| The earliest form of flower arranging begins with the | | | | Since Buddhist teachings would not allow the taking of |
| ancient Egyptians and dates back as far as 2,500 B.C. | | | | a life of any form, religious practitioners worked |
| This is illustrated with the carved stone relief's that | | | | sparingly when taking cuttings from plants. In addition, |
| were left behind as well as the painted wall | | | | the flowers and leaves that were used to make |
| decorations. | | | | basket arrangements were carefully selected based |
| Historical records indicate that the ancient Egyptians | | | | on their symbolic meaning. As an example, the |
| placed cut flowers in vases. In addition, flower | | | | bamboo, the peach tree, and the pear tree were used |
| arrangements were an important component of their | | | | to symbolize the importance of living a long life. Other |
| culture, and highly stylized arrangements were used | | | | flowers, such as the tiger lily, the pomegranate and the |
| during burials, for processions, and simply as table | | | | orchid, symbolized fertility. The most honored of all |
| decorations as well. | | | | flowers, however, was the peony. This flower, which is |
| The flowers used for the arrangements made by the | | | | referred to as being known as the "king of flowers," |
| ancient Egyptians were carefully selected according to | | | | symbolized wealth, good fortune, and high position. |
| their symbolic meaning, with an emphasis placed on | | | | During the period from 500 to 1453 A.D., the Byzantine |
| religious meaning. The lotus flower or water lily, for | | | | Empire made its contribution to flower arrangements. |
| example, is considered to be sacred to the Goddess | | | | The arrangements made by their culture typically |
| Isis, and was therefore, often included in flower | | | | included a cone shape design. The cone-shaped |
| arrangements. Other flowers that were popular during | | | | foliage was placed in chalices and urns, which were |
| ancient Egyptian times included the papyrus plant and | | | | further decorated with brightly colored flowers and |
| the palm tree. | | | | fruit. Flowers commonly used in these arrangements |
| Continuing on through history we come upon the | | | | included daisies, lilies, cypress, carnations and pine. |
| Greeks and Romans who also had a passion for | | | | Ribbons were also used as part of the arrangements. |
| flowers, though they did not often use vases or pots. | | | | The concept of flower arranging did not arrive in |
| Rather, they concentrated more on making garlands | | | | Europe until around 1000 A.D. Before this time, |
| and wreaths. They also enjoyed tossing petals onto | | | | European countries were involved in the Dark Ages |
| the floor and onto beds. Like the Egyptians, the Greeks | | | | and the people had little room for pleasures in their |
| and the Romans had their preferences when it came | | | | own lives. As they came out of this dark period, |
| to the flowers and foliage they used. | | | | however, plants and flowers started to be more |
| The most popular foliage used by the Greeks and the | | | | commonly used for decoration. This was particularly |
| Romans were acorns, oak leaves, laurel, ivy, bay and | | | | true in the churches and monasteries where flowers |
| parsley. The preferred flowers included roses, | | | | and plants were used for food as well as for |
| hyacinths, honeysuckle, violets and lilies. Other flowers | | | | decoration. As crusaders came back from the Middle |
| such as tulips, larkspur and marigolds were also | | | | East, they brought new and interesting plants with |
| selected for their shape, color and form. | | | | them. As a result, European countries were able to |
| The Egyptians were not the only ones engaging in | | | | begin experimenting with plants that were previously |
| flower arranging during ancient times. History has it that | | | | unknown to them. |
| the Chinese were making flower arrangements as far | | | | The Italian Renaissance helped give flower arranging |
| back as 207 B.C. to 220 A.D., which is the Han era of | | | | an extra spark in European countries. It was during this |
| ancient China. During this period, flowers were an | | | | era that a wide variety of arrangement styles began |
| important component of religious teaching as well as | | | | to develop. By the time the fifteenth and sixteenth |
| medicine. In fact, the ancient Chinese classified and | | | | centuries rolled around, flower arrangements were |
| described various herbs based on their medicinal uses | | | | commonplace and a wide variety of materials were |
| and flowers in turn became an important part of | | | | used to make containers for holding the flowers. |
| religious ceremonies. | | | | These included marble, heavy Venetian glass, and |
| Followers of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian thinking all | | | | bronze. |
| routinely placed cut flowers at their altars. This practice | | | | Flower arrangements made during this time introduced |
| dates back to at least 618-906 A.D. In addition to | | | | a whole new element - using tropical fruits. These |
| placing the cut flowers in water at their temples, the | | | | arrangements also focused on creating contrast with |
| ancient Chinese showed their love and appreciation for | | | | color. |
| flowers in other ways as well. This includes creating | | | | Over the centuries a flower arrangement still remains |
| paintings, carvings, and embroidered items with | | | | a thing of beauty for everyone to enjoy. |
| depictions of flowers. | | | | |