Flower lovers’ luncheon
THE highlight of the Loughborough Flower Lovers’ Club’s summer programme, its annual summer luncheon was recently held in the Oaks in Charnwood Storer Hall, where members and visitors, including representatives from the Breaston and Castle Donington clubs, gathered for a delicious buffet.
Following the lunch those present were treated to an entertaining and amusing demonstration entitled ‘Flowers on the Hoof’ by the club’s chairman, Mrs Pat Billing, herself a professional demonstrator, who skilfully produced many striking floral designs using a wide range of fresh flowers.
First were two matching vertical pedestals, striking in their simplicity, each using just five beautifully placed white chrysanthemums against a background of fatsia, bergenia, prunus and hosta leaves.
To contrast, there followed a horizontal arrangement with green bamboo sticks creating width, featuring amelanchier, leatherleaf and ruscus providing a background for pale green carnations, chrysanthemums and green anthuriums.
A dainty arrangement of small dark red carnations and chrysanthemums with pink Aqua roses in a small pedestal basket came next.
Following this a tall container with a triangular arrangement provided the next contrast, with ivy, palm, aspidistra, and bergenia leaves and hypericum berries providing the backdrop for dark red Naomi roses and small red gerberas.
The tall white contemporary vase featured a mass of variegated foliage enhancing the green anthuriums, yellow roses and fennel, providing an attractive golden glow.
The final display was a looser, very pretty arrangement in an eastern birdcage shaped frame, where white alstroemerias and white Avalanche roses tumbled through the sides.
Throughout her demonstration Pat reflected upon the changes she has seen over the years, particularly in the wholesale flower market where the emphasis is shifting to online orders.
Although the market can appear to be filled with an amazing variety of flowers, many of them have been booked by internet sales, leaving a reduced selection for ad hoc customers.
As in previous years the event was well attended and was enjoyed by everyone. Each lucky raffle prize winner was able to take home one of the arrangements.
Members are now looking forward to their first autumn meeting entitled ‘Lipstick, Powder and Paint’ on Thursday, September 19, by NAFAS national demonstrator Lorena Dyer from Coventry.
Visitors are invited to join them for a chance to see wonderful floral displays being created, and to have a chance to win one of them in the raffle.
Tickets will soon be on sale for the club’s annual Open Meeting on 21 November, this year featuring the well-known and popular Jonathan Moseley.
Meetings are held at Amherst School, Gray Street, Loughborough LE11 2DZ from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
New members and visitors can be assured of a very warm welcome.
Admission for visitors is £5. Tea/coffee and biscuits are available.
If you would like to know more, please ring 01509 853740.