Delicious refreshments, the chance to buy tickets to win an arrangement, a stunning sales table, and the opportunity to support our charity (both by purchasing from the well stocked plant stall and the charity raffle) all added to the expectant and sociable atmosphere prior to the demonstration.
It was delightful to see so many visitors in the packed hall including area officers, members of local flower clubs and friends from as far away as Hereford. Barry was given a very warm welcome. He is an international demonstrator and one of Britain’s most celebrated floral designers. He began the evening by reading his own poem ‘ To tread a quiet pathway’.
Each of his arrangements represented a line or phrase from his reading:
- Garden pathway-flowers within its borders
- New hopes can be found
- Snow shall fall and frost shall freeze
- Blistered heat does scorch the air
- Journey on a quest
- For labours past
- Stretch a dream to its limits far
Many varieties of garden and florist foliage were used ( the licuala palm was amazing) and flowers included his trademark orchids, nerines, carnations, Ecuadorean roses, strelitzia, lilies, proteas, and anthuriums (to name a few!) to produce stunning arrangements ……….. but let the pictures below speak for themselves!
The demonstration was drawing to a close and music resounded around the hall. The audience sat spellbound as Barry arranged a cascade of flowers in the centre of the stage – keeping his promise at last year’s area meeting to give us a stage full of stunning flowers.
The standing ovation at the end of the evening signified the audience’s appreciation for his skill, vision and presentation.
Thank you Barry for a wonderful evening and to everyone else who contributed to make the evening such a success.
