Those who do not wish to delve deeply into this art may not want to read any further, feeling that the pictures will illustrate many of the points already mentioned. Others may want to be carried a step further desiring to know how to understand, dissect or analyse an artistic composition of flowers, so let us look at some of the terms used as principles in the art of flower arrangement.

Common Flower Arrangement Terms

Design

This is the structural pattern of the arrangement; it decides the shape, height or width and consists of a planned relationship between the flowers, leaves, container and location of the room.

Any design can be produced to suit any occasion, but some of the most accepted designs used are those variations of the triangle, rectangle, oval, circle, vertical irregular triangle, crescent and low half circle.

Balance

This is the grouping of plant materials within the design, so placed to give a feeling of stability. There can be two types of balance – symmetric and asymmetric. In the former, if you draw an imaginary line down through the centre of the vase, both sides of the arrangement appear equal, and usually made with similar material, whereas in the latter the two sides can be distinctly different and yet have equal visual weight. For instance, along swerve of fine material, such as Michaelmas daisies, at the left of a design can be balanced by a shorter placement of heavier material, perhaps of chrysanthemums or leaves, at the right nearer the centre. Greater interest is achieved this way because the sides are not equal, yet they are equally balanced. It is similar to obtaining balance on a see-saw, by placing a heavy man at the right near the central axis and a fragile child on the end at the left.

Colour

Colour is a vast subject, and is very important in flower arrangements. Colour can be used harmoniously or in contrast. Attention should also be paid to the colour of foliage, especially if used as a buffer between two harsh colours.

Colour affects our senses, so remember that gay and striking effects can be gained by using the warm colours, such as red, yellow, and orange while more soothing and delicate effects can be obtained by using blue-pinks, mauves, blue and purple and grey foliage.

Subtle blending of all one colour from pale to dark are also very effective, but try to remember that we are sometimes blinded by the beauty of the colour of flowers, and, important though colour is, it cannot stand on its own in an arrangement without good design.

Focal point

This is sometimes termed the ‘ Target,’ ‘ Highlight,’ the ‘ Heart,’ of the design, the ‘Accent,’ it is the centre of interest in an arrangement. It is the point in the design where all the stems unite, and the place where the most important material should be placed. Important, I mean, either for size, colour, dominance or texture.

Scale

Scale is also important and materials should be chosen so that they are related in size, not only to each other, but to the container and background. It would be incongruous to place Lilies of the Valley with a large Dahlia. Similarly, a large incurved Chrysanthemum used as focal interest in a narrow necked vase would be out of scale, whereas the same bloom placed low in a large round flat plate would be in scale.

Rhythm

Rhythm is a feeling of motion, and is achieved in flower arrangement by the placement of curving lines and graduating sizes leading towards the centre and on again. These lines are part of the original design and are placed in rhythmic curves before the ” filling in ” material is added.

Composition

Composition is the unifying of several objects into an overall framework. It is the joining up of flowers and vase with an ornament, accessory, picture or other item. Rhythm is usually very evident in good composition as interest should lead the eye from one item to another.

Line

Line is the passage on which your eye is led from one item to another in the arrangement. Each bud, leaf or flower, by its size or colour should be so placed as to take your eye from a starting point to the central point of interest where it should rest. If you remove all colour from a flower arrangement, such as unfortunately happens in a black and white photograph, an arrangement with good line should still emerge successfully from this acid test.