Page 54 • The HERALD • 3rd April 2025 v THE HERALD - Proud to be part of your communityv • All types of trees expertly felled, topped & pruned • Stump Grinding • Hedges pruned & trimmed • Lawns Laid • Fencing & garden work • Rubbish Clearance • Patios & drives jet-washed • Patios & Drives resurfaced or replaced Registerd Waste Carrier Licence CBDU374716 H Fully Insured H Evening: 01794 522092 Daytime Mobile: 07511 863693 Email: treefellers@gmx.com Fred Hurst 023 8084 2191 or 07761 467217 • Grass Cutting • Garden Clearance • Hedge Cutting • Fallen Trees Cleared • Mini Digger Hire with Operator • Property Clearance • Small Demolition • Tractor Flail Cutting FULLY INSURED v FREE QUOTATIONS Gardening Maintenance, Grass Cutting, Garden Clearance, Hedge Cutting, Weeding & Pruning Offering Professional & Reilable services at reasonable price No Job is Too Small HARRIS MULTISERVICES Contact Jason on 07922 543669 for a Free Quote DOWN THE GARDEN PATH Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH An AGM Like No Other! by Debbie Thorne, Foresters Flower Club 6th March was our AGM, social evening and presentation by our Chairlady, Marion Cat. e hall was made café style, pretty ower arrangements and serviettes on each table, in readiness for refreshments a er the AGM. All members were profusely thanked for their contributions in helping run such a friendly club and three received RHS awards and an orchid for outstanding contributions to the club (voted for by the members): Christine Baker, Roz Gordon, and Sheila Shelmerdine. A very well deserved award for these modest ladies! Our lovely treasurer, Sheila, announced that we have a healthy bank balance, but the membership alone would not be su cient to pay for future years of club activity. Membership fees are increasing to £45 per year (11 meetings) and £8 for visitors. Fundraising will be important for special events to help cover the costs. e ra e was spectacular with beautiful prizes and refreshments served were a real treat! Following these, Marion gave us an insight into moments of history in the importance of owers in art. Starting with the ancient Egyptians, we saw a uence resulting from the fertility of the Nile ood plains. e Sacred Blue Water Lily, seen on ancient paintings were owned by the Pharaohs and could only be picked by priests and vestal virgins. Pharaohs exhibited their owers in sand, as we do today. ey also bene ted from the papyrus growing on the banks of the Nile, which was used as paper. Art portraying wealthy churches and monasteries o en show gardens with herbs, food and owers. In the middle of the Italian renaissance, art included many owers which were symbolic, continuing into the Victorian times. We learnt about the most popular owers, rstly the rose, which originated in Beijing and is included in poetry, art and still in special occasions. Secondly the carnation, the “Devon” variety being the most heavily scented. Also the ower of the common man and socialism. Other popular owers seen in historic art are anemones, tulips, chrysanthemums and lilies. Anemones were grown in South West England, from Bristol to the Scilly Isles. Victorians loved them and their jewel colours, which were permitted during mourning due to their black centres. Tulips originate in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and symbolise everlasting life and happiness. In the 1600s tulips were so popular that each bulb was worth thousands of pounds. Now the bulbs in the elds of Holland are treated as annuals! During the war the Dutch ate tulips bulbs to survive. e original chrysanthemums were tiny and gold and yellow. In China they represent wealth and happiness: one of the “four gentlemen” (4 seasons) and used in Ikebana in China and Japan. France and the USA use chrysanthemums to symbolise death. Lilies are the most popular ower in religious art, signifying loyalty and purity. e pomegranate, with its rich red and multitude of jewel-like seeds, originated from Iran and Iraq. ey are o en seen in Jewish faith art, the calyx signifying the crown and the whole fruit fertility. During the presentation, Marion showed us various historical art pieces and owers that she was discussing. A very interesting and enjoyable conclusion to the AGM. ank you Marion! Next meetings: 3rd April: Demonstration by Allison Finch “What a Sweetie”, 17th April: Fundraising Christine Baker, Ros Godden and Sheila Shelmerdine Continued on page 55
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=