up in a clump, roots and all; they will look far better than the cut flowers arranged in vases, and the roots may afterward be planted in your wild-flower garden.
Bloodroot will keep a long while if the roots are not disturbed, and one of the loveliest flower-pieces we ever had in the house was a gray-green Japanese bowl filled with the growing bloodroot. The blossoms stand closely together and a small bowl will hold quite a number.
Wood anemones, hepaticas, and wild violets are all adapted to this temporary transplanting. I have kept ferns in this way for several weeks and the centre-piece for the table in our mountain camp was at one time a clump of maiden-hair fern in a small china bowl, which lasted fresh and perfect many days. As there can be comparatively little soil with the roots of these wild flowers, they must be kept very damp all the while, and ferns, especially, will do best when set in a pan or bowl of water.
Fig. [500].—Fasten the pieces to a brass curtain-ring.
Fig. [501].—Put the flower stems through the wire loops.