LATEST NEWS...........
We had a wonderful evening at clubnight in March with Vivien Withers coming to do a flower arranging demonstration on the theme of My Floral Journey. Vivien's first arrangement was a depiction of a Skiing holiday. White freesias, frilly, white spider daisy gerberas and white ornithogallum, reminiscent of snowflakes, were arranged in a beautiful half-moon white container. While she did the second arrangement which was full of tropical foliage and flowers, including cat palms, strelitzia, phormiums and variegated dracaena marginata all in a tall red vase, she related her travels to Bermuda in the Carribean. Next, a beautiful display of cottage garden flowers including green bloom chrysanths, yellow/orange freesias, apricot single carnations and blue eryngium arranged in a basket accompanied stories about a typical English Country Garden and made reference to the wealth of beautiful gardens we are lucky enough to have in England. Then an arrangement entitled 'On the Beach' was constructed in a wire frame within a boat-shaped container. The blue of the eryngium reflecting the 'blue sky', the orange Asiatic lilies the 'sand' and the yellow freesias the 'sun' was finally revealed to the music of 'I do like to be beside the seaside'. For her fifth design Vivien presented an arrangement; 'Made in Japan' with a nod to the art of ikebana, with pink and white chrysanths and cherry blossom alongside magenta helebores supported in pin holders in a low tray. Then, as Vivien was telling us about a visit to Freemantle she did her final arrangement 'Australian Adventure'. She used the unusual foliage of the tall cream leucodendron laureolum to give height and used variegated fatsia leaves at the base together with yellow/green variegated eleagnus interspersed with the familiar Australian foliage; eucalyptus, to create the backdrop to the flowers. Groups of yellow ball-like craspedia and orange pin-cushion-like proteus flowers were then added to provide the colour and produce a dramatic arrangement. It was interesting to hear about her travels and to see them expressed with flowers in such a range of different types of arrangements and members who won the raffle were pleased to take them home and enjoy them further.
COMING UP...............
At our April clubnight we are holding a celebration for our 65th Birthday - Our Blue Sapphire Anniversary. There will be a buffet meal, a slice of celebration cake and a glass of fizz to toast the fun and friendship we have all enjoyed over the years through our love of flower arranging. There will be a table quiz, and a blue-themed raffle, Duncan will give an after -dinner talk and there will be live music entertainment. If you haven't signed a board to confirm you are coming, then contact the Chairman Janet Aslett Officers in advance of Tuesday to ensure we will have catered for you. Free to members and visitors £8.
Bring and Buy Table - 1st April 'Easter Treats'. Please bring any Easter-related items to sell to raise funds for the club. For example, this could be anything yellow or green such as a scarf, a dish, a vase or it could be an Easter Egg, other sweeties, perhaps a pack of mini Easter cakes. Any unsold items can be reclaimed at the end of the evening or may otherwise be used for tombola at a later date.
Coach Outing: Our all day coach outing visiting Rural Life Living Museum in Farnham followed by a visit to a garden centre is taking place on Thursday 22nd May. Friends and family welcome. Total cost will be £38 per head. To reserve your place you can sign up at our April meeting or let Marcia know. A deposit of £15 will be payable.