Garden roses are so lush and perfect for photography. This is why Alexandra Farms, one of the world's most prolific growers of roses, started a Garden Rose Design Contest.
It's been going on now for six years, and below are the winners presented, and Jill Brooke of Flower Power Daily gives her analyses. "What do I observe as far as the winning choices? It is clear that the broken arch is still trending. It offers a more modern approach. The first-place winner had an arch with chunks of flowers leading into an arch. Even for the fully-formed arch, there were flowers bookending it and then a thin wood arch. So many creative opportunities."
"As far as floral arrangements, I'm seeing a lot of lower-sitting vases reminiscent of Victorian times. The winners here also had examples of this trend that gives the experienced florist opportunities for movement and using a variety of gorgeous roses and greenery."
In each category, the Alexandra Farms' first-place winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to Alexandra Farms in Colombia. Second-place winners will receive 500 stems of garden roses and $500; third-place and Readers' Choice winners will receive 250 stems of garden roses and $250.
Judges were Jose R. Azout, president of Alexandra Farms; Holly Heider Chapple, educator and owner of Holly Chapple Flowers and Hope Flower Farm and the founder of Chapel Designers; the team at David Austin Roses; and Jules Lewis Gibson, the dynamic president and creative director of Florists' Review Media Group which includes Florists Review Magazine and Flora in London.
Designs were evaluated on several criteria, including how the garden roses were used, photo quality, and overall design aesthetic and composition. Judging was conducted anonymously, independently, and confidentially. The Readers' Choice Award winners were chosen in an anonymous and public online vote.
Entries were accepted in two categories, Wedding Work and Everyday Design, and hundreds of entries were submitted by designers from around the world.
Click here for the winners and the pictures at Flower Power Daily.