Lilac Rhododendron
Danger.
"All are for use--for health--for pleasure given:--
All speak, in various ways, the bounteous hand of Heaven."
CHARLOTTE SMITH.
Cut the petals in white wax; chose it rather thick, but not the double
wax. It is formed with two pieces, and yet when united it appears as if
there were five petals. The colour is produced in any shade of
ilac by
mixing my bright crimson, middle blue, and a small portion of white
together. This is laid on round the edge upon both sides with a large
brush. When perfectly dry, the colour is partly taken off by passing a
moist brush containing very little colour over the whole. This carries
off the rough portion of the paint previously applied, and gives the
petals a soft and shaded appearance. Press the curling pin up the
centre of each point, and pinch against it so as to form a distinct
seam. Roll the head of the pin down each side of the seam, which will
occasion the edges of the petal to look a little crumpled. Unite the
petals neatly together, making a small plait between each. Form the
pistil of double wax: thicken it at the end to represent the stigma. The
stamina are produced by folding the end of a sheet of wax so as to
produce the same appearance as a hem in muslin, and cut ten fine
filaments for each flower (the hem represents the anthers). Colour the
pistil and stamina pale pink: darken the end of the pistil to a deep
crimson. Touch the ends of the stamina with a sable brush moistened with
brown (crimson powder, orange powder, and cake sepia); while wet, dip
them into farina (produced by mixing my lemon powder with white, quite
dry). Cut a piece of wire, three inches long, middle size: pass a small
piece of light green wax round the end, and double the wire down; then
attach the pistil to it, and place the stamina round, taking care that
the pistil rises above the stamina. The centre petal of each flower is
dotted with brown, the same colour previously used for the anthers. The
stem is passed through the centre of the corolla, pressing the edges of
the latter neatly to the wire. It is one of those flowers that has not a
calyx attached close to the flower, but is shaded lightly round the end
with a crimson brush. The flowers are mounted in clusters, varying in
number: seven form a pretty size. When the flowers are united, a cluster
of small points of very light green wax are placed: these are what are
termed by botanists, "calyx involucre," signifying that such calyx is
remote from the flower. Place three or four leaves round the stem, a
short distance from where the flowers are united.
Another of the American plants useful in grouping, is the