NEW Noteworthy &
Slow Flowers announces summit
Slowflowers . com , the comprehensive online resource that connects consumers with local , seasonal and sustainable flowers , announces the inaugural Slow Flowers Summit , a one-day conference in Seattle , Sunday , July 2 , that coincides with the third annual American Flowers Week , June 28-July 4 .
Called a “ TED Talk for Flower Lovers ,” the lecture series targets creative professionals , thought leaders and pioneering voices in the progressive American-grown floral community , said Debra Prinzing , founder of slowflowers . com .
“ The Slow Flowers Summit will stimulate curiosity as our presenters inquire , inform , include , instigate and inspire . They will examine conventional assumptions and explore conscious and ethical practices in the floral industry ,” she said .
The summit marks the 10-year anniversary of Flower Confidential with a keynote presentation by New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart . Published in 2007 , Stewart ’ s Flower Confidential is an around-the-world , behindthe-scenes look at the flower industry and how it has sought — for better and worse — to achieve perfection . Stewart ’ s presentation : “ Where We ’ ve Come From , Where We ’ re Heading ” will address the many issues that have defined and redefined the American floral landscape in the past decade . Among the other speakers is Riz Reyes , who will participate in a panel that discusses diversity in floral design and horticulture .
Prinzing developed the summit as a new “ live ” component to the virtual American Flowers Week campaign . AFW devotes a week of activity via regional events and social media platforms to promote domestic flowers , raise consumer awareness and unite America ’ s flower farmers with the U . S . floral industry .
Registration is required and tickets are available at Event Bright .
Three GWA members among Great American Gardeners
The American Horticultural Society had announced the distinguished recipients of the Society ’ s 2017 Great American Gardeners Awards . Individuals , organizations and companies that receive these awards represent the best in American gardening and horticulture . Each has contributed significantly to fields , such as plant research , garden communication , landscape design , youth gardening , floral design and teaching .
Among this year ’ s winners is William A . McNamara , executive director and president of Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen , California , who is receiving the AHS ’ s highest honor , the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award , for his many important contributions to horticulture . The AHS applauds all of this year ’ s recipients for their passionate commitment to American gardening and their outstanding achievements within their area of expertise . This year ’ s Great American Gardeners Award recipients are :
• William A . McNamara ( Glen Ellen , California )— Liberty Hyde Bailey Award
• Thomas G . Ranney ( Mills River , North Carolina )— Luther Burbank Award
• Allen Bush ( Louisville , Kentucky )— Paul Ecke Jr . Commercial Award
• Brienne Gluvna Arthur ( Raleigh , North Carolina )— Emerging Horticultural Professional Award
• Melissa “ Missy ” Marshall ( Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania )— Landscape Design Award
• Vivian Boley ( Alexandria , Virginia )— Meritorious Service Award
• Tom Fischer ( Portland , Oregon )— B . Y . Morrison Communication Award
• Julian Duval ( Encinitas , California )— Professional Award
• Lee Coykendall ( Washington , DC )— Jane L . Taylor Award
• Johanna Roman ( College Station , Texas )— Teaching Award
• Philadelphia Orchard Project ( Philadelphia , Pennsylvania )— Urban Beautification Award
The AHS will honor these recipients June 8 during the Great American Gardeners Awards Ceremony and Banquet , held at the Society ’ s headquarters in Virginia . The AHS website has descriptions of each award and brief biographies of this year ’ s recipients .
Books sold at festival
Jacqueline Soule reports more than 100 copies of her latest books were sold and signed at the Tucson Festival of Books .
Tucson gardens get high marks
Linda Larson , writer and public speaker , recently attended Frida Friday at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and is now planning on revisiting other gardens . She reports that 18 months can make a major difference in the life of a garden . She offers insights at travelinggardener . com .
Allen Bush
Brienne Gluvna Arthur
Tom Fischer
State recognizes Iowa Master Gardeners
Iowa Master Gardeners , led by statewide coordinator Denny Schrock , and the Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education team , led by Christine Hradek , were recipients of the 2017 Creativity in Service to All Iowans Award from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach . The award recognizes interdisciplinary programs that result in measurable impacts while serving Iowans in creative ways . These organizations teamed up to donate 73,465 pounds of produce to Iowa food pantries through 26 county-based , donation gardens and seven home demonstration gardens located at Iowa State University research farms .
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