BROUGHTON Floral Club’s September meeting included a demonstration by Melanie Smith which linked some of the towns she had visited on holidays in France.

Colmar was the first town which interested her as many buildings had very decorative window-boxes. Melanie covered a plastic trough with upright apple sticks to give texture, filled the base with different types if ivy some trailing, pineapple mint sprigs, variegated box, cream astrantia and clusters of white chrysanthemums finishing with very tall domineering yellow sun flowers, which completed the display.

Secondly, a white ski representation of silvered pear sticks bound with sliver wire was the setting for large fatsia leaves and euonymus sprigs at the base, tall white antirrhinums, white avalanche roses and green carnations, finishing with frosted fir cones reminiscent of a snow scene.

The Grasse home of the painter Fraganard was the inspiration for Melanie’s next arrangement. It was a very tall vase covered in coloured yarn which held tall manipulated phormium leaves to give a Hogarth shape. The base had variegated box, trimmed phoenix palm and fatsia leaves, with orange Asiatic lilies and orange mini gerberas. It was a very bright and eye catching display.

The penultimate display in a grey coloured urn was the setting for pink avalanche roses, green carnations and Kimsey mini gerberas, encompassed with palm, fatsia leaves and eleagnus sprigs. A traditional display which would look good anywhere.

‘Thoughts from Trouville sur Mer’ was Melanie’s last arrangement. With a lobster pot for her mechanics she used sprayed palm leaves, yarn covered pear sticks, fatsia leaves, eleagnes sprigs, sedum stems, red antirrhinums, green carnations and yellow mini gerberas. Medelino sticks threaded with beads was the icing in the cake, so to speak. A very interesting and relaxing evening with super arrangements.

The club’s next meeting is on 4 October when Allison Finch will be demonstrating. Her title ‘Well Read Volume 2’ sounds intriguing.

The club’s open evening on 1 November is the last meeting of their golden anniversary year. International demonstrator Emily Broomhead will be presenting. Tickets are still available from Debbie Harper on 01794 340859. It will be a meeting not to miss so come along and join in.