White House Still on Hunt for Chief Floral Designer: Report

White House Social Secretary Deesha Dyer, shown here in a White House photo by Chuck Kennedy, will likely have a say in hiring a new chief floral designer.

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Nearly five months after Alexandria floral designer was reportedly ushered from the White House as chief floral designer, the Obamas are still in search of someone to replace Laura Dowling, according to a report out Monday by The Washington Post.

The newspaper reports that finalists are waiting for calls back from the White House.

New social secretary, Deesha Dyer, will likely have a say in who is hired. Dyer started her job this spring, after Jeremy Bernard announced his retirement.The White House announced that Dyer, a Philadelphia native, was the new social secretary on April 16.

Dowling was hired in 2009, replacing Nancy Clarke, who had held the job for three decades. Clarke died in 2012. Her departure from the position last month was under wraps. Quoting an unnamed source, the paper said that Dowling “was escorted from the building on Friday Feb. 13.”

Dowling has kept a low profile since leaving. The floral designer made a presentation in April at the Walters Museum: “A Spring Day in Paris Lecture and Luncheon.” The event was sponsored by Potomac Floral Wholesale Inc., based in Silver Spring.

First lady Michelle Obama’s office issued a statement six weeks after her departure: “As Chief Florist, Laura Dowling and her team treated guests of the White House to their beautiful floral arrangements. Ms. Dowling’s creations were always lively and colorful, reflecting not only the season but the unique and historic rooms which they graced. No two arrangements were ever the same and each one left guests with a lasting impression of the elegance and history of the People’s House. We are grateful for her contribution over the years and wish her well”

Dowling made headlines nationwide when she took over as Chief Floral Designer at the White House nearly six years ago. When she was hired, Dowling excitedly shared her news on Facebook before official word was out.

Dowling, owner of Intérieurs et Fleurs, issued a statement after her departure, through an attorney, to the Post:

“After almost 6 years as Chief Floral Designer at the White House, I have resigned in order to pursue exciting new opportunities and explore my passion for floral artistry and design,” she said. “Over the next few weeks and months, I’ll be launching a new platform for my work as an author, speaker, instructor and design consultant that builds on the creative ideas and partnerships I’ve formed during my tenure there. It’s been such an honor to work at the White House and I will always be grateful for this incredible opportunity.”

Dowling is known for her French-inspired floral designs.

From the White House State Dinner last year, honoring France, the White House wrote: “Former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy celebrated French floral art by weaving simple garden flowers and stylish embellishments into French bouquets displayed throughout the White House. For the French State Dinner, White House Chief Floral Designer, Laura Dowling, created French-inspired bouquets to set the tone. Laura studied floral artistry in Paris for nearly 15 years, and her knowledge of French Floral Design is evident in the free-flowing lines of vines and flowers emanating from the classical bouquets.”

Before Dowling, Nancy Clarke had the position, first working as a volunteer during the Carter Administration, becoming chief floral designer during the Reagan Administration and staying on for some 30 years; a Vienna resident, she retired from the job in 2009. She passed away in 2012 at age 66, the Today show reported.

Dowling told The Post in 2010 that she got her love of flowers growing up in Washington state, where she admired her grandmother’s roses. She initially pursued a career in government and public policy, she told the newspaper, but was always interested in decorating, antiques and crafts.

Dowling studied floral design with L’Ecole des Fleurs with Christian Tortu.

PHOTOS: White House photo of Laura Dowling from 2011; other photos are from state visit by French President François Hollande to the White House in February 2014.