Aberystwyth and District Floral Society

ON TUESDAY, 16 February, chairman Christine Gilbert welcomed everyone present in Llanfarian Village Hall and introduced the club president, Donald Morgan, as the invited NAFAS demonstrator. He regularly competes at the Royal Welsh Show and is currently part of the Mercia and North Wales NAFAS team preparing a display for the Chelsea Flower Show, Lon-don, in May this year.His title, A Touch of Romance, started with his design using drift-wood with daffodils, Blue Magic irises and Freedom red roses.He next used a metal stand with a heart shape to attach his flowers and foliage, which consisted of fatsia japonica and aspidistra leaves, some of which he manipulated. Diamond pins inserted into Aqua roses with wired red gerberas com-pleted his arrangement.He began his third design by arranging phoenix palms into oasis around the neck of a large brown pot. He also used fatshedera and eucalyptus leaves. Red Kiss spray dianthus (carnations) and Upper Class deep red roses plus seed heads sprayed gold finished the arrangement.Romance in the form of a jewellery chest container was the focus of his next arrangement. This time arun metalica, phoenix palm and eucalyptus were the foliage choices, with pink Dynasty tulips, purple Negrita tulips and yellow Illinois roses as his choice of flowers. Once this design was completed a surprise smaller chest was produced as “one he had made earlier”.The fifth and final arrangement made use of a tiered container stand with four different connecting arrangements. Donald’s favourite verigated elaeagnus pungens maculata was used. He said that if you have this plant in your garden you should ensure that any pure green growth is cut out or you could lose the verigated leaves. Small fatsia leaves and different lengths of cut pussy willow were inserted into the four oasis blocks with red Grand Slam dianthus, Metro lilies cut short and more Up-per Class roses finishing his design.The evening’s competition, entitled A Gift of Roses, results were: Novice: Glynis Somers. Interme-diate: 1, Carol Bland; joint 2, Beti Wyn Davies and Glenys Morgan.Advanced: Lynne Garrett.The next meeting is a workshop to be held in Llanfarian Village Hall on 15 March at 7.30pm with Julie Amies Carter.Tutor requirements are: one large flat charger plate to match colour of flowers; approximately 10 stems of twigs – birch is ideal but anything light and easily pliable would be fine (can be provided if necessary, please advise); some pussy willow or mossed twigs to add interest; one block of oasis; 20 individual blooms of three or four types such as tulips, iris, carnations, narcissus, hyacinth, roses, ranunculus, hellebores etc.Also required are: a small selection of foliage, berries and leaves of different textures; plain binding material, string or wire; small quail-sized eggs, preferably coloured (can be purchased from Julie on night); a handful of moss; three oasis frogs (not essential); secateurs, a bag for rubbish and a box to carry home your arrangement.There is no members’ competi-tion.New members and visitors are very welcome.

Bridge clubs

RESULTS from 21 February: 1, Roger Boyle and Jeff Thomas; 2, Margaret Ellis and Anne Edwards; 3, Pamela Woodhouse and Elenid Thomas; 4, Betty Brookes and Joyce Blair; 23 February: 1, Margaret James and Pamela Woodhouse; 2, Gwynant Edwards and Jeff Thomas; 3, Pam Ellis and Mike Jones.26 February: 1, Kim Marsh and Jeff Thomas; 2, Margaret James and Mike Jones; 3, Alun Richards and Robert Griffiths; 4, Herbie Rowley and Ken Thomas.The McKinley Cup for mid Wales teams was won by the Aberyst-wyth team of Pamela Woodhouse, Margaret James, Roger Boyle and Dylan Raw-Rees.