Garden group thriving

After the Town and Country Garden Club took root 50 years ago, unmarried twin sisters Olwyn and Thelma Menzie were among its identities.
The pair lived together on a large Mathers Road property, where they once demonstrated rose pruning for fellow members.
When one reached out to snip off a rose branch, the other smacked her sister's hand. But as she did so, a rose thorn hooked into the veiling of her hat, and she was unable to free it without tearing the fabric.
That was one memory of former president Ngaire Scott, as the group now re-named the Oceanside Garden Circle celebrated its 50th birthday at Waihi Beach last Monday. Twenty-five past and present members celebrated the milestone over lunch at Flatwhite cafe.
No party detail was overlooked, from floral table decorations beautifully made by president Dorothy Johnson to birthday gifts: handcrafted name badges for present members and orchid sprays for former members. Competitions, entertainment, and raffles were also part of the celebration.
The inaugural meeting was held at Waihi Beach in 1960, with foundation president Ray Body as hostess. The first secretary Janet Brown (not related to the current secretary of the same name). Speaking at the birthday bash, Ray said the club's original aims were to foster friendship and offer opportunities to compete at floral events.
Doreen Currie, another ex-president, likewise shared her delight that the garden circle was still thriving.
A new trophy, the 50th Anniversary Floral Art Cup, was presented to Carole Rook who topped the floral art competition points scoreboard for the year. Mention that the cup was stainless steel - because it was impossible to keep silver cups tarnish-free at the beach - met with much laughter and applause.
The jubilee cake, made by Judith Rogers and iced by Rita Brown, was cut by Ray and fellow founding member Natalie Fergus.
Among bygone members recalled was Mabel Mathers, who grew prizewinning camellias, magnolias and reticulatas in her large Mathers Rd garden. She was also a renowned floral artist and flower show judge.
"At that time the line arrangement style of floral art was just coming into vogue, influenced by Japanese ikebana," said Ngaire.
During Ngaire's presidency, she arranged for members to view a grand just-completed farmhouse on Old Tauranga Rd. "But the owners thought they'd get a rise out of me. And as we walked into one room, a bucket was lowered on a rope past the window, showing off a huge prickly thistle plant with my name on it."
The garden circle - from which other groups have branched over the years - still meets on the third Monday of each month. Members share a ramble around the hostess's garden, business, afternoon tea and a social time. They also bring an arrangement based on the chosen theme; and a cut flower, multiple-head bloom and shrub for judging.