SOME GOOD SCHEMES.

Of the attractive flower schemes noticed in the course of last week’s visits, it may be of interest to describe a few. In one house where constant renewal of flowers was not within the means of the occupants a delightful and amusing effect was achieved with large flat bowls filled with what appeared to be miniature Japanese gardens. In one a variety of stones were built up to suggest a rockery, with one or two pockets to hold crocuses growing in little scallop shells. In another small Japanese properties had been purchased and used to make a tiny garden scene. A small Japanese ait man was making his way towards a pagoda up a path winding among trees (twigs embedded among the stones) and across a rustic bridge over a tiny pool (of glass), wherein were miniature goldfish. The pagoda was surrounded by twigs of almond blossom, and there were other plantations in places (of differing twigs), moss (for grass) carpeted the stones, and a small stork stood upon one leg by the side of the pond.

Elsewhere daffodils with sprigs of green and budding branches of hazel, all springing from a carpet of violets in a bowl, looked delightfully fresh and springlike.

In another house great use was made of evergreen. Varieties of pale laurel, red-veined ivy, dark cypress, bay, spikes of rosemary, and golden privet were arranged in an old copper jug and placed so as a to catch the sun, that full value might be given to the colour and form of each spray. Requiring only washing and fresh water weekly, these make a beautiful decoration.

Mixtures of flowers (recalling herbaceous borders) are most successfully used nowadays, and give great scope for variety and charm. One of the most delightful arrangements possible is on the posy plan. A vase is filled rather closely with flowers of all varieties, colours, and sizes, the result being a bright and almost jewel-like effect, specially suitable in a room of neutral shades or little light. In one room a large bowl was filled with a posy of hyacinths, anemones, marigolds, violets, daffodils, cyclamen, snowdrops, tulips, and narcissus of every colour, and the effect gave one as much pleasure as the basket of a flower-seller in springtime or one of Hall Thorpe’s charming coloured woodcuts.