SWAN DIVE Photos © by Leonard Shapiro
H
er Majesty The Queen holds the title of Seigneur of the Swans. Her participation includes the Royal Swan Upping each July. Meanwhile, at the 56th annual Daffodil Show at Buchanan Hall in Upperville on April 12, a swan upping of a different sort took place. Competition heats up for what is known as the Inter-Club class, which this year was called “Birds of a Feather-Swan Dive,” a waterfall design. According to the rules, “entries are to be exhibited on an ivory pedestal 42 inches high with a 12 inch X 12 inch top ON THE STAGE. Pedestal provided. Base of the entry not to exceed the top of the pedestal. Entry to measure not more than 24 inches in width. To be viewed from all sides. No height limit.” For the uninitiated, such a display involves many decisions and discussions. What type of container will be used? What sort of plant material will be used? And, most important who will execute the design? In the case of the Piedmont Garden Club, it’s safe to say the decision was unanimous. Betty Ann Trible, a creative floral arranging wiz, would step up. Committee members met as the arrangement was put together. Sandwiches and treats from The Red Truck Bakery were served. One member of the group asked that the Margaret Littleton with final display should include one or two swan Betty Ann Trible with feathers. “After all,” she noted, “some other swan feather, blue entries might think a swan dive is like a belly ribbon and trophy. flop off the high dive.” Many thanks to Ben Rogers, long-time farm manager at Heronwood in Upperville. He provided the feathers he found around the ponds on Heronwood’s 18-hole golf course. On the big day of the competition, Betty Ann drove the finished Swan Dive to Buchanan Hall and put it in place on the stage. She headed off to pre-show luncheon when her cell phone went off. It was an official from the Daffodil Show. The breaking news went something like: “Inexplicably your arrangement hit the floor of the stage and shattered.” Horrors. “But,” the caller said, “the good news…it happened after the judges had awarded this Swan Dive the blue ribbon.” Said Betty Ann, “I’m Betty Ann Trible’s finished Swan planning to buy a lottery ticket.” Dive from the Piedmont Garden Club for the Inter-club competition Details: at the Daffodil Show. https://www.royalswan.co.uk
SUNDAY, June 12, 2022 3:00 PM
Our season
comes to a triumphant close as we celebrate 25 years of great music!
The Lyric Brass Quintet
Michael A. Hughes returns to lead the PSO in the Sound of Music. Plus…Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and introducing the Lyric Brass Quintet, performing the riveting Iron Horse by Kevin McKee. Happy Silver Anniversary PSO! FOR TICKETS, INFORMATION & COVID POLICIES:
www.piedmontsymphony.org The PSO is Generously Funded in Part By:
Luminescence Foundation & The Ben-Dov Family
The Margaret Spilman Bowden Foundation Nicolaas and Patricia Kortlandt Fund The Wise Foundation The Phillip A. Hughes Foundation
Country ZEST & Style | Summer 2022
The Crossfields Group
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