This design is one of the classical geometric designs, and is known as a Hogarth Curve or Lazy S. This is quite a difficult design to get right, and a number of factors have to be taken into consideration when making this type of arrangement. Firstly, the container used should be quite tall, to accommodate the lower downward-curving half of the design, and should have a narrow neck. If the container used has a very narrow neck, then you could use a small candle cup fixed into position to allow for a slightly larger piece of floral foam to be used. Only a small amount of foam should should be used for this design, as it is very easy to get the centre of the design much too large when trying to cover a large piece of foam with plant material. The foam should be around 3" taller than the rim of the container, to allow for the downward-curving plant material. Next, the foliage used to define the shape should have a gentle curve. This is very important, as it is impossible to achieve the right shape with straight material. The curve of the design should be almost upright, and care should be taken not to make it too "lazy"! The shape can curve either way, as there is no right or wrong way - it's up to you to decide which way looks better for the situation in which it will be placed. Two of these as mirror images either side of an altar would look lovely.

For my design I've chosen a tall neutral coloured square container, and as it has a very small opening, I've fixed a candle cup into position using floral fix. I've chosen curving stems of Eucalyptus to define the shape, and to strengthen the centre I've used Magnolia grandiflora leaves (with the lovely brown underside uppermost), and Heuchera "Beauty Colour". Some Ivy leaves and pieces of Leucothoë fontainesea give a change of form, colour and texture. I've used just five orange standard Carnations for focal flowers, which follow the curve of the design. If you wish, you could also add a secondary flower, such as spray Carnations, but this isn't absolutely necessary unless you think you need to strengthen the shape. Compare this design with a more modern style of Hogarth Curve in design 39.