Floriculture

1. Floriculture Principles of Floral Design

2. Five Principles of Design • Balance • Harmony (unity) • Scale (proportion) • Emphasis/Focal area/Focal point • Rhythm

3. Balance • Theactual weight or feeling of weight in a design. • Sense of stability and security • Achieved mechanically and visually

4. Aspects of Balance • Mechanical • distributing the mass of the design • top to bottom • side to side • follows central axis • void of flowers or a “leaning arrangement” will be unbalanced. • Visual • the way a person perceives mass or weight • becomes more visually balanced when the design is “heavier” near the base

5. Types of Symmetry • Symmetrical Balance • central axis is in the center of the container • radial symmetry • bilateral symmetry • biradial symmetry • spiral symmetry • Asymmetrical Balance • central axis to the side of center when viewed from front • one side of axis has more mass than the other • off-center placement of axis balances the unequal mass

6. Factors Which Influence Mass • Color • dark colors have more mass than light colors • General ratio guide- 3 white: 2 medium: 1 dark is balanced • Texture • bold items are heavier than feathery-textured items • Shape and Size • larger and taller flowers weigh more than smaller flowers • Lighting • affects color intensity

7. Harmony (Unity) • A blending together of design components (plant material, container, accessories, base, & background) • Very abstract • Depends on personnel preference

8. Scale (Proportion) • Size and shape relationships between: • the flowers and the other design components. • the container and the other design components. • the design itself and the space to be filled. • Rule of Thumb • design should be 1.5 times the height/width of container

9. Rule of Thumb Exceptions • When the container is not a visible part of the design. • When using colors that appear to be more massive, they appear to be shorter.

10. Emphasis/Focal Point • Mechanical • generally located at the base of the central axis • stems are directed toward the focal point • allows stems to appear as if they are growing naturally from a single source. • Visual • usually near the mechanical focal point • naturally draws the eye to the “heaviest” area of the design • strong visual focal point enhances the design

11. Rhythm • Intentional placement of materials to create a pleasing pattern • Four methods of creating rhythm • Repetition • Transition • Facing • Depth

12. Repetition • Repeating color, shape, lines, or size of components • Most commonly used method of achieving rhythm • Work with at least 2 stems of any particular flower variety

13. Transition • Gradual change in the placement or spacing of color, form, line, and scale within a design • More subtle way to create patterns • Gradually space flowers closer together as the eye travels down into the design

14. Facing • Facing of flower heads or other components • Best used in contemporary designs where stems are not all placed toward one mechanical focal point

15. Depth • The “in” and “out” eye movement created by placement of selected materials further into the design • May be of a particular color, shape, texture, or scale

16. Form (Line & Silhouette) • Silhouette of the design • Used to create certain feelings • Straight lines: strength and dominance • Curved lines: grace and relaxation • A variety of forms (components) adds interest to the design

17. Forms Most designs fall in these categories: • Vertical (bud vase) • Horizontal (table centerpiece) • Symmetrical triangle • Asymmetrical triangle • Round, oval and circular • Fan and radiating • Curved, crescent and hogarth • Parallel and new convention