Members of the Four Lanes End Garden Club in Langhorne are sharpening their floral design skills through hands-on workshops, promoting both creativity and confidence. Under the guidance of experienced members, the club is offering floral arrangement sessions at the Richardson House in Langhorne to help members feel more comfortable in their craft.
"Many of our members think that they don’t have the talent to create these arrangements," said Club President Chris Foster, "but they discover that when they work with somebody who can guide them through the process of floral design, they’re amazed at what they can do."
The most recent workshop welcomed about 13 members, ranging from newcomers to those with over a decade of club experience. Led by Joann DiNunzio, a 28-year member, and Chris Wright, an ten-year member, the session focused on the crescent design. "Each workshop will focus on a different design," Foster shared. "Some of our members are truly just gardeners and not professional floral designers, so they are so happy to have this kind of workshop."
The workshops will continue through June as the club prepares for its first judged flower show in a decade, set to take place on June 21 at the Richardson House. "We are trying to give members some classes and tools to feel confident to make an entry if they want to enter the judged show," said Foster. The theme for the show, "Cavalcade of America," will include seven or eight different design categories. While the competition is open exclusively to club members, the public is invited to attend and appreciate the beautiful floral creations. "It will be a small show, with the minimum number of designs for the minimum number of classes we have," Foster explained. Visit the Four Lanes End Garden Club’s Facebook page for more details about this show as they become available.
Beyond floral design, the club is expanding its community outreach efforts. "We have a new outreach committee that will be working with local preschoolers and with the senior population," Foster revealed. The club plans to read gardening-related books to preschoolers and help them plant seeds or small planters. Meanwhile, they hope to visit senior living facilities to plant flowers with residents. In addition, they also plan to make arrangements for shut-ins. "This will be happening within the coming months," Foster added.
Additionally, the club will soon begin its annual plantings in the hay baskets and urns throughout Langhorne Borough, continuing a cherished tradition.
Education remains a priority for the club, which is currently accepting applications for its annual scholarships. "We offer two $3,000 scholarships every year to any student in good academic standing from Bucks County," Foster said. Eligible students must be majoring in fields such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, botany, forestry, agriculture, conservation, plant pathology, environmental science, or other related earth sciences. "The application process is on our website under scholarships," Foster noted. Applicants must submit transcripts, references, and an essay outlining their future plans by April 30. More details can be found at www.langhornegardenclub.com/Scholarship.html.
The club will also participate in Earth Day on April 26, offering a children’s craft made from recycled materials with flowers. "Come by and say hi," Foster encouraged.
“Our members describe us as a warm, welcoming family,” described Foster. Come to one of their monthly meetings to see why.” Meetings are held at the Barn at the Middletown Community Park at 2600 Langhorne Yardley Rd. in Langhorne the fourth Tuesday of every month at 930 am (with the exception of June, July, and August). Meetings are open to the public at no fee.
