Mylor Flower Club (From Falmouth Packet)

Mylor Flower Club

10:44am Tuesday 8th March 2011 in Mylor

The meeting held on Monday at the Ord Statter Pavilion welcomed back a familiar face, Diane Bate, a local florist. Her demonstration was “Let’s Move On,” a subject designed to use more modern techniques and bringing a fresh look to floral art.

Her designs ranged from using just three blooms to more complex arrangements in a variety of colours and her skill and entertaining recollections of how she either obtained the materials or ideas kept the audience absorbed throughout the evening and the result of the raffle of these designs was eagerly anticipated.

A horizontal log-shaped base constructed of wired twigs looked stunning when draped with three orchid stems and similarly a half-moon shaped wicker stand came to life with just three sunflowers strategically placed. In both these arrangements the stems were in hidden tubes of water. A woodland scene emerged from a flat glass base housing a collection of twigs and moss with irises nestling between italicum arum leaves.

Diane was very keen to introduce the ‘In Thing’ of flower arranging, using yarns and materials incorporated into designs and also showed how to build up arrangements with variations of wicker rings which can be decorated with moss, foliage or yarns to emphasise different textures and bring interest to arrangements. Often this means using less blooms and foliage which is another challenge to the flower arranger.

A wide shallow bowl with a moss filled woven wicker ring took on a different dimension when two more rings were added vertically and pink gerberas, hebe, roses and fungus gave the floral interest. A toning length of woven yarn threaded throughout gave the finishing touch. Similarly another arrangement sprang to life when the addition of two different sized wool covered rings, one sparkly black, the other white, were added to a collection of pussy willow and white blooms of lysianthus, carnations and tulips.

An alternative dimension was achieved using a conical terracotta pot and two rings of black sparkly twisted bark with a collection of blooms toning in with the pot. A foliage base of euonymus, solidago and roses provided the support for another ring filled with lilies and carnations, a very different arrangement!

Finally a length of woven netting gave Diane the finishing touch to a stunning arrangement in a more traditional setting as she draped this through the collection of green chrysanthemums and pink blooms of lilies, hellebores, carnations and tulips with curled aspidistra leaves giving another dimension.

Monthly competition: 1, Margaret Underwood; 2, Sylvia Ollerenshaw; 3, Irene Gardiner.

The next meeting is Monday, April 4 when Catherine Reeve (Truro) will demonstrate “A Sense of Style” and the competition is “Elegance”. Visitors are always most welcome. Please contact Jean Frith (01326 372071) or Margaret Underwood (01326 312499) for any details regarding club activities.