Sustainable Floristry Event, Thursday 23rd May, 2019

We were fortunate to have a sunny Autumn day for our first Floristry event which was held in the great outdoors!

The afternoon commenced with a tour of Ausflora Pacific Nursery in Gembrook hosted by Sarah Burgess owner/manager and long-time EWHA member and Treasurer.  Sarah took around 25 attendees on a tour of the Nursery beginning with a tour of the plantings, some of the potted areas, the packing shed and finally the nursery where plants are potted up.

Sarah talking about the harvesting of Leucadendron
View across the Ausflora plantation, nursery buildings in the background and mountains on the horizon.
Sarah pointing out the stunning Leucadendron argenteum   Silver Tree

Leucadendron argenteum  Silver Tree

This striking, beautiful accent tree has a twisted grey trunk and irregular silhouette. Heavy branches are densely set with soft silky shimmering silvery-white lance-shaped leaves. Can grow up to 30ft
Walking past the watering unit, that fills the buckets of cut flowers as the ute drives under it.
Inside the packing shed
Newly harvested Leucadendron and Protea, to be taken off the ute and ready for sorting and dispatching.
Two person coordinated, slide off harvested flowers from the back of the ute.
Walking past the potted Protea plants
Making their way down to the Nursery sheds
Tables laid out with buckets of beautiful flowers and foliage.

The group then made their way to the area set up for Rita Feldmann’s floristry talk and demonstration.
Rita began by explaining the floral foam story and its environmental impact.   Rita then followed up by showing us how to display flowers in a clay pot using chicken wire.    Rita also did a demonstration sharing techniques of hand flower arranging.   The group then had the opportunity to make up a posy themselves using the many beautiful flowers & foliage donated by Ausflora Pacific and Rita Feldmann’s Flowers.

Rita arranging flowers in a terracotta pot that has chicken wire in it to hold the flowers and foliage in place instead of using floral foam.
Gorgeous display
Selecting flowers for a hand arranged display
Putting in the final touches
Now it the turn of the attendees
Lots of fun had by all
So many beautiful flowers and foliage to choose from


The splendid day was capped off by afternoon tea with sweet treats from Spencers Store in Gembrook.

Thank you to all involved: Sarah and Staff at Ausflora Pacific, Rita Feldmann and colleague, the EWHA team and Pieter & Martina for the use of their front garden to host the workshop.

More information about the adverse effects of floral foam can be found here and here.