Floral artists spread cheer with posies
Flowers bring cheer to many an occasion and the 30 members of the Horowhenua Floral Art and Garden Club practise the artistry of floral arranging every month and use it to spread a lot of joy.
Every first Thursday of the month they gather at Thompson House on Kent St at 6.30pm and bring boxes and baskets and bags full of flowers, mostly from their own gardens. This month they sat down to produce 100 posies to be distributed among residents of local rest homes.
The tables are fully loaded with blooms and the floor is littered with baskets and boxes full of flowers and branches of greenery for use in the posies. Every month the club members also bring flower arrangements to the meeting to vie for a place of honour in four categories that cater for beginners to experts. There is usually a theme and the one for September was: Spring has Sprung.
The club has been going since the mid-60s and some of its original members are still turning up each month. The club belongs to the Floral Art Society of New Zealand, which has a Manawatu¯ branch with eight clubs. The club itself has plenty of expertise in house to teach newcomers, but they make full use of knowledge in other clubs.
“The Floral Art Society of New Zealand has roving tutors available, who can teach certain aspects of floral arranging,” said club member Pat Vickers.
In November the club is organising a Parade of Homes to raise funds for St John. Six club members, who live on Okarito Ave in Levin will be opening their gardens to the public on November 16 and 17 from 10am to 4pm. Tickets cost $30 and are available from Queen Street Dental and St John Op Shop in Levin and Watson Garden Centre in Otaki. ¯ On the day there will be raffles and sales tables, but these are cash sales only.
“We haven’t done a Parade of Homes for years but a recent one in Palmerston North was so successful, we thought we should give it go,” said Barbara Blewitt.