Of music and flowers

For the 19th year running, St Peter’s Parish Church was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour for its annual Flower Show And Garden Festival.

Visitors and locals flocked the church grounds in Speightstown to view over 30 arrangements under the theme Spring Into Summer, and they were not disappointed.

Rector Canon Peter Haynes told the DAILY NATION it was about a celebration of life, and he was pleased with all the arrangements he had seen.

“This year we have pulled back some of our designers. Three of the UK [United Kingdom] designers have not come out. When you go inside you will see the colour. Our theme this year, Spring Into Summer, it’s a celebration of life, celebration of the things that make life important, the good things in life. It’s almost harvest-like with a lot of colour. This year we have four main designers, but they’re flower arrangers from all over the island, including from our own church. Some are not even Anglican; some I don’t even know; some fresh new faces this year,” Haynes said.

He added that owing to the growing interest in the flower festival, the decision was to expand it this year.

“We have done something this year which is quite different. We are running for five days, and this year we have introduced an evening of jazz. Barbadians love jazz, and we cater to tourists as well.”

The priest said he was pleased with the turnout again this year.

“I always like to see the reactions from the guests when they view the arrangements. One visitor told me it was the best $40 he ever spent, because he was so pleased with what he saw.”

Haynes said as long as he was around and the church could pull it off, the festival would be here to stay.

Apart from the flowers, there was also entertainment by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, as well as calypsonians Mr Blood and Mikey.

On Friday night, the opening of the festival, guests were also treated to spectacular music.

“The Wesleyan Singers and Central Bank of Barbados Choir merged and it was spectacular. One young lady did her pieces in German and she doesn’t even speak German. It was appreciated by Regina Sixt, our patron, who enjoyed hearing someone sing in her language,” Haynes added. (DB)