The line arrangement is the most simply executed of the traditional designs because it requires the least plant material. For a line arrangement only 3 to 7 flowers are needed,but because of the simplicity, novice designers can't believe that it can be accomplished that readily, and they continue to add plant materials as long as the supply lasts. Only sufficient material should be used to establish the desired line. Because it is a line design, there should be strength in the line material.

Oasis floral foam is the favored mechanical device. Sometimes, if the arrangement is large or the line material is heavy, wire cloth is used to strengthen the holding device. One should not diverge from the mental image of the basic line. For this reason good mechanics must be employed. Vase tapes (there are green, white and transparent ones) are available and can support the basic mechanics. If the arrangement is strictly ver-tical and the container is a bottle type, like a wine bottle, the design can be accomplished in one's hand and wired or taped and then inserted in the container intact.

In the line design, the arrangement should have openness. There should be height and width but very little depth. Plant material should be at a minimum and there should not be deviation from the line, which must be dominant. One technique that is used employing wire is to bend floral stems to follow the contour desired (particularly in a Hogarth curve or line design). The stem of the bloom is wrapped with No. 18 gauge wire (use only the minimum needed), then gradually bend the stem to shape desired; this method lends itself well to having some blooms inverted. Then some foliage is used to cover the mechanics. This bent stem will continue to take water, and the bloom will stay fresh. This technique is advantageous in designs staged in more than one container or on more than one level.

Often line designs call for an arrangement completed in roses and using rose foliage only. One should not hesitate to look at foliage varieties other than those of the blooms used for line material. Old garden or shrub roses are excellent. Stripping foliage to reveal the features of the canes or thorns further emphasizes the line desired, and gives character to it.

Return to top