It was the best yet! We were thrilled to have so many returning friends and to meet many wonderful new ones. We all had an excellent time, and judging from the outpour of comments, you did too!
This year marked our 15th Year Anniversary and we were delighted to celebrate with a house full of great conversation, laughter, and fun. Also, in honor of St Patrick's Day, our guests were treated to Irish folk dancers and live Celtic traditional music by the talented Elise Kress and band.
A special highlight of our show was the vendor display booths of the most beautiful flowers, plants, and the best supplies. Our Vendors and Suppliers traveled from Ecuador, Colombia, South Africa, and Holland to name a few. We appreciate them for dedicating their time to share knowledge with our guests.
Another exciting attraction is the Design Competition. This year's special theme was to Create a 15th Year Anniversary Arrangement, suitable for a buffet table, using Potomac Floral Wholesale Logo and Colors. 14 local designers worked arduously to deliver the most exceptional centerpieces. The crowd was mesmerized by the creativity and charm of each design and the five person panel of judges had the difficult task of crowing the winners. In the end, our first place winner, Anahit Hakobyan, set the record by taking home the highly coveted First Place Prize for the second year in a row. Our guests also named her design their favorite by voting her as the People's Choice Winner. This year's Second Place Winner is Melissa Huston. The Third Place Prize went to Lori Himes. Congratulations to such extraordinary local talent!
We would like to especially thank René van Rems (AIFD) for his fantastic presentation. The entire floral community is lucky to have such a true professional. For two hours he wowed us with an ensemble of beautiful bouquets and entertained us with his great wit and humor. He shared a wealth of knowledge and ideas that motivated and benefited everyone in attendance.
We are honored to continue our tradition of educating and training the floral community. The success of the show is possible thanks to the loyal Customers, Vendors, Suppliers, Growers, Volunteers, and Employees.