Composing Beauty
Floral Design & Photography
Floral Design: From Basic Fundamentals to Flower Shows and Beyond
Floral Design Committee
The Floral Design Committee promotes interest and educates the members in the art of floral design. Members can become proficient in floral design (arranging) by participating in the bi-monthly floral exhibits. Workshops and floral design speakers are scheduled throughout the year. Flower Shows are usually scheduled every two to three years.
The Committee spearheads the show, but all the club members become involved in some manner.
Our first flower show was held at Mount Gulian, Fishkill, on September 17, 1914. A note in the History of the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess counties reads, “The morning was given up to arranging the flowers strolling about the lovely old garden overlooking the Hudson River. A very jolly lunch party gathered on the porch, and afterward to the famous Cincinnati Room for the business meeting.” Since then, the Floral Design Committee has been an integral part of O&D.
Photography
Opportunities Abound for O&D Members Interested in Photography
At five to six O&D meetings each year, between September and June, the Photography Committee provides a Photography Exhibit.
O&D members are given the challenge topics at the beginning of each exhibit season, allowing them to plan ahead. The photographs are prominently displayed and judged by two members of the eleven-member Photography Committee. Awards are given.
O&D members also participate in the Photography Division of periodic GCA-sponsored O&D Flower Shows, which are judged by GCA judges. And, as members of The Garden Club of America, O&D members are also eligible to enter a photograph into the Photography Division of any other GCA member club’s flower show that is sponsored by the GCA.
Other photographic venues available to our members are the twice annual photography contests sponsored by GCA’s online photography magazine, Focus.
The objective of this approach is three-prong:
- To encourage participation in our Club exhibits
- To apply GCA's exhibit practices to our own exhibits, fostering a familiarity with GCA's standards.
- To keep our members informed of all photographic activities throughout the GCA. Beyond exhibiting, these include photography and judging conferences which provide unmatched learning opportunities.
Photo Credits:
Large- Susan Metzger
Gallery Left- Susanne K. Williams
Middle- Lori Adams
Right- Linda Onofry
The Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties.
Founding Member of the Garden Club of America • Organized 1913 • Incorporated 1965
