Dried Flowers

The English colonists who settled in America ignored floral arrangements for a long time till they could establish a life of sophistication and culture. Only then did they seriously take up the art of floral arrangements. The Colonial Williamsburg style combined the styles used in Louis V’s court and the Georgian period to create bouquets with a large mass arranged casually. People kept their flowers in specific parts of the house, and therefore the fan-shaped, globular and round arrangements were most popular. Dried flowers and grasses were especially popular as they lasted long.

But most American designs turned out to be replicas of earlier European designs or a strange mix of several design styles. It was only after World War II that Japanese design philosophies began to be assimilated into European styles to create a wonderful integration of the Oriental and occidental design principles. A unique style that was born out of this is a hybrid line-mass style that directs the eye into and throughout the arrangement.

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Contemporary American arrangements are now done in three ways: the European mass style, the Japanese line design and the uniquely American style of line-mass. Mass arrangements contain a great deal of flowers and plant materials but are not as overflowing in nature as the European designs. The line designs follow the Japanese philosophy but do not follow their strict rules so can provide greater appreciation of the plant materials. Line-mass designs are clean and sculptural in property, with gaps between the lines and other plants materials, while the massed material gives weight and depth to the design.

Influences that have crystallized present day appreciation of floral designs continue to change and evolve. Freestyle designs are becoming more popular as designers and florists are looking for more expressions of creativity, and often involving high costs in doing so. The commercial value of such designs may not make them very popular with the traditionalists, just as older conservative designs have varying appeal. However, there is ample scope in all areas of floral arrangement designs to explore and experiment and to develop a satisfying skill and perfection across all areas.