Say it with Flowers

To me, Elizabeth Helikar's recent floral demonstration with the SFTGS (Selangor and Federal Territory Gardening Society) activity was more than just showing the how and telling the do's and don'ts at the YWCA ,Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur.


How often do we pause to think of the nature that surrounds us, the beauty that encompasses our lives in this hurried paced world ? I'm talking about FLOWERS.

Liz, as she is popularly known, is passionate about flowers ( and nature, in general). After all, it's a love affair with flowers as she's always on the move in Yorkshire, Cheshire, the Midlands, Northumberland as an Area demonstrator for NAFA ( National Assoc of Flower Arrangers) in the UK. By accident, she 'stumbled upon the SFTGS website and was thrilled'to be sharing her expertise with us while holidaying here. Liz was born in Kajang and she has made Sheffield, UK her home.


It was evident that she makes the world beautiful with her gift as a floral arranger. Wouldn't any bride shed a quiet tear to be holding her signature bunch of white gerberas and lilies which she so expertly put together as a hand tied bouquet.

Christmas being almost here, she gladly shared ideas on how to make a Christmas wreath. She cleverly incorporated local plants optimising on the colours and shapes to make other Christmassy bouquets too. Colour is fashion and Liz told us black is the 'in' colour , so expect to see black decorations incorporated in the floral arrangements. I think we still love our reds and black does not get our nods of approval!!




How jealous she is of the luxuriant ferns we have in the tropics that are 'life- savers' for many a floral bouquet. In the UK, a small bunch of only 20 leaves costs 3.50 pounds!! I paid special attention to the different varieties of local plants that she used to make the bouquets. So many new ways to use the plants.


Liz's liberal sharing of ideas and tips went down well. The talk attracted over 5o members and non- members. The rain could not keep us away for a nearly 'full house'!

I can't help but share some quotes on flowers with you, thanks to Liz, who got me loving flowers even more.

'The world is a rose - smell it and pass it on to your friends.'
- Persian proverb

My dear blogger friends, near and far, you're always there, popping in to lend your kind spirit of giving , supporting me in my posts.Over the seas and mountains, we link our hands in friendship. Thank you, ROSIDAH, Anya, Rosey Pollen, Emily, M. kate, Veronica lee, ~Covert_Operations'78~, Lucy, Turquoise Diaries, Indrani, Laura in Paris, medam, adrienne, and many, many more. I'll try and pass it on too.

In my garden, there is a place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thought and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as my flowers and the dreams are as beautiful -
Abram L. Urban

Do you, like me, as you work in the garden , have that quiet time to yourself ? It matters not if the lateritic earth is making it a little harder to dig. Time flies and and dreams take shape, fly away and another flies in! Before you know it, it's tea time!

Where flowers bloom so does hope
- Lady Bird Johnson.

Life is ever changing, ever growing. Hold a flower in your hand, smell it- do not despair! Let there be HOPE in your heart. Everything will feel lighter .

What a beautiful afternoon with Liz and the SFTGS ! JUST SAY IT WITH FLOWERS!

SFTGS ( Selangor and Federal Territory Gardening Society)

http://www.sftgs.org.my/