Final Touches To Displays

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 2

Final Touches To Displays

With less than 24 hours to go before the opening of the Canterbury Flower Arrangement Society’s first exhibition at Elizabeth House, members were hard at work last evening turning hundreds of flowers into works of art.

At first glance it appeared chaotic. Workmen and electricians were everywhere, on the floor, up near the ceiling, bringing in large cardboard bays, but somehow men and women were going quietly ahead setting up their arrangements.

In the entrance hall, women were at work creating a strikI ig arrangement with clematis, white peonies, elm, cream banksia roses, lilies and euphobia. One display was being created round an antique green and brown glazed pattery bowl standnig on a pedestal of four legs. IN THREE ROOMS

The exhibition flows through three rooms. In the drawing room the theme is Victoriana. Members have lent many beautiful antiques from the Victoria era.

The floral arrangements here are bold and comprise the delicate tonings popular with that time—tints and tonings of creams, pinks, blues, mauve and lilac.

In front of the fireplace stands a rosewood framed screen in petit point with a design of birds, fruit and flowers.

The mantle arrangement is fluid, with flowers and greenery trailing gracefully. In one corner there is a container of

flowers covered with a glass dome. The containers in this room are also in keeping with the period, graceful silver holders and copper samovars. Other arrangements are standing on marble plimps. The dining room accommodates 15 six foot high, eyecatching displays, set against different coloured backgrounds of silks and satins. Four smaller bays display pieces described as elegance and sophistication. VIVID COLOURS

Modern creations are in the bar room. Here the colours are vivid reds and oranges

given by amaryllis lilies, roses, tulips, kanifolia (red hot pokers), and Kaka beak. Background contrast is provided by concrete blocks, glass goblets, black birch and variagated grasses.

The bar itself is decorated with clown dolls, beer bottles and orange and lime green flowers against dark foliage. The president, Mrs G. C. T. Burns, said that about 50 of the society’s 60 members were providing an exhibition of about 40 pieces. The society was formed 18 months ago and planning for the exhibition started six months ago.

Most of the flowers came from members’ gardens and some were specially grown for the display. Mrs Burns said the society was formed because “people love flowers and felt the need for a noncompetitive society to give pleasure to themselves and to others.”

The exhibition opens to the public at 1.30 p.m. today and is open till 9.30 p.m. Tomorrow it opens at 10 a.m. and ends at 4.30 p.m. The proceeds will go to the Save the Children Fund and the exhibition will be opened by the Dominion president, Miss M. Havelaar, of Christchurch, this afternoon.