The Mad Hatter’s Flower Arranging event, held on Thursday 20th July 2023 at Barnet’s Open Door centre, was florist Iris’s third flower-arranging demonstration and workshop for Cherry Lodge Cancer Care. The theme, taken from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ proved extremely popular. Fourteen ladies took part and everyone went home feeling very much happier than did poor, confused Alice in the story.
Iris is an entertaining and knowledgeable speaker, holding the attention of her enthusiastic audience and sharing useful hints on plant selection and care, ideas for unusual and effective containers, and ways to build impressive flower arrangements for different occasions. We were taken step by step through two fabulous arrangements – a tall one with purple delphiniums and sunny yellow gerberas, and another with pink mini hydrangea, purple buddleia and white gypsophila sitting prettily on a plastic ‘goldfish’ bowl.
Next came our turn to follow Iris’s guidance to produce a small arrangement of our own, using donated white chrysanthemums, orange carnations and feathery green acer leaves.
We were then treated to tea and delicious cakes, baked by CL volunteer Sue. Lucky raffle winners had a choice of prizes, including Iris’s beautiful flower arrangements, a pretty cup and saucer, a delicate tea pot, a white toy rabbit (standing in for the March Hare) and a bottle of wine.
The event was brought to a close by Tina’s vote of thanks to Iris for giving her time and sharing her knowledge so generously. All in all this was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Click on the small images to see larger, complete photographs.
