Sandy Bailey, the demonstrator for October's meeting of the Winchester Flower Arrangement Society, was also the judge of the member's work.

Mrs Bailey looked over the club members' work entitled Holidays, requiring a petite exhibit using any natural plant material. She was very complimentary about the members' work and awarded one arrangement 10 points (Mrs Tricia Spiers) and two 9s to Mrs Jean Brearey and Mrs Margaret Attfield, with the others following close behind.

Mrs Bailey then talked about her chosen theme of "Contrasts", which would be interpreted in the varying types of containers, styles of arrangement and colours she would use. There followed a feast of colour and form.

A display recalled Virginia, USA, where Mrs Bailey and her husband unexpectedly found themselves enjoying an Amish Harvest Festival celebration. The audience listened to some Amish country dance music while this event was translated into two complementary flower arrangements with lovely coral and orange dahlias, a small pumpkin, sprays from a yellow pepper plant and sun flowers, set off by foliage from the American oak tree in its full autumn glory.

Two Amish rag dolls sat alongside.

Another display was inspired by Florida: a flamingo pink, oblong wooden frame with a piece of fishing net draped over one corner, set off an "underwater" arrangement. Tall, skinny, white twigs and frothy grasses gave height, while pink-painted palm leaves and creamy pieces of fungi became coral, and set off some gorgeous roses.

The finale was a reminder of the gorgeous flower arrangements seen in a hotel in Las Vegas, where a birthday had been celebrated.

Accompanied by music that had been heard in the hotel - Time to say Goodbye sung by Sarah Brightman - members watched an enormous classical arrangement take shape. A large urn-shaped container was slowly filled, first with generous amount of mixed greenery, and then a group of plaited, gilded palm leaves, followed by pink dahlias, cymbidium orchids, carnations, white roses, pink dahlias, three ornamental cabbages, deep fuscia pink gerberas and green chrysanthemums.

The finished work was ablaze with colour and had plenty of the 'wow' factor. The vote of thanks was given by Vera Edwards.