-catching, but the gas emitted by the living container shortens the life of the cut flowers. Various types of containers are shown in Figure 28.4. \Vases and jugs Bowl and tray Wreath frames Candle cup Floral foam container %® &Q Miscellaneous objects Fig. 28.4 Containers used in flower arrangementFlower Arrangement _703 Bases An object that i and/or to add ia reed underneath the container to protect the surface of the support anrangernent ae Seely ofthe display is called a base. Its often used to fink the and sense of bate eceessories and can be employed to improve both the visual appeal Table mat A straw, b: 4 , bamboo, or plasti is highly d , or plastic table mat is the most popular base. Shin and ighly decorated surfaces should be avoided and the smallest size pectic should be used, Tree sectit fl Vetere cera section of a tree trunk, with or without bark, makes an excellent with landscape ee array ements. An oval section is ideal for holding containers er eer s ot arrangements. The container is usually set at one side ee re of the base. The tree section can be left untreated or be stained ‘ood dye, and is often coated with furniture wax or varnish. Wood base Rectangles or rounds made out of plywood, block board, chipboard or fibreboard can be used, but a cork base is the most popular. Stone base Pieces of marble, slate, limestone, and so on make excellent decorative bases in the right set-up. Stone gives a feeling of solidity and a section that has a hollow designed in it to hold a small container is very useful. Plain rounds of wood may be covered with felt or nylon to make them Covered bas: ind glued to the board or tailored into more suitable as bases. The cloth is either cut a1 an elasticized slipcover in which the board is placed. priental base Carved, fancy, trivet-type bases are used in some Chinese arrangements and may be used in similar arr ‘The types of bases common! angements. ly used are shown in Figure 28.5. Support This refers to the structure on which the container stands. The usual supports are tables, d shelves. With the exception of fireplace displays and large float- sideboards, alcoves, an ing arrangements, floral displays are rarely placed at ground level. A pedestal made of wood, stone, OF metal acts as a good support. Stone base Covered base SS Wood base Tree section Oriental base Table mats Fig.28.5 Bases used in flower arrangement704 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Plant materials These can be divided i - of plant oo led into three basic types. Most arrangements use all th three types or bold leaves that are used be straight or curved ples: Gladioli, birds ‘and Peruvian lilies. facet This consists of tall stems, flowering spikes, a -m a ore a or skeleton. This line material may es height and width of the finished arrangement. Exam, of Py ise, golden rods, larkspur, asparagus ferns, palms, tuberoses, Dominant/focal/point material This consists of bold flowers or clusters of small showy blooms. Eye-catching foliage is occasionally used. The dominant material provides a centre of interest. Examples: Gerbera, chrysanthemum, lilies, anthurium, tulips, pop- pies, roses, dahlias, and daffodils. Filler/secondary material This consists of sm: foliage that are used to cover the mechanics an vide added interest and colour to the display. Unwan! Examples: Asters, ivy, marguerites, button chrysanthemums, (baby’s breath), and Limonium. all sorts of leaves and id edges of the container and also pro- ited bare spots are filled by these. carnations, Gypsophila aller flowers or Accessories These are non-plant materials inclu purpose is generally decorative but coul to the design for extra interest or to ‘str ply. With careful use, they can enhance an arran} Py sesories are: baskets; bronze lamps; miniature dolls; hats; baby shoes; grain scoops; wesoden shapes; ribbons; pottery items; artificial glitter; beads; ‘wooden fruit shapes; painted wire; silk flowers and foliage; candles; driftwood; shells; idols; carved objects; tree barks; and interesting pebbles. Buying Cut Flowers The person incharge of buying flowers in a hotel must know where and how to buy cut Foes Flowers are a highly perishable commodity and ifthe vendors themselves have not kept them in good condition, they will not last long. Exotic flowers are expensive and it is best to buy them from a wholesale market, where one can get a lot of variety at a reasonable price. The following points should be kept in mind while buying cut flowers: «Look at the flower buckets first, They should be pla i the water should be clean and not ae ee |. Foliage should be firm and the cut ends properly immersed in water: + Foliage splooms at the justopen stage and not the full-blown stage f tasting display. The bud stage is too early—closed, green buds d ee indoors. The problem with the full-blown stage, though it see: eae is that all the flowers are fully open and so the display will be ae ae ded in or placed alongside the arrangement. Their Id be functional at times. Accessories are added etch’ the flowers when they are in short sup- igement considerably. Some versatile Care and Conditioning of Flowers A flower oF leaf cut from a plant has a short, though i i : prolong this for a little while by a few methods, This cee ieee Possible to ing, as havingeee ee —— spent time and m, f one possible. Flower atragaon,) lower arrangement, itis gratifying to have it last as long as plant materials for Cut flowers can be car kept in mind, arrangers uy a, path i i se the term ‘conditioning’ to refer to the preparation of cut Aaa t oa tte, the filling of stems with water, and prevention of wilting. ‘or and kept fresh for longer if the points discussed here are Preparation While preparing flower arra Plant materials oul Rite adhere to the following guidelines: the morning or after su © cut ata slant, using sharp scissors or knife, either early in As a general rule, i . a At this time, they are crisp and filled with moisture. Carry cut flowers ae = to cut flowers before they reach maturity. snap off. ‘eads-down position so that heavy-headed flowers will not Wray i Dae Rewspaper till the neck of the flowers. Plunge this bunch ‘er for 3-4 hours or overnight to condition. I f foliage, submerge them in water for ab 8 2 ae Usce toa an for about two hours. deme eae ite or scissors to make clean, slanting cuts, causing minimal Make slanti 1g to the little ducts in the stem which carry water. ; ting cuts in stems rather than straight ones—preferably underwater, to avoid the introduction of air bubbles—immediately before putting the stems in water, as this helps expose a larger surface area for water suction by the stems. To revive wilting flowers, snip off half an inch of the stem underwater and plunge in a deep container of water. Dead flowers should be cut off. Remove all leaves from the stems of flowers that have shorter lives than most. Re-cut any stem that has been left out of water, doing this underwater if possible and removing about 2 inches of the stem. Shape a leaf to resemble its original proportions when trimming away a brown spot along its margin. Preserve or revive woody stems by pounding the bottom 2 inches of the stems before plunging in water. : Ensure enough water for woody stems by paring 2 inches off the ends and making across-shaped cut in the end. To reduce underwater decay, strip the stems of all foliage and thorns that fall i - i S their life. below the waterline. However, de-thorning roses may shorten Flowers with hollow stems, such as dahlias and marigolds, should have the stem ends seared over a candle flame to coagulate the sap at the ends, thus preventing the sap from bleeding out. Dribbling candle wax at the base of the flower heads keeps the bottom petals from falling off flowers such as chrysanthemums. Some plant materials are longer lasting when mature, such as stems of pomegranate, sweet lime, and sapota. These could be used as basic line material. Aftercare The following guidelines should be kept in mind for aftercare:706 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management d to direct draughts ay from direct Never place a fresh flower arrangement where it will be expose from a fan or window. To prevent dehydration, keep cut flowers aw sunlight and large appliances as well. Do not put flowers near a bowl of fruit, especially apples, pears, and plums: They emit ethylene gas when ripening, which causes wilting of flowers. Prolong the freshness of the arrangement by spraying with lukewarm water from a mister morning and night. 5 Change the water every day if the arrangement is meant to last a whi chilled water, as cut stems fare best in warm water of about 45°C. . Listerine, ammonia, charcoal, salt, lemonade, sugar, camphor, or aspirin added in small amounts to the water slows down bacterial growth, thus prolonging the life of flowers. ‘Alternatively, use commercial cut flower preservatives available in the market. Use clean containers to prevent premature fouling and bacterial growth. Use coloured glass containers if possible—the darker the glass, the harder itis for nasty green algae to grow. Do not use aluminium containers for flowers. Every three days, re-cut the stems, clean the vase, completely replace the water, and add more preservative. Je. Never use DESIGNING FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS Decorating with flowers is a creative and stimulating art, which often carries a mes- sage or theme and expresses the mood or emotions of the arranger. Blending together the eight features of good design helps in creating beautiful flower arrangements (see Figure 28.6). An arrangement made keeping these features in mind will turn out to be a beautiful piece of floral art. These have been discussed in detail in this section. An established style Focus on, Ingredients ‘emphasis | in proportion e a Eight good oper use. design features it of colour, in flower Es facmngernent ground Afeeling of | \ STS. movement! Variety of itn texture ‘Arrangement in balance Fig. 28.6 Features of a good designFlower Arrangement _707 Style Following styles already established by experts ensures a beautiful flower arrangement. There are many styles in flower arrangement and new ones are constantly being added, as this is now a professional art. Styles can be of various kinds. Based on the angle from which they are seen, the style could be an all-around arrange ment or a facing arrangement. Based on the amount of space present in the arrangement, style could be the massed style; line style; or miscellaneous style. Based on the type of plant material used, it could be a foliage arrangement or dried flower arrangement. Based on the effect of the arrangement, it could be formal; semi-formal; informal; or modern/abstract/free-style. Let us now discuss each of these styles in detail. The various styles of flower arrange- ment are shown in Figures 28.7-28.21. Based on the angle On the basis of the angle from which a flower arrangement is viewed, it can be classi- fied as follows. All-around arrangement This arrangement is designed to be seen from all sides and is therefore chosen for a table or a room centrepiece. When seen from above, it is usually circular, but may be broadly oval or square as well (see Figure 28.7). Facing arrangement This is also called the ‘flat-back arrangement’ and is designed to be seen only from the front and perhaps the sides. It is therefore chosen for placement ona shelf or sideboard (see Figure. 28.8). It should not be placed too close to the wall, however. Based on the space present in the arrangement On the basis of the space present in the arrangement, flower arrangements can be clas- sified in the following ways. ities mae Fig. 28.7 All-around arrangement (See ORC) Fig. 28.8 Facing arrangement (See ORC)708 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Mass style Little or no space is enclosed within the boundary st the arrangement Th style originated in Europe, beginning according to tradition wit . The mass style has several basic features: ; - + Generally the arrangement is an all-around one and line Leatee oe to create a skeleton consisting of an upright axis and several bees = + The framework is more or less completely covered with flowers Pl material. + There is usually no attempt to make any particular part a distinct focal point and transition is considered important. + Colours, shapes, and other features of neighbouring blooms tend to blend together rather than stand out in sharp contrast. Popular mass-style arrangements are as follows. Bunch ina vase This is the simplest arrangement. The stem bases of the bunch are cut and then the flowers are put in a vase half-filled with water. Biedermeier This is a flat or domed mass in a round and shallow container. The flow- ers may be fresh, dried, or artificial. The blooms are arranged to give concentric circles of different colours and there is an outer collar of foliage. The term nowadays is used for any low circular arrangement where the stems are almost completely hidden. The other names for this are posy and domed display. Traditional mass This is the term for the classic massed arrangement that is held in Place by florists’ foam or crumpled chicken wire. The first step should be to create a central upright axis with line material and then the dominant flowers should be inserted. The final step is to use filler material to cover nearly all of the line material, ‘st cove i : and then a variety of shortstemmed blooms, fruite, bettios, acne With leafy sprigs fi accessories, added to provide interest and colour, and so on are Line style In this style, open spaces within the boundary of main feature. Most of the display is line materia. The tes arrangement are the East and the rules were laid down in China and Japan more tary iSinated in the ago. The basic feature of ine designs imited use of plant mane ooesaaA OF years provided by a pin-holder. with support often Each element ofthe design is important and the airy spa oo framing line material are vital tothe overall effect of une display, reaeained within the the mass that are the main source of appeal. Here, transition ig not ipo and not iterally means ‘making flowers live ie 1, ; na The word literally e' In Japanese sn, Tabess been practised for thousands of ear These arrangers st thetic grouping of plant materials. They are symbolic representations aes! Japanese re than an of an idealFlower Arrangement 709 ists between earthly and eternal life. armony that exists ' + In each arran; . an i Ba nary triangle. Its tallest line represents ‘heaven’. Facing and tana iets ra heaven is ‘man’. The lowest line, looking up to both, is ‘earth’ (sce Figure ie farther details of this art, refer to the section on ‘Japanese flower 9). For arrangement’. Vertical ine Thistype of line style is formal, geometric, and defined by clear-cut rl The important feature isthe bold line material set vertically to form a central sae the base are short wings of foliage to cover the mechanics. The third plant element is th, single bloom or small group of dominant flowers placed e along the axis or close to th @ site srangement (see Figure 28.9, also in ORC). Little or no filler material 7 Line-mass style In this style, some open space is present within the boundary of the arrangement. Only part of the area between the framework of the line material is filled with leaves and/or flowers. The skeleton is formed by the line material and itis clothed btnot covered by other flowers and foliage. There are many shapes in the line mass style Triangular shape The triangle is a popular shape for symmetrical arrangements. The fist step is to establish lines of height and width, usually with flowers or foliage of finer form or paler colour. The next step is to establish a focal point of interest with large or darker-coloured flowers. Fill in with flowers of varied stem lengths, grouping colours rather than dotting them about at random (see Figure 28.10). Circular shape The circular or round shape is loved by nature since a majority of flow- ers all into that shape. Arranging flowers in circular designs adds a pleasing element of repetition that is satisfying to the viewer's eye. Monotony should be avoided by using foliage that offers contrast to the dominant round forms (see Figure 28.11). Crescent shape The crescent is asymmetrical and formal in character. It requires more skill and experience on the part of the arranger than other basic styles. For this arrange- ment, choose plant materials with pliable stems (see Figure 28.12). Fig.289 ment & 28.9 A vertical line shaped flower Lobelia — _ i ular shaped flo\ arrangement Fig. 28.10 A triang!710 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Fig. 28.13 A fan shaped flower arrangement Fan shape The fan or horizontal shape is a good line to follow when designing flowers for the centre of the table. It does not need to be a tall arrangement to be effective. It is a low arrangement and thus does not interfere with conversation across the table. It is symmetrical and thus attractive from every angle (see Figure 28.13). Hogarth or ‘S’shape This style was pioneered by an eighteenth-century painter, William Hogarth. This is a very graceful style of line arrangement and is a favourite at flower shows. It is easier to make when curved branches and pliable stems are used. After establishing the S shape with these, flowers are filled in at the centre and just above and below the rim of the tall container (see Figure 28.14). Right- or left-faced triangles These asymmetrical arrangements are most effective in low rectangular containers (see Figure 28.15). Miscellaneous style These arrangements do not belong to any of the basic styles. They may be a combination of two or three of the other styles mentioned. There are miscel- laneous styles that are defined by their size—the miniature and petite are at one extreme and the grand displays at the other. Miniatures and petites are small-scale arrangements requiring less material but a lot of skill. The size of a miniature is 4 inches height, width, and depth maximum. The petite should not exceed 9 inches in height, width, or depth. On the other hand, the grand displays stand at least 3 feet high and are seen in churches, hotel foyers, and so on.Flower Arrangement 711 Fig. 28.15 A right-faced triangle shaped flower arrangement Chicken wire is the preferred mechanic here and a large high container is essential. In some miscellaneous arrangements, the plant material does not appear to radiate from a single point as in landscape and parallel styles. Parallel style Also called the European style, it spread from Holland. The mechanics here is a rectangular block of florists’ foam in a shallow dish. A group of stems arising from it stand vertically. The foam is hidden by a horizontal groundwork of flowers, foliage, fruits, stems, and so on. Landscape style ‘The goal is to create a representative of a tiny piece of the environ- ment—a meadow, woods, beach, or another. fn Other miscellaneous styles are massed arrangements in unusual forms—round wreaths, the elongated swags, garlands, and topiary trees. Based on the ty, i d pe of plant material uset ified On the basis ofthe type of plant material used in the arrangement, it can be cassie in the following ways.712 Hotel Housekeeping: Operations and Management Fig. 28.16 Foliage arrangement Nothing does more than cut green foliage to freshen up a room at a minimum expenditure of both time and money. Foliage is easy to come by. Use branches of interesting form and foliage of many shapes and colours (see Figure 28,16), Foliage arrangements have a natural affinity for modern furnish. ings and contemporary architecture. They do take toa traditional setting also if styled properly and placed in a suitable container, Dried flower arrangement Preserved or dried plant material can be arranged in containers either on its own or combined with fresh plant materials. These can be used for permanent or semi- permanent décor. During those months when little is available from the garden and flower prices shoot up in the markets, an A foliage arrangement atrangement of dried flowers and foliage is extremely useful. From a florist one can obtain a great variety of dried materials, such as wood roses, wood berries, cones, poppy heads, bulrushes, firs, beeches, eucalyptus, ferns, and so on. Even brooms, grass, and reeds could be used. The base is invariably provided by driftwood. Fresh flowers could be added and held in place by the use of wires, test tubes, florist’s cones, cello tape, plasticine, and so on. To prepare your own materials, gather them in the summer or autumn. Hang them head downward until they are thoroughly dried. For drying flowers and foliage, first place the stems in a solution of two parts of water to one part glycerine for two weeks. Dried materials may be painted silver, white, black, or gold (see Figure 28.17). Based on the effect The flower arrangement styles discussed so far could be formal, semi-formal, or informal, based on the effect they create. Formal arrangement This is symmetrical and precise. Semi-formal arrangement This is more or less symmetrical in outline, but not in the details of arrangement. Fig. 28.17 A dried flower arrangement (See also ORC)