Floristry, Or The Arrangement Of Flowers In A Particular Way.

Floristry, or the arrangement of flowers in a particular way, was first developed in ancient Egypt in around 2,500 BCE. Flowers were ubiquitous in ancient Egypt, used mainly for decorative purposes. Cut flowers were often placed in vases and complex arrangements of valentines flowers were also used for processions, burials or even as table decoration, as well as for decorating houses. Vines and flowers were often draped around jugs of water to keep them cool. Illustrations of flower arrangements have been discovered as part of stone relief carvings and painted wall decorations depicting Ancient Egyptian life. Among some of the flowers the Egyptians used were acacia, water lily, rose, lily, violet, lotus, narcissus, lupine and strawflowers. Flowers often had a great religious significance to the Egyptians. Water lilies or lotus flowers for instance, were considered sacred to the goddess of motherhood, fertility and magic, Isis.
A respect and love of nature is a part of Chinese culture which developed from three ways of thought; Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Flowers were wound around knotted branches in Taoism to symbolize the synchronicity of Yin and Yang, while Confucius (559-471 BC), who had a great love of flowers, used orchids as a metaphor for his teachings of restraint and respect, both for one another and ones ancestors. Buddhism teaches respect for all life, and traditional Buddhist floral offerings are formal and upright. The lotus, which became a symbol of the sprit of man rising from the dust of the world towards Nirvana, has long been considered the flower of the goddess Kuan-Yin and the Buddha. In 1595, A Treatise of Vase Flowers was written by Chang Chiien-ti. This became one of the most important Chinese books on floral arrangement. China is also associated with the ancient tradition of silk flowers.
In Ancient Rome and Greece, flowers were used less in vases and pots and more as wreaths and garlands. The petals of flowers were also strewn on floors and beds. Many books were written on the subject of arranging flowers in wreaths in Greece, and in Rome roses were used as jam, oil, perfume or decoration. The custom of laying roses at a grave or throwing rose petals at the feet of a bride originated in Rome, as did the legal term Sub Rosa, which comes from the custom of hanging white roses from the ceiling. Anything spoken under the wreath was a secret. Today the term denotes secrecy or confidentiality.
In the Byzantine Empire (500-1453 CE), flowers were typically arranged in a conical shape placed in urns or chalices, which were also decorated with fruit and ribbons. Lilies, daisies, cypress, pine and carnations were among some of the most commonly used flowers.
Many traditional ways of arranging flowers still exist today. Ikebana is a style used in Japan which uses simple lines and form, while traditional English garden flower arranging with its abundant use of seasonal flowers stands in contrast to the more contemporary high style with linear flowers and use of negative space, which uses exotic or tropical flowers as well as more traditional blooms.