WAFA coup for clubs

Flower clubs across the country should be very proud of the achievement of hosting the prestigious world event.

A part of the job I love is I get to speak at many of flower and garden club meetings.

Did you know that there is a secret network of societies all over Ireland that meet every month? Of course there is nothing secret about these societies, indeed if you look at the Garden Notes column every week you will see numerous notices and messages advertising upcoming meetings.

I am referring of course to the flower and garden clubs and the reason I refer to them as secret is because, if you aren’t into gardening or working in the industry, you may be unaware of them.

I am very lucky in that I have managed to make a career out of doing something that I love. Everyday I look forward to going to work and to going in to do my job. Working with plants and gardening is something that is in my fibre at this stage and I couldn’t imagine life without gardening. But another part of the job I love is that I get to speak at many of these flower and garden club meetings throughout the country.

Now let me explain, there are between 90 and 100 gardening and related clubs throughout Ireland. They meet once a month for lectures and demonstrations and go on outings as a group. Always, after I give my demonstration, I am fed with copious amounts of sponge cake, fruit cake, freshly made sandwiches, biscuits and of course, tea — in a way that would make Mrs Doyle proud.

These groups, along with other networks such as the ICA, play such an important role in the fabric of Irish society it cannot be overstated. They serve, like any special interest group, as a place for knowledge and skills-exchange, and contain among their members some of the finest gardeners, plants-people and floral artists in the country. However, many of the members are there not so much for the finer points of horticulture and garden design, but also for the social and community aspect.

Many work as de facto support groups at times of grief, and during any member’s hard times and also, of course, share the good times by providing that intangible factor ‘social capital’. They are populated in the main, but not exclusively, by females. No surprise there.

I have had the very great pleasure over the years of speaking to dozens of these clubs, indeed on Tuesday last I was with Blackrock Flower and Garden Club and we had a great evening.

Each of these clubs is a member of the Association of Irish Floral Artists (AOIFA) which in turn is a member of the World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA). Thirty one countries are represented in WAFA. Think for a moment about that — every parish, (not quite but you get my drift), from 31 countries in one worldwide organisation — that is quite some network.

The World Flower Show is held every 3 years in one of the member countries. Previous hosts included, USA, Japan, Britain, New Zealand and South Africa. In a major coup, Ireland has been chosen as the host nation for this prestigious international flower show which is regarded as the Olympics of flower arranging. This is the first time Ireland has hosted this spectacular event.

Over the 4 days of the show — which runs from June 19-22, 600 floral artists from all 31 member countries will compete at the highest level — transforming the RDS into a haven of beauty with floral exhibits. Flowers, foliage, fruits, stems, driftwood, roots and mosses will be mixed with imagination to create amazing works of art.

Other attractions at the show will include floral demonstrations by leading Irish and international demonstrators from Barbados, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Britain and USA; a series of expert lectures; social evenings; gala banquet and tours to leading public and private gardens.

The RDS will host a full selection of trade stands of Irish and international exhibitors ranging from floral accessories, to crafts and food. Many people come into this art form from a love of gardening, often as a natural progression. Indeed my own good friend and Cork’s own, Mary O’Keefe, has brought home the only world title ever won by an Irish person.

Over 20,000 delegates are expected to attend, generating revenue of over €10 million. Not bad for a group that meet in the community halls on the first Tuesday of every month. Just shows what a good network of like-minded people can achieve.

I suspect after this remarkable event has come and gone the network that is AOIFA will no longer go unnoticed, the secret will be out. Congratulations and the very best of luck to all involved.

WORK FOR THE WEEK

It’s the middle of May and time enough to be brave and get the bedding and patio plants out.

Do be careful because there is always the risk of a late frost, so keep an eye on the temperatures and harden off your bedding and frost tender specimens before you land them outside.

What a display they give all summer long, with a small bit of love and attention. Water them well, feed regularly with Liquid Gold or tomato food and dead head often to ensure continued flowering.

Among my favourites of the frost tender perennials are the patio Fuchsias and Pelargoniums, but keep an eye out this year for two stunners: Heliotropum with its vanilla scented blooms of pure purple colour and Salvia azurea with dramatic navy blue flowers produced generously over rich, velvety, dark green foliage.