The 60th Birthday Present

What a lovely gift - not to have more things but to acquire a little experience in flower arranging with some tips on how to, and how not to! Also, I was looked after - refreshments and help provided. It was a real treat. Thanks to all my contributors.

The first item was a table centrepiece in a round bowl - and how to make the yellow lillies curl round - it was rather Uri Geller like. But the science behind it is simple.You strip off a thin layer of outer stem and support, and it bends on stroking gently. Like the plastic beads threaded onto steel grass.

The major work (!) was a one sided (don't look at the back) decoration with some bird of paradise flowers, gerbera, proteus and lillies plus the back bone of aspidestra leaves curved and strengthened by thin coloured wooden strips. All too easy to tear the leaves .. so care needed. At first I thought mine was a disaster but as the display was built up, it went alright. We were copying a display and every step was demonstrated to help. So no excuses right?

And the class was so quick that there was time for a little table piece using 'leftovers'and we still finished early. The pieces were all packaged up for us so I was able to come home on the bus.... we left the watering until arriving home - that saved on the weight.

So now I'm thinking about conditioning flowers and sharp florists scissors and large surface area to absorb maximum water ..and I have a sheet of hints... It was a really useful experience and finished too soon.