Our April Meeting

13 April 2023

'Nature's Angels' by Doug Howard

Our April meeting was held a week later than usual due to Easter dates and this month our demonstrator was Doug Howard with his title 'Nature's Angles'.  Doug is a valued member of our club and an Area Demonstrator.  Our members were looking forward to a colourful evening of flowers and chat.  They were not disappointed.












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 For his first design, Aspidistra and Fatsia leaves, caught by the frost turning them brown, were used against a beautiful drift wood sphere on a wooden base. Tall Pussy Willow, Arum Lily leaves and graceful Ferns, together with blue Iris, green Hellebores and yellow Daffodils, lovely spring design arranged in a pin holder and no foam. 





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​Next a tall black metal twisted stand held a high arrangement of yellow Salix Caprea (Pussy Willow), golden Roses, yellow and orange Gerbera.  Bergenia leaves, Spotted Laurel and ferns against a trellis of tall Bamboo canes.  A lower placement repeating the roses, Gerbera and pussy willow together with Dianthus (green tricks).  Green Midelino canes to the side of the arrangement took the eye in that direction while the roses were placed to take the eye upward toward the top arrangement.
 
Natural, rustic birch sticks secured into a wooden base. Pussy Willow and Virginia Creeper was woven though the sticks to resemble a bird nest.  Into this were placed glass tubes to hold the flowers and water.  A design with blue, red and mauve Freesias, yellow Daffodils and soft ferns.  Simple but beautiful and no foam.

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​Then, after a refreshment break, Doug's fourth design was a two-tier arrangement including twisted Palms, Fatsia leaves, golden Yew and Fern.  Mauve Alliums, salmon pink Elegance Alstroemeria and crimson Wax Flowers.  Tall slim foliage took the eye from the bottom arrangement up through the second. 







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Doug's next design comprised a panel of black wrought iron, with white Midelino canes, rope webbing and cork screw hazel twigs woven through and around the panel in bands.  A beautiful stem of green Phalaenopsis Orchids wired across the panel with a single flower from the stem and three green and white Puff Ball flowers on the opposite side.   Flowers were set in water tubes, again no foam.
 
Lastly, an arrangement with gold Gerbera, white Carnations, purple Lisianthus, red Naomi Roses. Glossy green leaves which had been curled and twisted into shapes and gold foliage.  Two smaller but similar arrangements were placed above.  With the deep purple, red and white flowers the design was fit for a king which was represented with a royal crown to celebrate the forthcoming coronation of Charles 111.
 
Our next club meeting is on 4 May with National Demonstrator David Thomson and his intriguing title:  'This, That and The Other'.  Doors open as usual at 6.45pm for prompt start at 7.30.