April Meeting: This meeting was well attended and several new faces were apparent. Ms Mary O’Keeffe AOIFA gave a Teaching Demonstration consisting of arrangements, which were suitable for Church or home. It was obvious from the feedback afterwards and the enthusiastic attention the large audience paid to her that she was a very popular choice. Club members were encouraged to try their hand at re-creating one of Mary’s designs at the next meeting in May, when she will return for a Worknight.

As most members know – the club frequently decorates St Colman’s Cathedral - and Mary used some of the more popular arrangements normally done in churches to demonstrate. These included candlesticks – there are several large, wooden candlesticks used in the Cathedral at various times, and, of course, members could reproduce this design at home on a smaller scale using their own small candlestick or a bottle. A design suitable for use on the floor in front of the altar - or on a hall table or fireplace in the home was another of Mary’s creations. This was a horizontal arrangement and involved the use of pieces of wood mounted on kebab sticks – something that was probably new to a lot of members and also encouraged people to be creative in their flower arranging. In fact, Mary spoke of the “leeway” we flower arrangers are now allowed and even encouraged to use. She told us that outside of formal show work “anything goes” – and so it should, after all, we are now called “Floral Artists”.

Mary also demonstrated how the newer trends could be used “Girdling” – which is the enclosing of straw, foliage, flower petals etc in chicken wire and incorporating the finished result into a design – many members will have seen this in Tipperary at the National Festival last year. The use of sticks or flower stems wired together to form an enclosed space or frame was also shown.

Following the demonstration, Mary judged the competitions, both decorative and horticultural. Once again we learned a lot – as unfortunately, some entrants were disqualified for not keeping within the space allowed. A simple mistake, but one which we tend to forget. The variety of interpretations of the titles showed how individual and creative we can be. As usual the “Green fingers” of many club members was evident in the horticultural entries.

A decision had been made at a previous committee meeting to present some of the Club trophies normally kept as prizes for an open show to the winners of the Decorative Competitions. The remainder of these trophies will be presented to winners at the Mini Show in June. The schedule is printed elsewhere in this newsletter – so if you would like to have a nice trophy on your sideboard – get planning!!

1^st. Joyce Clifford. 2^nd Yvonne Allen. 3^rd.Lana Murphy, H.C. Mary O’Rourke and Dolores Vickery.

3 Tulips – distinct or mixed

Any Pot Plant

· Fill your old hot water bottle with discarded tights or fluff from the clothes dryer to make a kneeler and keep the damp from arthritic knees.

· Need a scoop for filling your pots with compost – cut a two litre plastic milk container at an angle above the handle and voila!!

· Rubbing Vaseline around the rim of your pots of bulbs or hostas in Spring will keep the slugs and snails at bay and even deter hungry mice.

· Do not discard your broken wooden clothes pegs – they are ideal for marking seed trays and pots in the greenhouse.

· Every time you place kitchen waste on your compost heap spread a layer of wet newspaper over the heap this keeps your compost heap moist and helps to activate the compost and encourages worms to the top of the pile. No room for a compost heap – fill a black plastic sack with leaves and garden waste, pierce all over with holes, add a cup of compost activator and a half can of water, tie the top of the sack and leave in a corner for about 6 months. You should end up with wonderful compost for all your special plants.

· Use old tights for tying up climbers and ramblers to trellis – much softer than conventional ties.

· Use old hosepipes to thread cable through when wiring up for a water feature – this will stop the likelihood of a spade or fork damaging the cable when it is underground.

Next Meeting – June 9^th, 2003

Following the last two meetings, when Mary O’Keeffe AOIFA gave a Teaching Demonstration and a Worknight – members are now encouraged to enter one of the four classes below for the next meeting in June. Trophies will be presented to the winners of each class. Remember that you can buy oasis, containers, tape etc from the Sales Table. All entries must be assembled on the night in the Prayer and Pastoral Centre. Ms Mary O’Brien, AOIFA will judge the entries.

Novice:

“Ode to Summer” Width 46cms. Depth (front to back) 46 cms.

Tips:

· Look carefully at the title - interpret through use of appropriate foliage and flowers.

· Check your measurements – your arrangement must fit within the given space.

· Would your exhibit benefit from using a base? If so, a plywood base or cake stand can be covered with fabric, or painted.

· Ideas could include a table arrangement – round or oval in shape, an exhibit in a basket, on a candlestick, in a nice bowl, etc.

Beginners:

“Nature’s Harmony” Width – 60cms.

Tips:

· Again, pay attention to your title. Remember nature includes foliage, flowers, moss, seed heads, stones, shells, driftwood, etc.

· This arrangement could be a landscape or more formal exhibit – the shape is up to you.

· It could consist of wild material only. It could consist of garden material or even exotic plant material.

· The base (if used) could be a slate, textured wooden base, hessian covered base – anything goes.

Intermediate:

“Forty Shades of Green” Width – 70cms.

Tips:

· This does not need to incorporate any flowers but may consist entirely of foliage.

· It could be a landscape or more formal exhibit.

Open:

“Diversity” Width - 90 Cms.

Those who enter this category don’t need tips!!!!

Dates for your Diary

Annual Outing:

This will take place on Sunday, May 25^th. Details were given in the April Newsletter. (Please contact Margot if you did not get a copy – 4811563, or e-mail cfhc@eircom.net ) Menus for the outing will be distributed at this (May) meeting – or contact Helen O’Reilly, or Joyce Clifford Tel. 4813098. Bus will depart from the Bishop’s Road at 9.30 a.m. and return at approx.10.00 p.m. Bring a packed lunch, a fruit punch will be served in the first garden – but bring a flask if you want tea or coffee. We will visit two gardens and one garden centre in the Limerick area – bring plenty of money, as plants will also be for sale at the two gardens. Dinner will be at Springfort Hall, and a marvellous raffle is planned. (Bring more money!!) Cost to members 46 Euro, Non-members 48 Euro.

Mini Outing: This outing will be to the garden of Jennifer Crosbie, Merville, Bellevue Terrace, Cobh on Tuesday 27^th May at 2.30 p.m. A fee of 5 Euro is requested – this will be presented by Jennifer to a charity of her choice. A plant sale will be held. Members are requested not to bring their cars into Bellevue Terrace. (Limited parking is available at the garden for those who REALLY need it) Parking is available in the Cathedral car park. Mini Outing is Strictly confined to members.

Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens: Open on Saturday, May 17^th from 2pm. to 6 pm. in aid of East Cork for a Safe Environment, enquiries 021 4652429.

Cork Flower Club have Chris Fehily to give an illustrated lecture at their meeting on Thursday, May 15^th at 8 pm. in the Ardfallon Centre.

Cork Open Gardens:

· Sunday 17^th May, 12 noon – 5.30 pm. Noelle Doyle, Inshallah, Ballycurreen, Glounthaune. From Cobh, turn right at Glounthaune Church, go under bridge and at first cross roads turn right, follow signs.

· Sunday 25^th May, 1.30 – 5.30 Mrs Rose Marie Punch, Kilroan, Glanmire. From Glanmire village, drive to Riverstown Cross – go right at Hazelwood – drive to roundabout on top of hill. Take first left off roundabout – Kilroan is on right hand side of road, ¾ of the way up the hill. Follow signs.

· Saturday 7^th June 12noon – 5 p.m. Paddy and Del O’Sullivan, Doherty Road, Bandon. Take Clonakilty Road, drive through Bandon – pass O’Learys Garage, pub and grotto on right side of road – follow signs.

· Sunday 8^th June. 2 – 5.30 David and Eilish Walsh, Woodleigh, Ballinlough Road, Cork. Opposite Murphy Transport on the Blackrock end of the Ballinlough Road. Follow signs.

· Sunday 8^th June. 2 – 5.30. Ms Peg Bolton. 49 The Meadows, Classis Lake, Ovens. Take Macroom road, drive through Ballincollig, at Ballincollig Rugby Club turn right and follow signs.

Things to do this Summer:

Courses:

Experience Ireland

Weekly courses in the Burren run from Monday 19^th May – 20^th June 2003. Fee, which includes tuition, full board, accommodation, accessories and field trips, is 650 Euro. Richard McMullen runs the course and groups will visit sites of archaeological, geological and historical interest as well as studying the flora of the unique environment of the Burren. But its not all serious – Irish music in the evenings and visits to the Aran Islands are also part of this exciting week long course. Reservations - Experience Ireland, 8 Newtownsmith, Sandycove, Co. Dublin or e-mail: info@experience.ie

Portumna Castle Crafts and Garden:

This is a 17^th century walled potager garden incorporating a craft training and retail centre. Courses available include organic horticulture, willow and rush weaving, spinning and weaving, pottery, art, and greenwood furniture, wattle fencing and hedgelaying. Occasional lectures on wildlife, astronomy and environmental issues are also held. Tel: 0509 41853 or e-mail portumnacc@eircom.net

Ballyconnell Lodge, Tullow, Co. Carlow

This is a Cottage Garden herb farm set in the heart of a beautiful rural countryside. Informal workshops on Crafts, Medicinal Herbs, Cookery and Gardening are held in Summer. Tel: 0503 56312 or e-mail info@cottagegardenherbs.ie

Opening your Garden to benefit a Charity

A workshop will be held at Belvedere House Gardens and Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on Friday morning, July 18^th 2003 . Fee 10Euro. Tel: 01 4951770.

………………………..

Read a Book:

· “Gardening Tips” from Dermot O’Neill and Friends

· “Plant Names Simplified” – their Pronunciation, Derivation and Meaning. By A.T. Johnson and H.A. Smith.

…………………………

Learn to Surf the Net –(The Allen school of lower level education will run another morning for members interested in learning how to use a computer!)

Some interesting websites –

www.gardenvisit.com Gardens of Europe and North America. Also diagrams of 24 different gardens for you to enjoy.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gardens National Trust Gardens website.

www.ngs.org.uk Open Gardens in England

www.bbgl.co.uk Bed and Breakfast places in England for garden lovers

www.garden.ie Open Gardens in Ireland and links to other sites. Suppliers, design information and plant directory.

www.heritageireland.ie Duchas website showing state run parks and gardens

www.castlesireland.com Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland – showing 40 different gardens

www.dublingardens.com Dublin Garden Group – showing 12 gardens in Dublin and Wicklow.

www.theirishgarden.com Website of the magazine “The Irish Garden” . Contains articles from back issues and contents of current issue. Shows dozens of gardens and plants. Tips on everything from laying a lawn to choosing summer bedding.

www.nyip.com An American website showing how to photograph flowers. “Don’t be lazy, lie down and see it from a squirrel’s eye view” “Stand up and see it from a bumble bee’s eye view” “Or when they are tucked up in their nests at night, see it against a black background. At last, something creative to do at night – beats hunting slugs and snails”!!

Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club has recently joined the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland (RHSI) Marlay House, Marlay Park, Grange Road, Dublin 16. Tel: 01 4951770 e-mail: info@rhsi.ie Website: www.rhsi.ie

· Preferential ticket price to lectures and demonstrations with international experts.

Winner of March Crossword: Barbara Buckley was the lucky winner and she received a “Grass” as her prize. Congratulations.

Apologies to any of you who did the April crossword. There was a (deliberate?) error!!! I left out a space for the A in the middle of OLEARIA – some of you spotted it and spelled it OLERIA – WELL DONE! Well, at least I know that some of you are awake out there!

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I heard a rumour that the crossword is too hard……..Can this be true? This month’s competition is a little easier. There is a prize.

Fill in the missing words:

1. I’m looking over a four-leafed C _ _ _ _ _ that I over-looked before

2. The dear little sweet little S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of Ireland.

3. D _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _ Give me your answer do.

4. T _ _ _ _ _ from Amsterdam.

5. P _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , and T _ _ _ _

6. The F _ _ _ _ _ _ that bloom in the Spring, Tra La.

7. A host of golden D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8. I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus underneath the M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

last night

9. Oh no ‘twas the light in her eyes ever shining that made me love Mary,

the R _ _ _ of Tralee

10 The H _ _ _ _ and the I _ _

Name:…………………………………………………………………………………

May 2003

E-mail: cfhc@eircom.net

Web: homepage.eircom.net/~cfhc

3 Tulips – distinct or mixed

Any Pot Plant

“Diversity” Width - 90 Cms.

Dates for your Diary

Ballyconnell Lodge, Tullow, Co. Carlow

Opening your Garden to benefit a Charity

Going Potty?

10 The H _ _ _ _ and the I _ _