Monmouth Floral Society was delighted to welcome Jo Jacobs, a member of the‘National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS)’, with her theme “Just for You”. She harkened back to the Covid lockdown when it was a time to be creative at home and to “make do”.

She used the provided materials and then demonstrated how to make eight different displays which were raffled off at the end.

The first was a hand-tie bouquet based on a large “wreath” of contorted willow. Into this she inserted faded hydrangea heads; crocosmia seed heads; abelia grandiflora and beautiful dark apricot roses. This was then displayed in a square, traditional pot.

Second was a home-made box (approx. shoebox size) made of cardboard from a much bigger box and then faced with pieces of larchlap fencing. The inside was then lined with black plastic from a bin liner and some polystyrene packing at the bottom for height. At one end was a very dark pink cyclamen plant in a pot and on the other end an asymetric arrangement of phormium leaves; bamboo canes sprayed black; bamboo foliage; long stems of rubrus tricolour (ornamental black berry); smokebush leaves; heather; pink spray xanths; sedum (now renamed as Hylotelephium by RHS).

Another was a medium sized yellow pumpkin with the top cut off; inside scooped out and filled with a dish and oasis. Stems of copper beech; heuchra leaves, cotoneaster horizontalis; Waxed physalis heads and a magnificent orange stem rose. This was accompanied by a smaller orange pumpkin to match and a collection of decorative gourds, (pictured).

Another was made from a base of insulation foam sheet with wire wreath frames cut in half, covered in green and/or white tape and flower tubes affixed at intervals. There is a move to use as little green oasis as possible and this was an original and highly imaginative way of displaying stems of pretty mauve clematis stems together with tiny peach mini-gerberas.

A wall hanging: roughly 8” tapering to 1” and hung sideways on a few hooks. Glued onto the front were large water tubes; strips of bark with interesting form and shape and air plants. Into the tubes were inserted stems of clematis; plumbago and white kalanchoe. This can be changed to adapt to any setting indoors or out (under cover).

Another was in a small container with oasis: stems of ornamental blackberry and folded aspidistra leaves some of which had faded to cream; cones on sticks; iris foetidissima seed heads; large yellow gerberas and short smokebush stems.

The base for the next was a commercial sized tomato tin (available from Pizza Express if you ask nicely) with a dish of oasis on top. Two large green aspidistra leaves gave the height and the space and base was then filled with folded leaves of aspidistra. A line arrangement of very dark red roses and lime green carnations followed downwards. This was complemented by a smaller empty tin filled with a posy of roses and carnations plus a basil pot.

The last was a square, handmade basket filled with fircones. Some had been bleached and others had been sprayed with glue and then rolled in mixed spices. Water tubes of stems of Gloriosa Lilies completed this very simple and highly effective creation.

The Chairman, Tineke Deuss, invited Joan Rowlands to give a Vote of Thanks after which all the arrangements were raffled off and everyone retired for refreshments and a catch up.

The society is pleased to announce that on Wednesday 13th November, the first Christmas demonstration by Julie Pearce with “Follow that Star”. All visitors are welcome and entrance includes refreshments.

Doors open at Bridges at 1.45 pm.