'Tis the season to be jolly, so last week Manorbier Gardening Club ensured they could Deck Their Halls With Boughs of Holly and Ivy and Pine and Spruce and many more.

Although their speaker booked many months ahead was unable to attend due to family circumstances, Manorbier was fortunate that Mrs. Hayley Corfield-Smith, owner of Blooms Florist Shop in Tenby, stepped into the breach at very short notice.

As club members arrived, they found the Village Hall bright with Christmas colours, silver and gold and red and green. A mass of traditional and exotic flowers were sweet smelling contrasting with the sharper pine.

Hayley and her assistant Sarah demonstrated many new ideas for Christmas decorations. Forget a conventional wreath for the front door, try a wonderfully dramatic swag complete with huge red hessian bow. Mix and match real with artificial, fresh foliage with silk flowers, it works! Use any container, pots, baskets, urns, churns, jars and bottles, but make sure all flower bases are anchored firmly with oasis and florists tape.

Wrap Christmas gifts? No, decorate them with flowers and foliage instead. Using a large wicker hamper filled with fruit, chocolates and wine, the gift was made extra special with a delightful arrangement of exotic flowers. A terrific present for the whole family.

Hayley used flowers from all over the world. Dramatic purple spikes of Liantris contrasted the flame-like Proteus from South Africa, the red top of Safari Sunset blended with the red Hypericum Berries. The huge leaves of Fatsia complemented Rustus and Palm and silver-grey Eucalyptus.

Hand-tying was shown with a tall delicate arrangement for a bottle, then with a lovely silver Christmas arrangement set off by a large silver pot, sprayed silver for the occasion!

The arrangement producing the loudest applause was a magnificent display of huge silk Poinsettas with Palm and Fatsia leaves and gold Bear Grass.

Lucky raffle winners carried the arrangements home with glee, while the rest of the members contented themselves with Christmas items for sale.

Hayley Corfield-Smith's wonderfully dramatic and clever arrangements can be seen at her smart new shop in Lower Frog Street, together with all the bits and pieces needed to make your own Christmas arrangements.

Manorbier Gardening Club meets on the second Wednesday of every month in the Village Hall, except for December, when they enjoy a celebratory dinner at Castlemead Hotel, 7 for 7.30 pm. The meeting on Wednesday, January 8, welcomes Colonel Gilbertson, who will speak on the Garden Heritage of Wales at 7.30 after a short annual general meeting at 7 pm.