FORTY one members and seven visitors came to Bishampton Village Hall on Wednesday, March 15 for the second Pershore Flower Club demonstration in 2017. We were delighted to welcome national demonstrator, Lorena Turner from Meriden. She called her demonstration “A Moment in Time” through the wardrobe. She produced some fascinating and innovative ‘mechanics’ all of which she had made with the help of her husband and which she stored in her garage, spare bedroom and even a rented garage. These included a large garden urn covered with patches from old denim trousers and two cane lampshades to represent the puffball skirt from the sixties! She used very varied greenery, much of which had been supplied by the Club members. Her choice of flowers was inspiring with orchids, lilies of all colours, agapanthus, mophead hydrangeas, gerberas of different colours, stunning roses of all colours. There was the ‘itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellowdot bikini’ on a slim black curvy stand with a yellow orchid, gold gerberas with black eyes, gold roses and black canes as the polka dots – all beneath dainty umbrella ferns. A tall cream slim vase with gold squares represented one leg of a pair of plus fours on which she arranged grevillea, tuberosas, salmon –coloured roses, aspidistra leaves, Colombian carnations, aspidistra leaves and blooms of Anastasia. Her tribute to the ‘little black dress’ was a traditional design placed on top of a tall elegant black container. She used red lilies, red carnations, red roses and red anthuriums with beautiful and dramatic foliage including phoenix palm leaves. Lorena’s final design as shown in the photograph was the ‘puffball skirt’! She used yet another orchid with kangaroo paw plants, pale peach carnations, mini gerberas and vibrant ‘atomic’ roses.

We much admired her talent and her beautiful arrangements and enjoyed her lovely chat which created a most enjoyable and inspiring evening for all members and visitors. Lorena also kindly judged the arrangements produced by our members for the “spring competition”. On the first Friday in May, look out for a “lonely bouquet”, examples of which will be found anywhere in the area of Evesham and Pershore, and take it home.

The Club meets again at Bishampton on Wednesday, April 19 when Sharon Dower of Swansea’s demonstration will be called “Nature’s Cast Offs” and visitors will be made very welcome. Any enquiries to Sheanagh Hickson on 01386 561210.

DINAH WOOD