A NIGHT to remember, Wednesday the 19th, Pershore Flower Club presented their Open Evening at No.8 and what a night it proved to be.

Our President, Janis Hodgkins, welcomed 200 members and visitors to Number 8 along with NAFAS Area President Jenny Bennett. Janis then introduced National Demonstrator SUE DAVIES from Cannock Chase. Sue had demonstrated to the Club a number of times before but never to an Open Evening but we all knew we were in for a treat, her title being “It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas”.

Her first display was in tones of pale pink and grey in a black container. She started with a lovely cream and green cymbidium orchid around which she used spotted laurel, aspidistra leaves which she had manipulated into gentle curves and loops to which she added two grey/pink ornamental cabbages. The sparkle came by way of small glitzy balls. Once placed in position the arrangement was joined by a similar display in a white container followed by a third arrangement with a black base. Around these arrangements she placed white and gold Christmas trees.

Next followed a ring which could be placed on a door or used for the centre of a table. The ring was divided up into four sections. These were covered with moss, thornless holly, hydrangea heads, and green felt (larna) which she had cut into small squares and secured in the middle with a german pin and placed very closely together. Sue then added blocked soft green carnations and pink damask spray roses. After hanging the ring from a tall stand she proceeded to hang a second ring from a lower stand and placed by their side were to two tall steeple white churches with lights appearing at the windows.

While arranging her flowers explained she had a fetish for shoes and chocolate and told us numerous funny stories about herself enjoying these fetishes, much to the amusement of everyone listening.

Sue's third arrangement was in an oblong sturdy wicker basket in which she placed three fat wooden christmas trees in three different sizes and covered with felt and wool. This arrangement was in a continental design and consisted of ferns, larch and eucalyptus. To this she added 20 traditional red roses, dried flame coloured gravillia, red and yellow toned gerbra and to add something different she had fresh small pears which had been dipped in a peach coloured wax and put on sticks – very different and a wow from everyone in the audience. Of course it was joined by a second similar arrangement.

And still telling us more funny stories in the life of Sue Davies.

Fourth was a creation in white and dusky pink on a silver oblong stand upended and decorated with silver and white glitz. Her stunning greenery was laurel camellia foliar with its lovely curved leaves – which made us all want a shrub in our garden. Added to this was pendulous laurel with new season cones just forming, aspidistra leaves with a hint of glitz, and finally ming (similar to asparagus fern) to obtain a shower effect of both sides of the stand.. The flowers were the wonderful pink “Anastasia” chrysanthemums, a dusty pink rose, mauve/pink carnations and a final burst of extravagance mauve anthuriums. And as we are coming to expect, this was joined by its sister arrangement.

For five an aluminium square container was used, to which Sue had added white amaryllis, sparkled fatsia leaves, salam leaves and two coconut spades which had been given the silver glitz treatment. Added to the amaryllis she used green “Annabella” hydrangeas and white spider chrysanthemums. And of course there was a second placement to add to the ambiance.

Whilst the hall was still ringing with laughter at Sue's stories, she then proceeded to arrange her final display – using a wooden sledge with it's runners covered in moss she added ferns, pendulous larch, ivy, eucalyptus and variegated eleagnus and white grevillea. Flowers came in the way of cream/vanilla lilies, white “Avalanche” roses, green hydrangeas, white “Frost” gerbra and anthuriums called “Grace” which were white with a hint of green.

The room went very quite as Sue then proceeded to turn the whole stage into a winter wonderland. With reindeers, christmas trees, lots of lights, snowmen in various sizes and to finally finish it off a pedestal which must have been 8 to 10 ft high with similar foliage and flowers to the sledge. The sledge was placed in front of this magnificent arrangement.

Wow what a night this has been.

Janis then called upon Jenny Bennett to give a vote of thanks which was followed by a resounding thank you from everyone in the hall

After all this some lucky people even got to take home an arrangement – how lucky is that.

JILL MILLARD