Cheadle Flower Club: African Adventures

Cheadle Flower Club welcomed members to their May meeting with a demonstration by Eleanor Davis called ‘African Adventures’.

Eleanor has visited Africa 15 times over the past few years and enthralled visitors and members with her wonderful stories. Her first arrangement was inspired by a Cape Town game reserve, a lovely arrangement which utilised test tubes attached to a wooden constructed container. Eleanor added yellow calla lilies into the test tubes together with sea holly, epimedium foliage and a large brass cheetah by the side creating a stunning display.

Uganda and Zambia were the next countries to visit with tales of white water rafting in a dinghy and using hosta leaves, ivy, white stocks, blue iris, cornflower and large white spider chrysanthemum to depict the large rapids giving us a beautiful interpretation of her experience.

Then came a visit to Rwanda to see the gorillas in the jungle. Eleanor used Aucuba japonica stems to depict the bamboo with palm leaves, fatsia, euonymus, phormium and red robin all giving a wonderful feeling of the jungle foliage. Eleanor added gorgeous orange Gemini which is a miniature gerbera, presenting a stunning arrangement together with the added story of her experience of her walk to see the wild gorillas.

Mali was the next country with the display being created in a large dried palm leaf to depict the ladies going across the river in the boats. Fatsia leaves, koala fern, pink gerbera, red roses and aspidistra leaves made into umbrellas giving everyone a wonderful interpretation of the ‘ladies in the boats’.

Travels continued to Timbuktu in Mali and a camel ride. Eleanor used sea holly, lime green spray carnations, orange Gemini, yellow Phlomis, pink Persicaria flowers all giving superb ideas of colours in the area.  

The last design was set in Mali where Eleanor created a wedding headpiece set in a three legged bowl. Eleanor told the story of their guide, who was the chief and was arranging his marriage to his third wife. The arrangement held hellebore leaves, pink gerbera, orange tulips and beautiful orange roses bringing to an end a wonderful evening of travels through Africa.

President Elizabeth Rushton gave a vote of thanks to Eleanor for all the stories of her magical journeys through Africa and giving us all the glorious colours of the countries.

Our next main meeting is on 16th July, 7.30 pm at the Oakley Room, The Guild Hall, Cheadle and is our 60th Anniversary Celebration. It will be a demonstration and entertainment by Gabriella and Sionedd Hughes together with cheese and wine. 

Cheadle Flower Club would like to invite past, present and any future members to attend. If anyone is interested please do contact our chairman Sheila Jones. sheilajones53@hotmail.com or 07974577572 in so that an accurate idea of numbers for catering can be made. Everyone can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

Cheadle Flower Club: African Adventures - Created 30.5.25