Related links
- 2009 Events
- Westminster Show Report 2008
- Florists Symposium Report
- Visit to Highgrove 2008
- BNCS Carnation World Championship
- Southport Show Report 2008
- Great Northern Carnation Society 2008 show Report
- Bakewell 2008 report by Ivor Mace
- Harrogate 08
- Bakewell Show 08
- Harrogate Great Yorkshire Show – 2008
- June Show 2008 report
- Lady Salisbury at the June Show
- Pinks and Carnations Day 2008
- BNCS visit to Southview Nursery 2008
- Chelsea 2008
- Westminster Show report 2007
- Harrogate Autumn 2007 Show Report
- Southport Show 2007
- Notts Carnation Show
- Allwoods visit 2007
- BNCS at Gardeners World Birmingham
- BNCS AGM Report 2007
- PF's at The Royal Welsh Show 2007
- Floral Art at Westminster
- Behind the scenes at Westminster
- Visit to Whetmans nursery 2006 report
- 2005 Show Reports by Neville Smith
- The Annual General Meeting 2006
Floral Art Demonstration
On Pinks Day having returned from the trial field the first demonstration was on floral art by Helen Bostock of the RHS.
Whilst many members of the BNCS are mainly interested in cultivation, exhibiting and perhaps breeding of dianthus, the public at large are hugely interested in how to use blooms in the home, and no one could fail to appreciate how useful pinks and carnations are in floral art. They are “The King” of cut flowers.
Starting with the simplest of techniques, putting single blooms in bottles and jars, is something that anyone, even the crustiest grower, can manage. Indeed a flower or two brightens any home, at the dinner table or bedside, and everyone should get into the habit of bringing spare blooms into the house. Here Helen demonstrates putting one stem in each old bottle (all of which I gather she has dug up in a somewhat neglected garden). We can all manage this!
Next was a geometric design using carnation flower heads only. I could imagine growers horror as she sniped off the stems! It was certainly very effective.
Moving on to a more complicated way of displaying blooms underwater, Helen created this spectacular display in what appeared to be two goldfish bowls! Obviously this requires the appropriate equipment. (It reminded me of a system sold in the 60’s at the Ideal Home exhibition where the sphere was sealed by a plastic bung onto which the flowers were inserted before inverting the whole lot. To cap it all there was a light fitting on top. Explaining this to Helen made me feel very old (although I was young at the time!)).
The final demonstration was making a hand tied bunch. Helen made this look very simple, the sort of thing any of us could do; though I have a feeling it is probably harder than it looks.
It was a very good start to the lectures and demonstrations by showing what can be achieved with our prize blooms.
Finally here is a picture of Helen presenting the bouquet to the lucky winner of the lottery competition.
