The Society began its life in 1955 (at the beginning of the time that many other Clubs and Societies were founded) through the determination of one of our founder members, Dorothy Gullick, a local florist. She was eventually to introduce 'Oasis' to this country after a visit to America. There was such immense interest in flower arranging that the Society then had an afternoon group and an evening group. We have been an evening group only for many years. We celebrated our Golden Anniversary in 2005.

Our monthly meetings through each year are varied. Certainly over the years we have been entertained by many Area Demonstrators (from other areas as well as our own), and usually two National Demonstrators in each annual programme. We have also held practice, teaching and workshop meetings, outings and competitions.

Our members have had many successes at competitive events over the years in the flower arranging section at Horticultural and Agricultural shows (Gold Medals at Chelsea), at Area level and the NAFAS National Shows, and we also hold our own Annual Trophy Competitions. We continue to compete and were successful with entries at shows held in 2006.

We have also taken part in many Flower Festivals organised by the Wessex & Jersey Area and in those involving Society members and the Society itself in their planning and direction. Members took part last autumn in ‘Nature’s Palette’, the latest flower festival at Romsey Abbey designed and organised by our Area.

Our local hospital has had a flower rota for the year supported on a monthly basis by local flower arranging clubs and societies for a very long time. We are always pleased to contribute when it is our turn to produce a pedestal arrangement for the Chapel. This year we will be providing flowers in April and August.

We also have contributed greatly by fund-raising and many thousands of pounds have been donated by our Society to various charities. Many National Demonstrators have visited Salisbury for big Open Meetings. In the past these were held at The City Hall but it now more difficult to find venues that are large enough and do not have prohibitive hiring charges. The last big event we organised was a competitive show held in The Guildhall in Salisbury, which supported Hope and Homes for Children. 

We also travel further afield to visit gardens and flower arranging events. Our Garden Outings started in 1993 as part of our yearly programme with summer evening visits to nearby gardens featured in the 'Yellow Book'. These led in 2003 to trying an outing for a whole day to Abbey House Gardens at Malmesbury, which was appreciated so much that we have since visited the RHS gardens at Wisley and Lady Farm Gardens at Chelwood near Bristol. We have also organised breaks to Canterbury Cathedral's 'Christian Beginnings' festival, to the WAFA Show at Glasgow in June 2002 and to the NAFAS National Shows at Harrogate.

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations brought a Royal Visit to Salisbury and nearby Old Wardour Castle. Eleven members were involved in the exhibits for the flower festival at Wardour but many more helped to decorate Salisbury's Guildhall where there was a luncheon for the Earl and Countess of Wessex. In two hours we created four large pedestal arrangements (one in the foyer and three in the Banqueting Room, four table decorations for The Mayor's Parlour, a mantelpiece arrangement for the Banqueting Room, and thirteen table arrangements.

Our own Golden Jubilee Celebrations took place in 2005. We held a dinner for all our members and George Smith was the demonstrator at our Open meeting, but the most ambitious event was our Golden Trail. This involved much planning and a large number of our members in providing flower arrangements in over 60 venues in the city of Salisbury and the surrounding area. Members of the public were invited to follow the trail, visiting shops and businesses, the Cathedral and other buildings in The Close, churches, council and county facilities, and garden centres. It was a very successful event and was featured in the winter 2005 issue of The Flower Arranger.

Our history shows that we are a Society with enthusiastic members interested in contributing our flower arranging talents whenever we can, and in being aware of and encouraging the new and innovative trends in our art as well as being aware of our traditions in having ‘fun and friendship with flowers’.