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The mass designs are one of the more popular styles of arrangements seen in flower shops today. Mass arrangements  consist of many flowers arranged in a geometric pattern.
A beginning designer should visualize the geometric pattern of a design and how the completed design will look before beginning an arrangement. These patterns become a framework that guides the designer in completing the arrangement. Creativity can be expressed within this framework by varying the size of the arrangement, the compactness of the design, and the amount of depth in the arrangement. Sometimes we think of these designs as being modern, but they actually had their origins many centuries ago. Arrangements such as the cone or conical design, developed during the Byzantine period (A.D. 320-600), are still popular designs today. The German Biedermeier design is similar in shape and consists of compact, concentric layers of different flowers and foliages (Figure 10-1). The massive designs, developed during the Victorian period in England during the 1800s and the Williamsburg period in Colonial America, influenced the development of mass designs popular today.
Mass designs are based on either the triangle or the circle. This unit will deal with circular designs while Unit 11 will concentrate on triangular ones.
Four variations of the circle will be presented in this unit-mounds, cones, ovals, and fans. These circular design forms are presented in Figure 10- 2
The mound design, also called a nosegay arrangement is designed to be viewed from all sides. For this reason, the mound does not have a focal point. The design may be com· pact (typical of the Biedermeier or Victorian style) or light and airy (typical of the French period).
Radiation rhythm is important in the construction of a mound. All of the stems are the same distance from the center of the design. They should appear to radiate from one point with the mound forming a sphere (Figure 10-3). A line has drawn across the top of the design forms a half circle.
Because the mound does not have a focal point, size rhythm (placing small flowers farther from the focal point and large flowers near the focal area) is not used in this de· sign. Space rhythm (placing flowers closer together as you near the focal point) is not used either. In this design, the space between flowers is equal throughout the design.
Mound designs are usually arranged in low, round containers. If the container were taller than it is wide, an oval design would be more appropriate for the container.
Flowers used in the mound design should be evenly distributed over the arrangement. Only mass, filler, and sometimes form flowers should be used in constructing the mound. Line flowers should never be used or the design will have a spiked appearance
Select one type of mass flower to serve as the primary flower, and place all of them into the design at one time. Add the secondary or filler flowers afterwards.
Mass and filler flowers such as carnations, roses, tulips, mums, statice, and baby's breath are recommended for mound designs. The size of the flowers will be dictated by the size of the mound. Avoid using large flowers to make a small mound design because of the difficulty of spacing large flowers in a small arrangement while maintaining the circular design. There are many ways of designing the same arrangement. The following steps represent one approach. After mastering this approach, be creative and try a different method
Many variations of the circular mound design are possible. Vary the flowers and foliage, and arrange them creatively. Figure 10-12 shows a similar design using two colors of daisy pompons. In this arrangement the darker-colored pompon serves as the primary flower and the lighter pompon as the secondary.
The oval arrangement
The oval arrangement tends to hold the viewer's eye within the circular pattern created by the d esign. For this reason, it is sometimes used at the altar of a church or at the end of a room. Large oval designs are also used at wedding receptions and parties.
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