Ashton Hayes and Tarvin Flower Club. May Meeting Report

WOW! What an evening. Lots of visitors, extra chairs brought out and a fantastic demonstration.

Sionedd Hughes, a farmer's wife, mother, gardener and in her spare time a flower arranger, comes from near Oswestry. She has been visiting our club at regular intervals since 2003 and remains as entertaining as ever.
Her flowers were beautiful and varied. "Turning over a new leaf" referred to her use of leaf manipulation which she did to great effect. Thank goodness it didn't refer to any character change on her part.

Six designs were completed which were all very different but she did use wooden crates throughout and her containers were mainly rustic. The exception to this was her design of pink flowers which were in a silver bowl. According to Sionedd brought specially for the evening because she was coming to Cheshire! She regaled us with stories in her own inimitable fashion of life on the farm, her childrens' success in shows and her brother who remains unmarried. Even a new bull turned out to be gay! However the breeding programme has now resumed with a very lively bull. She also told us of a recent trip to Scotland to visit gardens. Her own garden is now 9 years old with difficult growing conditions and shrubs and flowers being eaten by farm animals. Nevertheless, apart from aspidistra leaves all her foliage was home-grown.

Our next meeting on June 13th is our annual garden visit. This year we return to Bunbury to a different garden – Mayfield. If you wish to go but haven't put your name down please contact Merryn. Lifts will be organised. The cost is £7-50.

Ed: Click on the smaller photographs to enlarge.