The Locust Valley Garden Club attends the Port Washington Garden Club’s anniversary luncheon

By Dagmar Fors Karppi
It’s always nice to celebrate an achievement, and members of the Locust Valley Garden Club (LVGC) did just that when they attended the Port Washington Garden Club’s 100th Anniversary Luncheon at the North Hempstead Country Club. The club was founded by six women on March 21, 1924, to promote a love of gardening. This included creating gardening spots in Port Washington as well as providing fresh bouquets of flowers weekly for display at the Port Washington Library.

The keynote speaker was Sean Becket of SF Falconers Florist in Port Washington. His presentation was a unique insight into the history of floral design from the 1920s to the present day.
Becket explained that in the 1920s, the flower industry that we take for granted today, which supplies us with flowers from all over the world, did not yet exist. The first bouquets were made with flowers from local gardens.

One of the first bouquets he created included delphiniums, camellias and yellow roses.

“People loved roses before they existed,” he said.

He added hyacinths, white snapdragons and calla lilies. Becket crowned the arrangement with typical 1920s elements: feathers, including peacock feathers, and strands of pearls.

“During World War II, suburbs were emerging in America with a growing middle class, and floral designs became more important.” His next creation was reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy, using a fuchsia vase and emphasizing the mix of colors: red roses, daisies, eucalyptus, goldenrod and lilies.

In the ’60s and ’70s, roses were featured in many designs. In the ’70s, sunflowers came along and although people thought they were a fad, he said, “they had staying power and are still popular.”

In the 80s, Nancy Reagan loved roses in her signature Nancy Reagan red. To this design, he added peonies and white roses in the vase.

In 2000, a new bouquet-making product was launched: the Holly Chapple holders. They allowed the creation of free-form bouquets using a plastic “cushion” that floated hidden on top of the vase.

The LVGC is planning a flower show on August 20. The club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 10 p.m. in the Locust Valley Library community room, where
The first meetings took place in 1947. New members are welcome.

The $15 donation covers the program and buffet lunch. For more information, contact President Dean Yoder at (email protected).

Dagmar Fors Karppi is associated with the Locust Valley Garden Club