Journey to-wards the pinnacle of Floral Art Society

“Also Corn with (its) leaves and
stalk for fodder, and
sweet-smelling plants.
Then which of the favours of your
Lord will ye deny?”
The plants not only supply food but
sweet- smelling herbs and flowers
^{(SURAH AR-RAHMAN)}

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had also truly admired the beauty of flowers. Once he had declared that “Hassan and Hussain are my flowers in this world”. ^(HADITH)

The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. ^{(The Bible)}

“And tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes.
To me the meanest flower that blooms can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.” ^(Wordsworth)

Flora was the goddess of flowers among the Romans.

Introduction
Flowers are a gift of Allah. When we intimately look at them, the fragrance, attractive shape, soothing colour inspire us to praise Omnipotent, Poets and artists produce what they see and feel. Flowers are lavishly used during happy and sad occasions, VIPs, Victors, bride and bride groom are garlanded. With heartfelt profound respect, coffins, graves and tombs are covered with wreath. Often in films we see red rose presented by hero and heroine which convey their unspeakable reciprocal acceptance of each other.

In this article I shall try to highlight events which helped me to achieve the enviable and prestigious top ladder step as the President of FLORAL ART SOCIETY.

From the very childhood (about 7 years) I had an inner feeling that Allah had blessed me with the love of flowers because my mother often said that on seeing a flower there was a joyful twinkle in my eyes.

First attempt of Flower Arrangement
I distinctly remember I along my parents and brothers had gone to spend summer vacations with our grandmother. There in the house was an orchard laden with multifarious flower plants and some fruit trees. The bright velvet colour and pleasant smell of the flowers were great attraction for me. Early in the morning I would accompany my mother for a stroll in the orchard. The first day I plucked a bud. I was affectionately scolded not to snatch but pluck with scissor, cut stem on slant about nine inches below and bud should remain half grown. Under her guidance I managed to cut half a dozen flowers. I was told to bring a cut glass flower vase from the drawing room, filled it half with fresh water and spread the cut flowers in it. After a couple of days I saw the mouths of the flowers had fully opened like umbrella and my heart leaped with joy.

My First Success
I was a student of C.B Sir Syed School where my class teacher fully appreciated my avidness for flower arrangements. I was selected to take part in the flower arrangement competition, being held in Pearl Continental Hotel Rawalpindi.

The responsible Horticulture team supervised the work of all the competitors and told us to stop when the time was up. I had submitted seven entries. The judgment was made by the judges of Horticulture Society. To my great surprise and amazement I had won seven prizes which was profusely applauded by the audience when I was called to collect my prizes. My parents felt very proud of me, they hugged and kissed me and also gave a cash prize. I kept my prizes on a table close to my bed and during that night I kept on looking at them- my mirthful achievement.

For the interest of our learned readers, names of some famous flowers in alphabetical order are appended below:-

1. Anemones – Windflower – daughter of the wind
2. Apple blossom – Eyeball flower
3. Aquilegia – Butter cup type
4. Asters – Showy radiated flower – China
5. Begonia – Plants with coloured perianths but no petals.
6. Carnation – Rosy pink colour flower
7. Chrysanthemum – A Japanese flower overlaid with gold and ivory.
8. Clematis – Climbing shrub wild species traveler’s joy or old man beard.
9. Cosmos – Bearing single dahlia like blossoms of various colours.
10. Daffodils – Pale yellow colour flowers
11. Dahlias – Mexican plant cultivated in Europe for its many coloured single and double flowers.
12. Delphiniums – kind of remunculacoom plant
13. Ever Green Leaves – Bearing green leaves all the year
14. Fern – One of the large group of vascular.
15. Fox Glove – Tall plant with purple or white flowers
16. Gaillardias – Bright coloured
17. Gladiolus – Plant with sword shaped leaves and bright flow – spikes
18. Hellebores – Ancient name of various plants suppose to cure madness, species including christmas rose.
19. Hydrangea – Kind of shrubs cluster of white blue or pink flowers.
20. Lilac – Shrubs with fragrant pale pinkish – velvet colour
21. Lilies – White or reddish or purplish flowers
22. Marguerite – Ox-eye daisy
23. Mari gold – Golden or yellow flowers plant
24. Mignonette – Plant with fragrant flowers
25. Peonies – Plants with large globular red and white flowers
26. Poinsettias – Plants with large scarlet leaves and small yellowish flowers
27. Poppies – showy colour flowers – kinds of herb with narcotic properties.
28. Primrose – Plant bearing pale yellow flowers in early spring –pursuit pursuit of pleasure.
29. Rose – Bush or shrub bearing a beautiful and fragrant flower of red, yellow or white colour.
30. Schizanthus – Kind of plant with handsome white, violet or crimson flower.
31. Statile – Stump, butt, main trunk plant into which graft is inserted
32. Sweet peas – Smelling like roses or perfume flowers are usually pink and white colour.
33. Tiger lillies – Flowers of dull orange spotted with black or purple
34. Verbena – kinds of plant of vermin family
35. Violas – kinds of plant including pansy of single colour and violet.
36. Viburnum – Kind of shrub of honey suckle family
37. Zinnia – Kinds of composite plant with showy rayed flowers and deep red and other colour.

The following oriental flowers are also famous in our country: –

Sunflower – Golden rays of flower. It is yellow in colour, it moves direction with the sun. From its seeds edible oil is extracted.

Merry Gold – Yellow in colour commonly used by Hindu community during festivals, marriages and burial.

Jasmine – Kind of shrub with white or yellow fragrant flowers. The Government of Pakistan have adopted it as our official flower.

Motia – Most popular flower among the ladies of the subcontinent. It is white in colour with sweet fragrant.

Rat key Rani – A shrub with small size white flowers. Its span of life is short, fragrant during dark hours.

Din ka Raja – Small Size pink flower only seen during day time

The flowers mentioned above against 3, 4, 5, 6 are not used for arrangements.

Quest for knowledge
My first laudable success inspired me to obtain knowledge about the different species of flowers, names, season for bloom and life span. I contacted old experienced gardeners and members of Horticulture Society who helped me to enhance my knowledge about flowers. This was an invaluable experience, the gardeners showed me various species in flower pots and beds and also gave me hints for their protection against extreme weather, dogs and small birds. This research continued for some weeks.

My brothers whenever found some serpentine dry stem or a thorny rotten part of a plant, would bring for me for arrangement.

I had attained lot of confidence and participated in all the Flower Arrangement competitions held in Garrison Mess, Signal Mess, Cantonment Board, Ayub Park and Islamabad (Floral Art Society) and won handsome prizes. Some of the judges remarked that I possessed commendable understanding of the subject – a great compliment for a novice like me.

During 1999 on the invitation of the Floral Art Society Islamabad, I was enlisted as a member. This Society is affiliated with World Association Floral Art (WAFA) an International Society. The society assigned me the duties of treasurer for two years. I was sent to various colleges and societies for giving demonstrations for Flower arrangement competitions, and occasionally acted as judge. During most of the Floral Art Society functions and gatherings I acted as the stage secretary and also performed the duties of compere. The Society also selected me to be the Editor of the Magazine of the Society, another prestigious honour.

Some Hints for Flower Arrangement

1. The Art of Flower Arrangements lies in highlighting the branches with green leaves and flowers of different colours. Flowers have to be arranged in some orderly fashion in accordance with certain rules.
2. When you are doing your arrangements, it is essential to abide exactly to what the schedule says. Reach the hall in time and quietly set to work, but do not rush.
3. Choose the flowers, containers and other important accessories. Cut your flowers and branches, wash the leaves and soak the branches and leaves in buckets.
4. Remove unnecessary leaves, remove thorn, cut the flowers early in the morning before the sunrise. Dusk is also considered the next best time. Cut flowers should be kept in plenty of water in a dry place. Wilted plants can be revived by sprinkling them with water and then wrapping them in a newspaper with slightly wet papers.
5. Most flowers should be cut before they are fully opened, but roses in tight bud form.
6. Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Marigold and Zinnia can be cut fully opened. Combination of colours should be pleasing.
7. to have your own stuff; the following items should be kept ready.
   a. Base, containers (Vases, Stands, and Sticks).
   b. Oasis, Pin holders, chicken-wire, wire-cutter, scissors, pins for drapes.
   c. Drapes, stands for drapes, watering can with a long spout, sprayer.
   d. Glue, gum, absorbent dusters.
   e. Waste paper basket.

Elected as the President
During September 2008 some of my well wishers and the members of the Floral Art Society approached me for participating in the election of Presidentship. By the Grace of ALLAH I won it with overwhelming majority. A resounding achievement, a true interpretation of the vision (dream) of my childhood by bowing down for prayers I thanked ALLAH the MERCIFUL. Due to my unshakable effort I contacted multinational companies and collected significant funds (over 14 lacs) for Charity for helping the helpless. My parents, my husband, my sons, my brothers and many well wishers had profusely congratulated me on my success as the President of Floral Art Society.

During April 2009 a Charity show was held by the Floral Art Society, at the Serena Hotel Islamabad. Over 500 guests had graced the occasion with their presence. The guests included a dozen retired Generals, Former Air Force Chief, a few serving senior officers, over two dozens Brigadiers, Colonels and some senior civil officers. Most were accompanied with their families. The audience were entertained by Ibrar-ul-haq. Every table was presented with handsome gifts.

I read out the annual report highlighting the achievements, names of those who had contributed for the Charity fund and mention of those institutes who had received charity fund and mention of those institutes who had received charity fund.

I had participated in the Flower Arrangement competitions held at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Bahawalpur and won handsome prizes. At many stations I was called to act as judge. I was lucky to visit USA and participated in the Flower arrangement show and won an elegant prize.

On the repress desire of most of the members of Floral Art Society I once again participated in the election on 16^th September 2013 and was unanimously elected as the President.

Conclusion
The aim is to inculcate interest in our young generation (Particularly ladies) to draw inspiration from my humble strive and experience. With practice, under guidance of some expert, and dauntless perseverance success shall be rewarded.

I feel that teenager damsels and newly married ladies can enhance the beauty of their house entrance, sitting and bed rooms by elegant display of flower arrangement in Vases etc. obviously the colourful, smiling and fragrant flowers will become the centre of attraction and admired by the visitors.

One should not feel disheartened if some petals have fallen or wilted, but remember they would be flowers, still in any order just as beautiful and innocent. You must have heard (seen) dust glitters in the sunshine.

Here it is relevant to mention that young school and college girls have been attending my classes at my residence for learning Flower Arrangement. No fee was charged and I feel proud to mention that some of my students won prizes in flower arrangement competitions. Work is the proudest joy of humanity, that whoever will not obey this law must renounce with it all uplifting and lasting joys.

“O ALLAH! ——————- From whom thou pleasant,
thou endrest with honour
whom, Thou pleasant,
and thou bringest how
when thou pleasest,
In thy hand is all good all good
verify, over all things
thou hast power.
_{(Sura Al-Imran-Ayat 24)}

Allah the Omnipotent has been very kind to bless with admirable success for which I had dreamt. I earnestly believe will the will of ALLAH that, I rendered, according to my ability, service to the Floral Art Society was profoundly significant. I am also able to pass my experience and knowledge to the young generation, who are geniounly interested in flower Arrangement. Due to my success I am full of happiness as a hive is full of bees.

I am also grateful to my parents, my husband (a great tower of strength), sons, my brothers and my well wishes whose timely applauds induced in to continue my effort diligently. Particularly my late beloved mother was most instrumental to encourage me and with tears in my eyes I convey my heartfelt prayers whenever I see my flower arrangement vase decorating her bed side table.

In brief this is the story of a 7 years girl whose ambition to reach the top step of the ladder, which was granted by Allah.

The above is based on my personal diary and memory.