Benllech Flower Club Saved By Cumbrian Van Hire

by Sue Beesley
(Marianglas)

A near fiasco turned to triumph for Benllech Flower Club's Open Evening in July.

This year's star demonstrator, David Ryland from Cumbria, had car trouble at the start of his long journey to Anglesey and, for a while, it looked as if the demonstration was in jeopardy.

At the last minute David was able to hire a van to transport all his flower boxes and props, and make a dash for Benllech where a group of committee members were waiting to help him off load and set up the stage.

David is a professional and from his polished, witty and easy style, no one in the audience would have thought he had a care in the world.

For club members who are accustomed to seeing an array of exotic florist's flowers, this demonstration was excitingly different.

David, a plants-man with a horticultural background, picked lavishly from his six acre garden near Penrith.

He brought rare and unusual flowers and foliage which he arranged in the naturalistic style that suited them best.

Using natural wicker containers - and a fascinating pedestal made from a palm tree-trunk - we were introduced to variegated fatsia and horse radish; golden leycesteria; an almost black kale and a curly leafed laurel.

Tall spires of false cannabis(he assures us it is false) contrasted with hostas larger than dinner plates, all grown in his garden.

The cool, predominantly green and white colour scheme used throughout, with added splashes of yellow callas, a touch of purple allium, and blue delphinium and campanula, was just right for a rare hot July evening.

As a national demonstrator, David has shown his talents at many of the prestigious floral art shows throughout the world.

His Anglesey audience were in no doubt that here was flower arranging at its peak.