Save the dates for Fermoy Flower and Garden Club events

Members and friends are sure to be interested in two upcoming events organised by Fermoy Flower and Garden club. The first event is our 6th June demonstration in the Adair Hall, when we will have Ali Dietrich to give a demonstration titled ‘ Shimmer and Shine’.

The demonstration will begin at 8pm, doors open 7.30pm, all welcome, visitors €10. Ali is currently chairperson of Sutton Floral Art Group in Co Dublin, and is also chair of the AOIFA Demonstrator and Speakers Committee. She is also the winner of several prizes for her floral art. It is Ali’s first visit to the Cork area, so we are eagerly looking forward to her visit and are sure she will receive a warm Fermoy welcome. Our chairperson Anne and treasurer Sharon have been lucky enough to see Ali give a demonstration at one of the AOIFA Committee meetings in Portlaoise and have assured us we are in for a treat. Refreshments will be served, the plant sales table will be in the capable hands of Betty Hegarty and her helpers, and the competitions on the night are as follows:

Exhibit: ‘June is bursting out all over.’ Novice 45cms, Open 75cms. Horticulture (A): Cacti or Succulent in a pot. Horticulture (B): Three different perennials.

Competitions are open to club members only.

SUMMER OUTING: TUESDAY, 4TH JULY

The second event our Committee, in particular, our chairperson, Anne O’Mahony has organised, is our annual day outing on Tuesday, 4th July visiting Gardens in Co. Limerick. The bus will leave the Adair Hall at 9.45am, calling first to Siobhan O’Mahony ‘s Garden in Ballylanders, where we will have refreshments, followed by a walk around the garden. Following this, we will make our way to Rearden’s Restaurant and Bar in Holycross, Co. Limerick, for lunch (optional).

From here we will visit the nearby Rockbarton Garden Centre, where teas, coffee etc will also be available (optional). Our second garden, Coolwater, in Fedamore, is next on our list of garden visits. Members will remember Kevin Begleys talk to the club in March about the evolution of Coolwater into the beautiful garden it is today. Kevin also promises refreshments with a twist. Following this we will return to the Hunters Rest in Mitchelstown for dinner. The cost of the outing is €80, with an insurance supplement of 10€ for non-members and friends. This includes, bus, garden visits, refreshments in both gardens and dinner. It does not include lunch in Reardens or tea/coffee in Rockgarton Garden Centre.

Names and money for the outing will be taken at our 6th June meeting in the Adair Hall. Anyone who is interested in the trip but who cannot attend this meeting, please contact Anne O’Mahony at 0877693102 to book your place on the bus. This promises to be a lovely day out and we look forward to seeing a big crowd on the bus for the outing.

MAY EVENT SUCCESS

Our May outing to Toss Bryan’s garden centre was a huge success and we would like to thank Tom and his staff for their very warm welcome, and Brew Boys for the tea and coffee. Our members were very impressed with the quality of the plants on offer and the helpful and knowledgeable staff who gave extra assistance to all taking part in the Treasure hunt. Members were also able to avail of the very generous 20% discount given with the Toss Bryan’s Discount card issued to all members of the club on payment of annual subscription.

CONDOLENCES

The Club Committee and members were very sorry to hear of the passing last week, after a short illness, of Una Fleming, flower arranger extraordinaire, wonderful teacher and demonstrator and friend to everyone in flower arranging and floral art circles. Una was a regular visitor to our club over the years, giving encouragement to everyone to take up flower arranging and floral art. She was a much loved member of Clonakilty Flower club, a past chairperson and President of AOIFA, a representative of AOIFA in international competitions where she won many prizes over the years. During her term as chairperson of AOIFA, Una organised a very successful Flower Festival in Clonakilty, as part of AOIFA ‘s fundraising activities, and we were privileged as a club to take part in this festival.

We extend our condolences to Una’s family, the members of her beloved Clonakilty Flower Club and her many friends on the various AOIFA Committees she served on over many years.

CONGRATULATIONS

On a happier note, we would like to congratulate Fermoy Concert Band on their 100th anniversary and we wish them another 100 years of entertaining all in Fermoy so wonderfully. In a happy co incidence and a throwback to the previous paragraph, our exhibit in the Clonakilty Flower Festival was a celebration of the annual Brass Band competition held in Clonakilty in which Fermoy Concert Band has been very successful over the years. Perhaps a collaboration between the Concert Band and our Flower Club is something to think about for the future.

JUNE/JULY EVENT REMINDER

Tuesday, 6th June demonstration by Ali Dietrich in the Adair Hall at 8pm. Tuesday, 4th July club outing to Co Limerick, leaving Adair Hall at 9.45am.