Every 4 to 6 years the international floral designers community has a major design competition, namely, The FTD World Cup …The “Olympics” of the Floral Design World. This year it was held during the Philadelphia Flower show (March 1-3) and Ball Horticultural company was a sponsor for the World Cup 2019; they were one of the key flower suppliers of fresh cut flowers. But how is it to participate in such an event as a breeder?
"Being in the breeder world is like being in love, I just had eyes for my flowers!", says BallSB Marketing Director Lourdes Reyes .
Lourdes with the Russian designers; the contestant Natalia Zhizhko and her mentor Tatiana. She used Green Ball, Delphinium and Snaps from Ball (See picture on the right).
The Ball fresh cut flower genetics were not only used at the World Cup competition, but also throughout the many arrangements that were placed all over the Historic Head House Tower convention center.
Concepts in the Philadelphia Flowers Show. On the left with Delphinium sunshine Lisis and Dianthus Amazon by Ball and on the right the Green Ball used in the concept.
Reyes explains that overwhelming and proud feeling she got as being part of a breeding company when entering the show. "I came in the venue, our flowers greeted everybody. Our Delphiniums Guardian, Lisianthus ABC and Flaire, Gypsophila Snow Ball and Mirabella, our Dianthus Green Ball and Amazone, Limoniums hybrids and more of our varieties colored the Philadelphia convention center event, which was all about the “Flower Power”, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, music from the time was played while lights illuminated the flowers displays creating an enchanting psychedelic atmosphere. Our Delphiniums, Snaps and Gyp changed colors as the music played. It was awesome! Or “groovy” if you want to get in the spirit", she laughs.
Snaps stocks green ball and more from Ball at the Designer Studio that ran all day at the Philadelphia flower show.
Among the Ball flowers in the World Cup competition that were used repeatedly were Lisianthus, Snapdragon Potomac, Anemones, Green Ball, Stock Katz, Kales, Bells of Ireland and Trachelium .
The designers competed LIVE in front of thousands of people and it attracted a lot of attention from the press as well. "The local Philadelphia ABC-TV affiliate live streamed the event surrounded by many flowers among them - Ball Gyp and Ball Limoniums. The stream is being shared at https://ftdworldcup2019.com/videos/)
ABC TV presentator Alicia and a winner of a World Cup were the host at this World Cup and Ball's Gyp SnowBall was facing them. Besides, the scenario was displaying limonium exotic purple.
According to Reyes, the competition was fierce yet the atmosphere was always one of happiness and camaraderie. This is what flowers do! Don’t they?""
There were four timed design tasks which were completed by the 23 designers that were competing: 1.- A hand tied bouquet , 2.- an architectural arrangement, 3.- a table for two and 4.- one surprise design task featuring all American Grown flowers. For this last task the designers had identical materials, supplies, props and flowers. "Ball, Snapdragons, Anemones, Green Ball and Stock Katz were part of the flowers in the surprise kit."
So, how was it to attend the competition? Reyes explains: "It was amazing to see how everyone’s designs looked so very different even though the materials were exactly the same."
Gyps like in heaven, Snow Ball from Savisa.
The 10 semi-finalists were: Australia, Japan, Russia, Korea, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland and China. After completing the last surprise design task, inspired by “The Tree of strength and character, coming through continuous struggle and growth.“ The five finalist were Australia, Russia, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic.
And dressed in their Tuxedos and nice dresses, the five of them went on stage and competed live, in front of more than 600 guests in the Grand Ballroom. “The Geometry in the cosmos” as inspiration was completed in only 45 minutes and the World Champion was announced to be…Bart Hassan from Australia.
FTD Interflora World Cup Champion, Bart Hassam from Australia (Click here to read the press release)
Reyes congratulates all competitors. "Congratulations to the first runner up Natalia Zhizhko from Russia, to the second runner up Tamas Mezoffy from Hungry and congratulations to all the competitors who, as the Ball Horticultural Company, Color the world with their flower designs."
"Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I leave you with the pictures I took. Enjoy the flower power!"
The champion, Bart Hassan from Australia, was all about greens and leaves.
Dutch contestant Hans Zijlstra used snap dragons from the surprise package. On the right, the result with Snapdragons, Anemones and Sweets.
Germany contestant Stephan used two colors of snapdragons from Ball on his freelance surprise task arrangement.
Table for two created by Paul Jaras from Canada. He used Anemones, Lisis and Stock.
Judges give a grade to the arrangement of Italian contestant Vincenzo Antonuccio.
Kazuhiro Sugimoto from Japan used Green Ball and Snaps of Ball.
Designs of Myeon Oh from Korea.
Natalia Zhizhko from Russia used Green Balland cale.
Lina Roig from Spain used Delphinium Waltz light blue (on the left). Arrangements of Stephan Triebe from Germany (on the right).
On the left: The senses had to be shown as water for the sound and Green ball for the texture, China competitor Wei Yao . On the right: snaps ready to be used by Mexican designer Leopoldo Gomez.
USA Architectural arrangement made by Katharina Stuart. "Regretfully, she did not use California Snaps or stocks.
The designers competing were: Australia (Bart Hassan), Germany (Stephan Triebe), Italy (Vincenzo Antonuccio), France (Herve Frezal), Russia (Natalia Zhizhko), United kingdom (Laura Leong), USA (Katharina Stuart), Canada (Paul Jaras), Finland (Pirjo Koppi), China (Wei Yao), Hong Kong (Solomon Leong), Mexico (Leopoldo Gomez), Poland, Korea ( Myeon Oh), Japan (Kazuhiro Sugimoto), Hungary (Tamas Mezoffy), Chinese Taipei ( Kevin Lee), Czech Republic (Premysl Hytych), Denmark (Kristine Gudiksen), The Netherlands (Hans Zijlstra), Norway (Elin Susan Havreberg), Spain (Lina Roig), Sweden ( Sofie Danielsson Sohr), Vietnam (Nam Bao) .
For more information
The World Cup
https://ftdworldcup2019.com/
BallSB
Lourdes Reyes
Email: [email protected]
www.ballsb.com