Roundhill Flower and Garden Club

Our demonstrator for September was Beverley Artis from Long Eaton, who has substantial experience of working as a commercial florist in addition to demonstrating, teaching, plus involvement in her local NAFAS flower club. She intrigued us with tales from her career, along with providing fascinating information about the wholesale side of the floristry industry to which she has a family link.
The title of her demonstration was ‘Name That Tune’, this taking us through a number of famous songs old and new, all interpreted in plant material. Styles of design, and colour themes were varied, as was the wide choice of flowers and foliages.
Beginning with ‘Let It Go’ from the Disney film ‘Frozen’, the colours of this twin asymmetric placement were inevitably shades of pink and blue. Flowers used included gladioli, delphinium, lilies, a new ‘spider’ form of shaggy gerbera, and the most amazing large dusky pink rose ‘Secret Garden’ which had many of us spellbound.
We were transported back to 1981 with the song, ‘Wired For Sound’ by Sir Cliff Richard. This was a depicted in contemporary style using minimal plant material with flowers in shades of red. Alongside the ‘spider’ gerbera, huge burgundy anthurium staggered through this vertical line design, with Beverley teaching us how to achieve intricate cascading circles from decorative wire.
A two-part contemporary arrangement including sunflowers just had to represent much-loved comedy favourites Morecambe and Wise, bringing happy memories of the signature dance to ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ which ended their TV shows.
The Elvis Presley 1960 song ‘Wooden Heart’ also featured. Coming from the film G.I. Blues the colour theme to this low, contemporary table design was predictably shades of blue through to plum, all set amidst a square frame of interwoven twigs. As well as the familiar hydrangea and delphinium, we were introduced to a fascinating new mauve clematis grown specially for the floristry trade, its growth habit being erect rather than climbing. A beautiful miniature lilac rose, plus an arching line of plum zantedeschia completed the effect.
To close, after describing some humorous encounters via her wedding floristry work, Beverley reflected on memories of her own wedding by depicting the song, ‘When I Fall In Love’, in particular the Nat King Cole version from 1957. A diagonal arrangement set in a stone effect planter, colours were shades of pink to red, once more using that stunning ‘Secret Garden’ rose, along with equally large double dahlias. Curving stems of unopened gladioli, plus a smaller red rose as well as hints of silver and plum from foliages gave the finishing touch.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.