Chapter 8 Flower Selection 179 Psychology of Color Most people see colors the same way—light refl ecting off of objects is taken in through the eye and processed in the brain. However, color means different things to different people. Emotional and psychological responses to color vary among people from different cultures, geographies, and backgrounds. Even personal experiences can affect a person’s response to color. Colors can also affect human behavior. Blues and greens are calming and restful, while red is active and passionate. Yellow is considered cheerful and orange has been documented to increase appetites. The following information about the effects of color may help you use it more effectively when creating fl oral designs for holidays, for various occasions, or for the places where people live and work. Blue In general, blue is a tranquil, calming hue, Figure 8-8. Blue is the color of the sky and ocean various shades and tints of blue are used for nautical applications. Sometimes, people say they are “blue” when they are feeling depressed. Blue fl owers include Delphiniums, Dutch iris, Agapanthus, and bachelor buttons. Green When something is green, it is usually part of the environment. With today’s focus on sustainability and using natural resources wisely, being “green” is important. This color is youthful, robust, and reminds people of growth. Green fl owers include chrysanthemums, bells of Ireland, Dianthus, and just as important, the incredibly wide variety of cut foliage available to us for use in fl oral design, Figure 8-9. Sherjaca/Shutterstock.com mubus7/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-8. These blue bachelor buttons and delphiniums could be used in an arrangement to create a sense of peacefulness or calm. The bachelor buttons are vibrant and add a great deal of texture, whereas the delphiniums are more petite with rounded petals. Dirk van der Walt/Shutterstock.com NH/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-9. The color green can evoke a sense of youthfulness or environmental responsibility. Bells of Ireland fl owers are line fl owers that are often used to add height or create the form of an arrangement. Button spray mums, as depicted here, can be mass fl owers in small designs or fi ller fl owers in medium and large designs. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.