Oriental Lily ‘Tabledance’ won the Best in Show title in the Outstanding Varieties Competition during the Society of American Florists’ 132nd Annual Convention in Maui, Hawaii on Sept. 22.
Best in Show
Cut Bulb Flower: ‘Tabledance’
Oriental Lily
Green Valley Floral
The entry was among the 184 different varieties from 20 growers from Florida, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Idaho, and Tennessee as well as Colombia and Ecuador. Judges scored each entry based on color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel, which included three retailers, three growers and three wholesalers, evaluated specific categories of flowers, and the highest scored entry of each won “Best in Class.”
The entry was among the 184 different varieties from 20 growers from Florida, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Idaho, and Tennessee as well as Colombia and Ecuador. Judges scored each entry based on color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, bloom form and size, and overall presentation. The judging panel, which included three retailers, three growers and three wholesalers, evaluated specific categories of flowers, and the highest scored entry of each won “Best in Class.”
Following is a roundup of the Best in Class recipients:
Standard Rose: ‘Black Pearl’, Rosaprima International, LLC
Garden Rose: Juliet (Ausjameson), Green Valley Floral
Spray Rose: ‘Brilliant Stars’ Yellow, Connectaflor
Dianthus: ‘Alcazar’, Dümmen Orange
Chrysanthemum: ‘Magnum’, Deliflor LatinAmerica
Oriental Lily: ‘Tabledance’, Green Valley Floral
Alstroemeria: ‘Jewel’, Flores Funza
Gerbera: ‘Glamour’, Green Valley Floral
Serruria: ‘Serruria Blushing’, Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers
Eucalyptus: ‘Tetragona’, Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers
African Violet: ‘Ingrid’, Optimara Group
Special thanks to the judges for the 2016 Outstanding Varieties Competition:
Retailer Judges:
- Rakini Chinery, AAF, AzMF, of Allan’s Flowers in Prescott, Arizona
- Susie Palazzo of City Line Florist, Inc., in Trumbull, Connecticut
- Annette La Rocque of Murrieta V.I.P. Florist in Murrieta, California
Wholesaler Judges:
- Joost J. Bongaerts of Florabundance, Inc., in Carpinteria, California
- Lani Callister of Ensign Wholesale Floral in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Jon Tamada of Mt. Eden Wholesale in San Jose, California
Grower Judges:
- Peter Van Antwerpen of Virgin Farms Inc. in Miami
- Leo Roozen, AAF, of Washington Bulb Company, Inc., in Mount Vernon, Washington
- Ben Dobbe of Holland America Flowers, LLC in Arroyo Grande, California
In addition, SAF would like to extend a thanks to Chrysal USA for supplying the plant food, Syndicate Sales for the hundreds of vases used for the entrants, and Dave and Megan Mitchell of Mitchell’s Flowers & Events in Orland Park, Illinois, and their team for coordinating the Outstanding Varieties Competition.
Click here for a complete list of winners and see below for a roundup of the Best in Class.