Aberystwyth and District Floral Society

THE club’s meeting on 17 May, saw the welcome return of another favourite demonstrator, Jane Pugh, who runs a florist shop in Bishops Castle, Shropshire.The stage inside Llanfarian Village Hall was set for her eagerly anticipated demonstration entitled “What a Find”, and Jane soon had her audience entranced. She entertained as she skilfully created five beautiful arrangements, whilst relating amusing stories and giving helpful tips on the best ways to keep flowers fresh.Jane used some very unusual containers in which to display her arrangements. She started with a curiously shaped lump of wood which she described as looking like a Christmas turkey, but this was soon transformed into a piece of floral art in lime and white.

This was created using green chrysanthemums, pale yellow anastasias and white michaelmas daisies, set against a background of tall spikes of iris and filled in with lime coloured conifer, spotted laurel and trailing ivy.A modern arrangement came next sited across the top of a tall, rectangular, vase shaped container made of wire. Here, Jane positioned groups of soft pink Aqua roses and pink orchids with stems of amaranthus trail-ing under pink sticks which were extended either side of the arrangement.Jane then devised a unique way of using a wooden slatted wine rack, turned on its side, to hold a large horizontal design incorporating roses, carna-tions and alstroemeria in complementary wine red colours.An intricately carved African wooden receptacle was another of Jane’s finds. She placed a large glass bowl inside the open top and filled this with blue anastasias, pink carnations and red hydrangea heads, nestled between a selection of bright foliage.Jane’s last arrangement was positioned in an oasis wreath, placed inside a large wicker dish. The colour scheme was pre-dominantly in salmon and yellow with large and small gerberas encased within contorted and straight tall sticks.Folded aspidistra leaves added texture and shape to the surrounding foliage in this lovely design.Refreshments were served after the vote of thanks which was delivered by Glenys Morgan and the winners of the members’ competition were announced. Lyn Garrat won the Advanced group and Beti Wyn Davies won the Intermediate group.Pat Llewellyn from Ammanford will be demon-starting under the title “Season’s Choice” at the next club meeting on Tues-day, 21 June which will be held in Llanfarian Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.

The members’ competition is entitled, “Dinner Table Harmony”. Members and guests are always most welcome.