Last updated 15:54, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

THIS month Lyn Constable gave a demonstration called Have Flowers Will Travel. The first place ‘ visited’ was France, and she used a tall cream vase. There was a circle of scerecio leaves around the top of the vase and then three tall longi lillies were put in. To finish, a circle of gypsophila was added. It was a simple design, but very attractive.

Holland was next and we saw how to do a Dutch vegetive design, or landscape design in a large basket. Lyn had worked with many Belgian designers who did a lot of displays in pinholders and structures. There was no need to cover all the foam because the coloured oasis was used. Akilea, illeagnus, whim, bog myrtle, pussy willow, sunflowers and sticky buds from the horse chestnut were employed.

Lyn’s husband was in the Forces, which explained why she had moved around so much. She does a lot of painting with New Zealand flax, to make flowers, birds and bees. She also plaits palm leaves to incorporate into arrangements. She is now preparing to move south to be near her family, because they do not see much of each other.

Her third arrangement was in a large glass vase, and into it went fatsia, skimmia, rolled bergonia leaves, alstromeria, gerbera and pale pink roses. She use a knife to cut plant material because it makes it last longer.

Her daughter is a theatre lighting designer and when she was doing Carmen, at the Sydney Opera House, they had gone to see the production.It inspired her next arrangement, in a beautiful large glass bowl, having seen something similar in the restaurant at the Sydddney Opera House. The ash is very good this year, with lovely black buds, so she used this, rice flower which is very unusual and white in colour and white tulips, draped over the side of the bowl.

Next came all the designs made by Lyn in New Zealand flax. They were put into a Mouri basket and also included langi lillies and agapanthus. Africa, was next with a green ceramic container , the foliage manipulated by plaiting and aspidistra were twisted. Aspidistra do not like central heating and do very well outside, grown in the soil, rather than a pot. Phormium leaves, foxtail lillies, lemon carnations, apples and gorgeous roses called Feeling Green were added.

Then we came home to England h Pinks and blues were used, monkshood (very poisonous), rosemary (to help your memory), various foliage, pink gerbera, spray carnations and chrysanthemum’s, lysianthus and Singapore orchids finished off this enjoyable afternoon. and thus we had been all over the world and all in the space of one and a half hours.

There is another busy year ahead for members, with two flower festivals, a trip to the nationals at Edinburgh, and also Townley Hall, for the Christmas Festival. Tickets are now available for Rosehill Theatre, in June.