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INDIGENOUS FROLICTuesday 23 November 2010Our Club Treasurer Sneha Punit Shah presented Indigenous Frolic to us this morning. Her co-demonstrator Pravina Shah was unfortunately bereaved, though she had co-designed the demonstration with Sneha. Pritesh Shah stepped in to assist Sneha backstage and on-stage. The emphasis of the demonstration was use of easily and locally available flowers, foliage, containers, spathes, bamboo, containers etc. There was striking use of just one type of bloom.
Sneha's first design was inspired by a WAFA Show Durban 1999 title ‘Sunsets of Gold & Fire. It featured a marvellously contorted piece of papyrus root, together with yellow-painted dried palm leaflets, individual florets of scarlet gladioli & gold alstromeria. She mentioned that the alstromeria is a readily available but oft-neglected flower. It needs to be bought in good time before arranging to enable it to open. Remove all the leaves which decay and turn yellow rapidly. Sneha had covered the foam with folded brown Cordyline leaves for a neat finish.
Sneha was born and brought up in Nakuru therefore the flamingo-filled pink lake is a evocative part of her childhood memories. For her 3rd design, the straight agaves were used in great abundance and their sharp tips supported individual bracts of both mini and ordinary Heliconia. Here they depict flamingo heads but in other underwater or aquarium-inspired designs can also depict shoals of fish. Masses of Agapanthus blooms completed the base. The one-flower concept again worked very successfully. This is an imposing long-lasting design suitable for a hotel lobby or foyer.
Sneha's 4th design featured a wide Syagrus romanzoffiana palm spathe which had been soaked for almost a month in a large drum/barrel of water and then slit. Some of the segments were removed completely to increase the see-through effect. Supported on a stand, it looked extraordinary with masses of common garden Anthuriums and wonderfully architectural Monstera deliciosa leaves. Oil the leaves slightly with baby oil to enhance their appearance, or apply leafshine.
2 magnificently curved spathes represented a duo of Maasai warriors in her 5th design. Bullrushes became the spears and upright red heliconia their beloved red blankets. The emphasis in this design was on masculinity, rigidity, boldness and height. 2 kinds of gourds depicted a very important aspect of their life whilst red palm strings from the Archontophoenix palm represented blood –the lifeline of the Maasai. All components were tied into position therefore no foam was used.
For her finale, huge locally made terracotta pots were enhanced with material which looked very African and very local indeed. A design suitable for an entrance – quick to arrange and sure to make an impact. Jacaranda branches, Strelitzias, Bougainvillea (well conditioned as explained in the SAFU magazine 'Floral Notes'), Furcraea foetida (variegated Sisal plant) leaves, Philodendron leaves, mini- heliconia, banana inflorescence, and seedheads from either white Strelitzia or Traveller’s Palm (Ravenala). Thank you Sneha for a well presented demonstration accentuating that indigenous and local is as good as exotic and imported – so Kenyan floral artists let’s make the most of what we’ve got!!
The judges for the monthly exhibits were Lydia Kangethe & Vibha Dodhia.
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