Flowers with meaning

Get ready for a spiritual display of fauna and flora at the The Halleluja Flower Festival taking place at the All Souls Anglican Church in Umhlali from October 20 to 22.

The church’s eighth flower festival has been organised by the remarkable 91-year-old Rosemary Ladlau and her daughter Jane Matkovich.

Ladlau said a special reverend inspired the start of the festival in 1989 with the theme “The Good Shepherd”.

“When our old All Souls Church in Umhlali was being renovated, I fortunately had a very special guest staying over – Rev.William McMillan, the moderator of the Free Presbytarian Church in Northern Ireland.

“Over the years ‘Mac’, as he is known throughout the flower and gardening world, has used the beauty of flowers to bring catholics and protestants together in worship at church flower festivals. He was decorated with an Order of the British Empire for his mediation work,” said Ladlau, who is a great garden lover and has been planning the festival over the past three months.

She said this year’s Hallelujah themed festival is not a flower show or just for the decorating of the church, it is an expression of thanksgiving created by over 30 flower arrangers.

“Our flower friends from the local Methodist, Catholic and Dutch Reformed churches use the flowers and plant materials to interpret various Biblical texts and verses. These displays are symbols of the majesty and creative power of God.”

The imaginative interpretations use beautiful, mostly locally grown flowers and foliage including proteas, leucospermums, anthuriums and gerberas.

“There will be 25 displays ranging from beautifully decorated balls floating from the high ceiling to interpret ‘Be exalted God above the Heavens, and let Your glory be over the earth’ to masses of lovely, homegrown roses featured in a text from Isiah.”

The Sunday School children will also be showing their idea of ‘All things bright and beautiful’.

The festival will be open from 10am till 4.30pm everyday and teas will be served all day.

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