by Gerry Toh AIFD, CFD, CCF
Like two peas in a pod! That these two friends, bound by the passion of flowers and all things floral, each a fount of knowledge of the wider flower industry, have come together in a new endeavor as editors of a floral blog is unsurprising. For years they have been connected as floral artists, active in several of the same associations and on the same committees, including AIFD® and Teleflora. Hard work and play is the motto they have in common.
Renee has been thriving on the east coast, growing her skills at the Philadelphia Flower Show for the past 13 years, including 2020 when she was honored to be asked to produce The Princess Grace Rose Garden exhibit on behalf of the Embassy of Monaco, and 2021 when she brought The Honey Hive exhibit to life.
Gerry was evolving his craft on the west coast; artfully working on the official cars of the Rose Parade, working as the creative director of several showrooms for a major silk flower manufacturer, and designing showrooms for several other companies. He has presented twice at national symposium.
They both connect well with fellow designers and are very active in communicating with leaders and followers of the art form and the industry. Renee was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers® in 2016 and the Professional Floral Communicators Int’l in 2018. Gerry was inducted into AIFD® in 1992 and is now a laureate. She is an educator at an AIFD® Education Partner in Bucks County PA, and a member of the national Teleflora Education Specialist team.
Recently, Gerry retired from the Teleflora team after being a sought-after educator for them for decades. Both have been a speaker to many garden clubs and educators on several platforms. He previously worked as an art director for the national floral magazine Bride and Bloom, and he has been featured in magazines like Teleflora’s Flowers&. Although he did not set out to carry on the family tradition, Gerry is now a 4th generation teacher.
Becoming Chair and Vice Chair of this Focal Points Committee and blog was a logical move forward for this pair. Renee is anxiously awaiting the publication of her first floral design how-to book due and Gerry has worked on his own book which is a journey of collecting and display. Gerry also published the Southwest AIFD® Regional Chapter’s Digital magazine Design in line, and that experience will, no doubt, help him with this new job.
Renee fills the in-between moments of her life with her loving husband and her three Chihuahuas. Some of her favorite things include craspedia, coffee, carbs and good Mexican food (with a margarita on the side!) Gerry spends his time designing websites and posters for friends and companies, and creating more vignettes with his collections of objects. He dreams of traveling the world with his partner Michael someday, visiting all the gardens and flower shops, living out his life motto, “Always take life in small steps and enjoy every little miracle along the way”. Together, Renee and Gerry will bring to this blog not only knowledge of the industry, but a bridge between the ethereal and intangible love of flowers, and the art that manifests from artists passionately obsessed by their medium. So fellow readers, please join us as Renee and Gerry take the reins to invigorate your love of all things floral.
