Oklahoma City Florist

The Best of Blooms

Brief History of Floral Arrangements and Design

With changing times, styles and fads have come and gone.

But flower arrangements have continually expressed our love for nature. They've played a huge part in our enjoyment of life's beauty!

Each dazzling creation is a work of art! It creates a vibrant, delightful ambience wherever it's placed.

But where did flower arrangements begin? Whose idea was it to place flowers together and for what reason? What did flowers mean to people in the bygone days?

How did fashions in floral design advance over time? What created these changes?

Today, we'll address all these questions. We'll get a quick but appealing peek into the history of flower arrangements!

Ancient Times

The very first records of floral design go back to 2500-2600 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Historical experts uncovered that Egyptians were the first to artfully set flowers in a vase.

They were often used for feasts and religious rituals. Ancient Egyptians also used them to honor the dead in burials and processions.

Lotus flowers are frequently hailed as the most important 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 values of flowers were found in Ancient China. Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists set cut blooms on altars.

Florists were held in high regard and given immense respect. Ancient Chinese art also painted flowers on vases, scrolls, and carvings.

Flowers and leaves were also often put together based on what meanings they had. Peonies signified wealth and good luck. This is why they are famously known and revered as the 'king of flowers'.

Tiger lilies and orchids represented fertility. Pear and peach trees embodied long and abundant lives.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, flowers were mostly used for grand 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 ingenuity with flowers. Historians say that the very first mixed flower arrangement was from the Romans.

Middle Ages

The Byzantines continued the floral designs of the Roman empire. They placed more importance on perfect proportion and sleek looks.

They adopted garland-making at the same time. But they created their own twist on it by adding fruit and foliage, building tree-like designs.

Gold and jewel tones were widespread 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 extended to floral design.

Monks were the only ones to continue the art of floristry, using florals in sacred places. Inspired by Oriental styles, they often placed their flowers in Chinese vases.

Renaissance

The Renaissance era saw a spirited resurgence of art and culture. This meant people found a new appreciation for beauty and life in all forms. Italians were the first to show their new zest for creativity in floristry.

Full, elaborate flower arrangements were featured in feasts. Others began to use them as decor for homes and churches.

Renaissance floral design was often concerned with pure beauty and symmetry. Bright and bold color triads were in fashion, crafted with arc, curved, and triangle shapes. Flowers were also often coupled with different kinds of fruits and vegetables.

These were placed in a wide array of containers, from bowls to baskets to vases. But they were all designed to cover the stems and only feature the blooms.

People of this era also attached special meanings to flowers, such as love, purity, and virtue. Among the most sought-after flowers then were carnations, daisies, irises, lilies, marigolds, and violets.

Victorian Era

Opulence, luxury, propriety-- these were the defining traits of the Victorian Era.

Flower arrangements became a way to display wealth and good breeding. This is why they became exceptionally lavish and elaborate. Luxurious homes had ornate vases teeming with gorgeous masses of flowers.

Ladies were educated on the art of floral design as a part of their upbringing. It was also amid this time that floral design was officially taught and studied as a form of art.

Floral designs in the Victorian era set itself apart from other time periods. People then weren't all that interested in symmetry, cohesion, or color schemes.

They were more taken up with how many flowers were in a vase, instead of with how they appeared. Bouquets were 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 added scent and texture.

Roses, tulips, carnations, baby's breath, and lilacs were among the most well-loved flowers.

20th Century

Attention to floral design peaked in the USA in the 1930s. It was then acknowledged to have its own rules by the Women's Garden Club.

Traditional designs were involved with crafting clean, balanced arrangements. They gave texture and depth but only stuck to a specific design pattern.

Later on, free style became more trendy. With no fixed 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 foliage. Japanese influences were also headlined, marked by simplicity and openness.

Today, trends in floral designs continue to develop! Now, there are endless choices for floral design that welcome everyone's unique tastes and style!

New Leaf Florist & Flower Delivery Location

New Leaf Florist & Flower Delivery

Additional Information

flowerS okc

Social Media Channels