Williams Flower & Gift - Bremerton Florist
3118 Wheaton Way Bremerton, WA 98310
(360) 373-9341
The Best of Blooms
Brief History of Floral Arrangements and Design
All through changing times, fashions and trends have come and gone.
But flower arrangements in Bremerton florist store have continuously expressed our love for nature. They've played a huge part in our appreciation of life's beauty!
Each dazzling creation is a work of art! It brings about a vibrant, pleasant ambience anywhere it's placed.
But where did flower arrangements emerge? Whose idea was it to place flowers together and for what purpose? What did flowers mean to people in the ancient days?
How did styles in floral design develop over time? What caused these changes?
Today, we'll answer all these questions. We'll get a short but intriguing glimpse into the wonderful history of flower arrangements!
Ancient Times
The earliest records of floral design go back to 2500-2600 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Historical experts uncovered that Egyptians were the first to artistically place flowers in a vase.
They were often used for banquets and religious ceremonials. Ancient Egyptians also used them to revere the dead in burials and processions.
Lotus flowers are often hailed as the most significant flowers of that era. Egyptians believed they were divine to the goddess Isis. In Egyptian art, men and women were often exhibited holding lotus flowers in their hands.
The same attitudes towards the religious symbolisms of flowers were discovered in Ancient China. Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists rested cut blossoms on altars.
Williams Flower & Gift - Bremerton Florist were held in high regard and given great respect.
Flowers and leaves were also often put together based on what meanings they kept. Peonies symbolized wealth and good luck. This is why they are famously known and celebrated as the 'king of flowers'.
Tiger lilies and orchids represented fertility. Pear and peach trees represented long and happy lives.
In Ancient Greece and Rome, flowers were mostly used for impressive decor in a show of wealth. They weaved flowers and foliage into wreaths for joyful festivities.
Their love of flowers is widely-known. Blooms were often portrayed in art and written into myths.
Wreaths also marked the celebration of victories. In Ancient Greece, they awarded wreaths to champions of the early Olympic games. This practice continues to this day.
They also enjoyed flair and innovation with flowers. Historians say that the very first mixed flower arrangement was from the Romans.
Middle Ages
The Byzantines pursued the floral designs of the Roman empire. They placed more emphasis on perfect proportion and refined looks.
They adopted garland-making too. But they put their own twist on it by adding fruit and foliage, crafting tree-like designs.
Gold and jewel tones were prevailing during this era. Famous flowers included carnations, cypress, daisies, and lilies.
After the Roman empire fell, there was an artistic decline in the Middle Ages. Sadly, this included floral design.
Monks were the only ones to keep the art of floristry, using florals in sacred places. Inspired by Oriental fashions, they often put their flowers in Chinese vases.
Renaissance
The Renaissance era saw a spirited resurgence of art and culture. This meant people found a new respect for beauty and life in all forms. Italians were the first to express their new zest for creativity in floristry.
Full, lavish flower arrangements were featured in feasts. Others began to include them as decor for homes and churches.
Renaissance floral design was often interested in pure beauty and symmetry. Bright and bold color triads were in style, crafted with arc, curved, and triangle shapes. Flowers were also often coupled with different types of fruits and vegetables.
These were placed in a range of containers, from bowls to baskets to vases. But they were all designed to conceal the stems and only feature the blooms.
People of this era also attached special meanings to flowers, such as love, purity, and goodness. Among the most popular flowers then were carnations, daisies, irises, lilies, marigolds, and violets.
Victorian Era
Affluence, luxury, courtesy-- these were the defining traits of the Victorian Era.
Flower bouquets became a way to showcase wealth and good breeding. This is why they became extremely lavish and extravagant. Luxurious homes had ornate vases teeming with gorgeous masses of flowers.
Ladies were trained on the art of floral design as part of their upbringing. It was also during this time that floral design was officially taught and studied as a form of art.
Floral fashions in the Victorian era set itself apart from other periods. People then weren't all that concerned with symmetry, cohesion, or color palettes.
They were more taken up with how many flowers were in a vase, rather than with how they appeared. Bouquets were often compact and cascading.
Rich, heavy hues like purples, blues, reds, and browns were in vogue for floral design. Flowers were usually arranged in a round shape. Foliage and herbs were placed in for more scent and texture.
Roses, tulips, carnations, baby's breath, and lilacs were amongst the most popular flowers.
20th Century
Attention to floral design piqued in the USA during the 1930s. It was then determined to have its own rules by the Women's Garden Club.
Traditional designs in Bremerton flower shop were involved with making clean, harmonious arrangements. They provided texture and depth but only stuck to a specified design pattern.
Later on, free style became more trendy. With no set patterns, there was more free rein to explore various color schemes, rhythms, sizes, and plant materials.
There were more natural styles that integrated rocks, branches, and greens. Japanese influences were also headlined, marked by simplicity and openness.
Today, trends in floral designs continue to progress! Now, there are countless options for floral design that take in everyone's distinct tastes and style!