Maharashtra Board Class 11 Home Management Chapter 8 Flower Arrangement and Decoration PDF Download

Flower Arrangement And Decorations

Introduction Of Flower Arrangement And Decoration

The art of flower arrangement is quite old. The art of arranging flowers in a systematic manner to enhance its beauty is called flower arrangement.

Definition by Anna Rutt: "Flower arrangement may be defined as the art of organizing flowers, other plants, materials and receptacles into compositions having harmony of form, texture and colour. Its purpose is to add cheer, life and beauty to surroundings."

This art form is used in homes as well as in temples, churches, hotels, hospitals etc. At the time of festivals and auspicious occasions it is used in varied forms like in the decorating the house by flowers, flower necklaces, drawing rangoli in the yard of a house, tying 'toran' on door and pillars, decorating the stage etc. Thus flowers are used in different ways.

Teacher's Note

Flower arrangement is when we put flowers together in a nice way. In India, we use flowers for prayers and decoration during Diwali.

Exam Trick

Remember: Flower arrangement means making flowers look beautiful in a container. Like decorating your room, but with flowers!

Points to Remember

Flower arrangement is an art of arranging flowers systematically.
It enhances a person's creativity.
It brings nature inside our home.
Flowers are used in temples, homes and for festivals.
It removes passiveness from life and keeps the mind fresh.

The Importance Of Flower Arrangement And Decoration

Flower arrangement imparts beauty to a house and brings nature inside.

It is a nice way to utilize leisure giving scope to a person's creativity.

It creates lively atmosphere in home and sustains our culture.

It removes passiveness from life and keeps the mind fresh and healthy.

It gives an opportunity to do something and enhances our creativity.

It enables the use of principles of arts and teaches importance of beauty.

Teacher's Note

Flower arrangement makes our home beautiful. In India, we use flowers during marriages and temples.

Exam Trick

Remember: Flower arrangement = beauty + creativity + fresh mind. Like how painting makes a wall beautiful, flowers make a home beautiful!

Points to Remember

It brings nature inside the home.
It gives scope to our creativity.
It creates a lively atmosphere.
It keeps our mind fresh and healthy.
It teaches us the importance of beauty.

Material Used In Flower Arrangement

i) Plant Material

This includes any kind of live plant material such as flowers, leaves, fruits, buds, roots, branches, twigs etc. Seasonal fresh flowers give a large variety of choice in all kinds of arrangement and broad ones in horizontal arrangement. It is possible to give emphasis to the branches and the leaves and flowers should be arranged keeping them as base one should select branches with good natural shapes.

The best time to cut the plant material is before sunrise or after sunset to reduce shock to the plant.

Stems of flower are cut at an angle to increase water absorption and with sharp shears.

They should be kept in cold water to which a pinch of salt, sugar or coal is added for at least three hours to fortify them with water.

Stems of flowers that give out white sticky substance should be held under running water to allow water to be absorbed freely.

Flowers bought from the market should be carried in wet newspaper by putting it into polythene bags.

Teacher's Note

Plant material is flowers, leaves and branches we use. Always water the plant before cutting flowers from it.

Exam Trick

Remember: Cut flowers at an angle and put in cold water. Like how you drink cold water on a hot day, flowers also like cold water!

Points to Remember

Cut flowers before sunrise or after sunset.
Cut stems at an angle with sharp shears.
Keep stems in cold water with salt or sugar.
Carry flowers in wet newspaper.
Remove leaves from lower part of the stem.

ii) Dry Material

Dried parts of plants like flowers and foliage can be collected, bought and preserved. Such dry material is handy when fresh plant material is not easily available. At the same time they do not require much attention.

iii) Containers

A variety of containers, tall or short, made of bronze, clay, brass, china, bamboo, wood, glass etc. are available in the market. One should select the container carefully. The containers in earthy tones, without prominent surface decoration and with enough capacity for holding water are suitable. Vases should be filled with water before starting the arrangement. Low containers are best for dining tables and tall ones for corner arrangements and for arrangements placed against walls.

iv) Flower Holders

There are many types of flower holders available in the market. Pin holders, wire mesh, foam brick, clay etc. are used commonly for fixing the plant material. Pin holders can be fixed firmly to the dry base of the vase with plasticine. In tall containers small pieces of stems are fixed at the mouth in 'X' or 'Y' shape to hold the flowers.

v) Materials Used For Preserving The Arrangements

Salt, aspirin, borax, sugar, moss, ice cubes, coal or sand can be used. Lower part of the stalks of flowers should be devoid of leaves to prevent decay.

vi) Accessories

Any material used as accessories in flower arrangements should be aesthetically beautiful and harmonious to the theme of the arrangement. Material such as stones, coral rocks, sea shells, small sculptures of animals, birds, human figures, satin ribbons, decorative net, etc. can be used. Such accessories should be proportionate to the size of the arrangement.

vii) Other Materials

Apart from the above mentioned major materials, one also needs materials like scissors, rubber bands, wire, pins a sharp knife, florist tape, etc.

Teacher's Note

We need many materials for flower arrangement like containers, holders and accessories. Different materials help us make beautiful arrangements.

Exam Trick

Remember: Containers hold flowers, holders fix flowers, and accessories make it beautiful. Like a book needs paper, pen and cover - arrangement needs flowers, holder and container!

Points to Remember

Containers can be made of clay, brass, china or glass.
Pin holders and wire mesh are used to fix flowers.
Low containers are best for dining tables.
Tall containers are best for corner arrangements.
Accessories like stones and ribbons add beauty to the arrangement.

Types Of Flower Arrangement

i) Traditional Flower Arrangement

Traditional flower arrangement focuses on the use of conventional flower material and traditional arrangement techniques. Unlike modern flower arrangement, creativity of the decoration is considered secondary. Specific vases are used for the arrangements which are usually round or elongated in shape, metallic and carved with delicate article artistic designs.

It tends to include a lot of flowers of various types. Comparatively the number of leaves is much smaller. Flowers of even height are arranged in symmetrical manner; for example, circular fan design. This arrangement mostly uses candle as accessories.

ii) Japanese Flower Arrangement: Ikebana

Ikebana means art of arranging flowers. Japanese have developed this art to a high degree through many different schools of flower arrangement. Flowers have an important place in the life of people of Japan, and have special significance beyond beauty.

In Japanese flower arrangement the emphasis is on line and direction. It is based on a basic theme or style, evolving out of philosophical ideas. It focuses on the choice of plant material in relation to the container and the surrounding space. The most distinguishing feature of this is the slenderness of the line of the plant material. They are simple, informal, and meaningful. The type of vases used can be tall as well as low. Mostly they are made from bamboo, bronze or pottery in some subdued colours as brown, gray, tan, dull blue, grayish green or bronze. In low pots metal pin holders are used and in tall vases y shaped or split twig or forked branch is used to hold the stems of the flowers.

Practically all styles of Japanese flower arrangements are based on three principles: Heaven, Man and Earth which are represented by three main branches.

Heaven: The tallest spray symbolizes Heaven and it is arranged as central axis in the vase. Its height is one and half times the height of the container.

Man: The second height represents man. It gives the greatest width to the arrangement. Its height is equal to the length of the container.

Earth: The lowest spray denotes earth. It is placed opposite to the branch signifying man to balance it out. Its height is half the height of man.

Fillers are added with these main lines to make a complete arrangement. These are termed as Mountain and Meadow.

Teacher's Note

Japanese flower arrangement is called Ikebana. It has three main lines: Heaven, Man and Earth that balance each other.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ikebana = Heaven (tallest) + Man (middle) + Earth (lowest). Like a family with grandmother (top), mother (middle) and child (bottom)!

Points to Remember

Ikebana is a Japanese flower arrangement.
It is based on three principles: Heaven, Man and Earth.
Heaven is the tallest line.
Man gives the greatest width.
Earth is the lowest line.

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