THE demonstration for a very hot July evening at Crediton Flower Club was entitled “Blooming Wonderful” and it certainly was!

Alison Penno has visited us before but since we last saw her she has qualified as a National Demonstrator and oh we could see why!

She has a natural flair for creating unusual and eye-catching displays and all the while delighting her audience with stories and anecdotes, particularly this time about her new and much loved 18-month-old Dobermann who just happens to be called Charlie!

Alison did five arrangements for us, the first being a tribute to weddings and getting back to some form of normality after the difficulties of lockdown. She used a more traditional “old style” cream pottery container which apparently are coming back into fashion now and which she filled with a beautiful selection of soft garden flowers including clematis, delightful pink roses and dahlias.

By complete contrast Alison then produced a very large off cut from a tree which she had discovered in nearby woods when taking the aforesaid Charlie for a walk.

She explained that she gets a lot of exercise these days!

She had created a network with wires and test tubes into which she placed ferns, grasses and pink willowherb to complete the woodland scene – simple yet very effective.

A stunning hand-tie came next – Alison demonstrated how she had created a petal-shaped framework of medolino sticks which she had decorated and used to hold the stems in place and enabling the flowers to spread out. These included lime green hydrangeas, chrysanths, lilies, gorgeous hot pink gerberas and soft pink freesias. Anyone would be delighted to receive one of these!

Her love of holidays came to the forefront next – although finding the time to go was another matter! - she chose a stunning pottery urn where three large dried palm leaves which had been sprayed blue and copper were placed to emulate crashing waves. Large hosta leaves, sinecio and rosemary formed a backdrop for one beautiful blue hydrangea, sea holly, blue agapanthus and white scabious. It was all very reminiscent of lazy sunkissed days.

Alison’s finale was chosen to represent the garden she would like to have one day – full of colour and a miscellany of flowers. She had decorated a trough with a piece of wood from an old garden chalet they were now renovating which formed a very realistic backdrop to create her summery garden border.

This she filled with foliage from copper beech, fatsias, garden mint , then white hydrangea, pink phlox, buddleia, achillea, red hot poker, vibernum opulus, campanula, rudbekia, and tiny pink roses and more … It was stunning.

Club Secretary, June Harry, thanked Alison for so living up to the title of “Blooming Wonderful” - it had been a great delight.

The Club has a break in August – the next meeting will be on Thursday, September 8, at 7.15pm at the Boniface Centre, Crediton – visitors are always welcome.