Our President, Janis Hodgkins, that next month is our big Open Meeting on Thursday, November 19 at No. 8 Pershore. Tickets are still available from members of the committee should anyone need them. Also a gentle reminder that a Christmas lunch has been arranged at the Dolphin in Bishampton on December 9 still a few places left. And finally a reminder that our AGM will be on January 20 with a fish and chip supper.

Janis then gave a humorous introduction to our demonstrator for the evening Mr. Arnaud Metairie from Winchcombe., whose tile was “From my Shed” Arnaud although born in France has spent the last 21 years in England so no trouble there with translation.

Arnaud first explained that when he took up flower arranging his accessories were stored in the house, eventually being moved to a small garden shed, then on to a larger garden shed, and now to a “garage” - hence his title.

He then proceeded to give us a sensational evening of superb flower arranging. Between his humorous stories (usually against himself) he gave us many tips on how to handle different flowers.

Arnaud's variety of foliage and flowers were exceptional and each display was a completely different concept to the one before and each arrangement consisted of two placements.

The first arrangement was centred around a lovely verdigris mirror and the flowers were in shades of pale pink through to a delicate mauve using brassica (lovely cream and green cabbage), monkswood, clematis and lizianthus finishing with lovely pink roso roses.

Next came a picnic basket upended and Arnaud depicted Autumn with lovely rust Chrysanthemums, Chinese lanterns and orange dahlias. In the second placement he had also used aspidistra leaves threaded with mezalino sticks and wire which were very effective as a alternative texture.

For the third arrangement a metal bird bath was used which had been painted prairie green and copper. Arnaud in this arrangement used a selection of fatsia leaves, fountain grasses and senecio. The flowers were lovely pink gerbra, dark red dahlias and pink Canberra lilies. To lighten the effect he had also used lime green carnations called Goblin.

An extra large wicker storm lantern was next used on which Arnaud had attached a coconut spade and also used the husks of the coconut which he had sprayed silver and bronze. The foliage was made up of fatsia, spotted laurel and milianthus major to this he had added white gladioli, lilies and the lovely Avalanche roses.

For Anaud's final arrangement he used two circles made from wisteria, jasmine and silver birch twigs and through the centre of the circles he arranged pink/champagne lizianthus, spray champagne roses, cherry brandy roses and cymbidium orchids named Red Dream. The final effect was two creations of peach/orange mixed delicately, running through the circles – it was really spectacular.

The vote of thanks was given by Pat Burrage and expressed to Anaud how much we had all enjoyed his arrangements and also his lovely sense of humour which had kept up laughing throughout the evening. All the arrangements in true Flower Club tradition were won by members who had bought raffle tickets. It was very interesting to see one member trying to get a very large arrangement into her car along with the guests she had brought with her – I wonder who got prize place!

JILL MILLARD