By Linda Weinberger CFD
I caught my breath and smiled. The entrance to the Hicks Art Building at Bucks County Community College greeted me with a lush riot of color and flowers. Immediately my heart began to flutter and I knew we were in for a weekend to remember!!
ART THAT BLOOMS, sponsored by the Floral & Art Departments at Bucks CCC in Newtown, PA is in its third year of this annual floral-palooza. The theme of “Harmony” played out with a Friday night “invitation only” gala featuring a student string quartet, a massive welcoming charcuterie table, the unveiling of the “harmonious” showpiece entries including interpretive designs, and the always-anticipated Team Experience, sponsored by Dominic Graziano.
Friday night also featured the Bucks County Designer of the Year (DOY) Competition. With a surprise package sponsored by FernTrust, eight students competed in 45 minutes to create a design for the green room of a famous musician, using only foliages.
The excitement of the opening night did not overshadow the presence of our international floral guest sponsored by Teleflora, Hitomi Gilliam AIFD. How fortunate we were to be graced with the expertise and cutting-edge design styles of Hitomi, right here in Bucks County, PA! We anticipated her Saturday workshop and Sunday stage presentation.
SATURDAY. . .the crowds of all ages came to browse the floral displays, admire “It’s Not Easy Being Green” Team Experience installation, attend the popular make-and-take workshops, and listen to floral demonstrations by students, alumni, and teachers.
Make and take workshops were sponsored by Younger & Sons and DVFlora. Children were enchanted with dinosaur and unicorn planters. Adults left with sumptuous arrangements of seasonal flowers.
Students, alumni, and teachers offered a wide variety of floral demonstrations showcasing the education and techniques taught at BCCC. Color harmony, “Grocery Store to Gorgeous,” sunny sunflowers, and wire work in arrangements and wearable flowers.
Hitomi’s Saturday workshop by Teleflora introduced sustainable ideas, examples of her reuse to reduce philosophy, and THE perfect chicken wire pillow. Participants left with designs featuring tatami mats, wire extenders, “hand of nature” vines, and Hitomi’s inspired ideas for business-building.
SUNDAY featured floral demos as well as printmaking, 3-D printed vases, and woodturning demonstrations.
Hitomi’s stage presentation, the “Harmony of Floral Artistry Revealed” was nothing short of genius!! She presented jaw-dropping designs with clear instructions of how to produce them in your floral shop, for events, and for pure artistic pleasure. Hitomi’s designs are accessible and do-able, her explanations complete, and her smile inimitable!!
By 3 PM the AIFD Northeast Chapter had gathered to welcome and pin the new Bucks CCC Certified Floral Designers.
And then . . .AWARDS. . . DESIGNER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION. . .
People’s Choice. . .Grace Harbison
Honorable Mention. . .Leisha Atkinson
Third Place. . .Sheryl Miller-Hosey
Second Place. . .Eric Singleton
Designer of the Year. . .Grace Harbison (a repeat champion from 2023!!)
Showpiece Exhibition Awards—
Honorable Mention—
Cami Daubenspeak/Interpretive Class
Third Place—Dennis Kelley/Diamonds are Forever Class
Second Place—Linda Weinberger/Classical Class First Place—Karen Kuyper/Diamonds are Forever Class (a repeat champion from 2023!)
As the weekend wound to an end, our friend and instructor Ron Mulray AIFD expressed his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Renee Tucci AIFD. This dynamic duo with instructors Shannon Toal AIFD and Heather Towne AIFD created an event to remember. . . with plans and a “save the date” for 2025.
