Ghean Maksimow, co-founder of Bow Genie International, was recently recognized by the floriculture industry by having a flower named in her honor at the International Floriculture Exposition (IFE) held virtually on September 16, 2020.
Flower naming events are a venerated tradition in Europe, where queens and heads of state have been honored with flowers named after them in a formal ceremony. Honorees are chosen by a panel of fellow industry leaders and this year’s recipient was nominated by Danny Temkin prior to his passing in September 2019. Ghean is only the eleventh person in the United States to be recognized by the IFE with this award.
The lavender breed of dahlia is awarded the name and trade designation “Genie”, and was bred by the Miyoshi Company and Ball SB., a division of Ball Horticultural Company
The award was presented by Cindy Hanauer of Grand Central Floral, a 2012 recipient of the same award. Hanauer said, “This was a very special year to have Danny Temkin nominate Ghean before his untimely passing. Danny and Ghean have had a special relationship for many years, and this flower honors their relationship, and the special place that Ghean has in the hearts of the entire industry.”
Danny’s son, Noam, represented the Temkin family at the ceremony.
It’s literally impossible to discuss the history of the floral industry without recognizing Ghean’s contributions for the past 35+ years. The award was a surprise to Ms. Maksimow, as the winner each year is a closely guarded secret until the ceremony. The Maksimow family and many friends celebrated Ghean during the virtual ceremony. Pieter Landman served as the Master of Ceremonies, and Ball SB was represented by Juana de La Torre and Carmen Hernandez.
tion: