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ARKANSAS FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
by Raymon Caple
The 16th Annual Arkansas Flower & Garden Show will be held March 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2007 in the Statehouse Convention Center located at the intersection of La Harpe Boulevard and President Clinton Ave in downtown Little Rock, AR.
For many years the Arkansas Florist Association has been a participation partner in the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. This show presents many different aspects of the Flower and Garden World. We have a large presence in the show including, decorating the entrance, the Tea Party and other areas of the show. Some members of AFA have also been called on to make informational presentations in the Q & A Cafe, which is a mini-program area in the center of the garden and trade area, each year. At times members of the association are also called to make major presentations in the main auditorium upstairs. This is where the featured highlight name presentations are made in the show. One of the featured attractions, and one that is looked forward to each year is our "PROFESSIONAL FLORIST TABLETOP DESIGN COMPETITION".
These tables are displayed in the Atrium at the entrance to the Statehouse Convention Center with every one entering the Convention Center as well as the Flower & Garden Show must pass. This is excellent exposure for the designer as well the Florist Association with 10,000 to 12,000 people attending the show
PROFESSIONAL FLORIST TABLETOP COMPETITION
The Professional Florist Tabletop Design Contest is a contest of Floral Design depicting the current theme of the Flower and Garden Show, being displayed on 5 foot round tables. This contest is part of the ongoing education process of the Education Committee of the Arkansas Florist Association. This contest gives the Floral Designer a new avenue of thought and design to which they are not normally exposed in the normal Florist Shop. This allows the designer to think differently about design and allow their ideas and creativity to flow.
The Education Committee of the AFA invites some of the leading Arkansas Florist Designers to compete in this contest. The contest is judged by Professional Designers on the 10 different points of Professional Floral Design with ribbons awarded to the top three tables. The Horticulture Judges from the show also pick one table and award a Ribbon from the show. This ribbon replaces the peoples choice award given in the past years. A plaque is awarded to the winner at the annual florist convention along with the Winners Cup where all the winners’ names are displayed, to be kept in the winners shop for the year. Also in 2007, two cash prizes of $500.00 each will be awarded to the winner. $500.00 from the Arkansas Florist Association and $500.00 from the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show. We hope this award will be used to further your education and skills in the Floral Design Field
GUIDELINES FOR TABLETOP DESIGN COMPETIITION AT
ARKANSAS FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW
The theme this year is “Carousel of Gardens”. Your Tabletop should depict the designer’s interpatation of this theme and will be part of the judges scoring. Tabletop Competition will be held in the Atrium on Thursday March 1, 12:00Noon until 4:00PM. If you are interested in participating in this competition please contact Kelly Pruett at Southern Wholesale phone 501-372-6689, cell 501-259-1177 or fax her at 501-372-6689. Since our space is limited we can only accommodate 10 contestants. You will be notified by 1 February 2007 if you are one of the lucky ten contestants and receive by mail a copy of the complete rules and requirements governing the contest.
Eligibility Requirements:
· Contestants must be shop owners or employees of shops who are current members of the Arkansas Florists Association
· All contestants must meet one of the following criteria
Be a member of AIFD
Be an Arkansas Master Florist
Be a past winner or runner up of the Arkansas Cup Competition
Be a past 1st or 2nd place winner in the annual Scholarship Design Competition
2007 FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
Mark your calendar and come out to the Flower & Garden Show to see some of the excellent Tabletop designs. You will see some beautiful gardens, hear some excellent speakers on flower & garden subjects and you can shop among some vendor products that you absolutely cannot live without.
If you would consider helping with the decorations before the show, which will be done on Thursday, let Kelly or me know.
If you would consider making a presentation in the Q & A Cafe which is a mini-presentation of anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes on any Floral Subject please let us know (We may be asking you if you don’t volunteer). It is a good place to build your speaking skills in an informal atmosphere with lots of audience participation. We have several slots to fill if we can get the speakers. It is a good way to promote the skills and products of the retail florist and the Arkansas Florist Association.
More information can be found on Arkansas Flower and Garden website at: arflowerandgardenshow.org as the year progresses.
You may contact me at:
Raymon Caple 501-847-5030 - 501-519-5837
2006 Table Top & Garden Show
The theme of the 2006 Flower & Garden Show was "Come to a Garden Party", and was displayed on the Tables of the Professional Florist Tabletop Competition. The winners of the competition were:
1st Place Kelly Pruett, AMF Southern Wholesale Florist - Little Rock
2nd Place Kathy Rodocker, AMF Tipton Hurst - Little Rock
3rd Place Georgie Murphee, AMF Georgie's Flowers & Gifts - Greers Ferry
Show Table Top Kathy Rodocker, AMF Tipton-Hurst - Little Rock
(This award was awarded by the Horticulture Judges from the Flower & Garden Show)
