Sudbury Floral Designer Captures First in Philadelphia Show

Last year, My PassionFlower owner Kirsten VanDijk put her floral design skills up against the world's best during the World Flower Show and came away with a gold medal.

VanDijk followed up that effort with a First Place Blue Ribbon and Best in Show honor at the Philadelphia International Flower Show on March 7 and 8 for her arrangement in the Competitive Class called "Fusion."

"I was pleasantly surprised," she said. "Every designer wants to get that phone call. I got the call while I was in Philadelphia's China Town and I was quite happy and pleased."

Her design consisted of a metal sculpture supporting an arrangement of Hawaiian tropical flowers and foliage including pink ginger blossoms, miniature phalaenopsis orchids, philodendron leaves, pink and green anthuriums, and ornamental pineapples.

"Last year I was given six hours, but in this flower show I only had two hours," she said. "I was a little delayed in my set up because there was a delay in staging, so it was a bumpy start. But once I got started it was nonstop. It was a lot of fun. I was letting the flowers dictate the design."

This was VanDijk's first time entering the Philadelphia International Flower Show and it is considered the largest indoor Flower Show in the World.

"I had the same approach as the World Show, a mindful approach aware of every aspect of design, breaking down the components. It was a very Zen approach. It's making a change in how I do my work.

"I noticed crowds were immediately forming and I was surprised to see people lining up to take photos. That's when I thought i might win something."