Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, design education director at The Profitable Florist in Jacksonville, Florida, won the 55th annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition at the Society of American Florists’ 139th annual convention in Miami.
Seventeen competitors had two hours to complete three designs — a nightlife arrangement, a bridal bouquet and a casket spray — that centered on the surprise theme of “Colors in Bloom.” Organized by the Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI), the Sylvia Cup was sponsored by Smithers-Oasis, which provided the prize money and hard goods, and Certified American Grown, which provided the fresh product.
Lacey, an experienced floral design competitor, had been a regular spectator of the Sylvia Cup, but never competed because of other obligations and limitations. But with high regard for the competition, Lacey was eager to experience the challenges of the longest-running live design competition in the country.
“I did it because it is important to keep your experience fresh, and you always learn a lot about flowers and yourself when you compete,” Lacey says. “You learn how you respond to the pressure. Competing and designing for competition is very different than everyday design.”
He also made sure to prepare, and suggests other competitors do the same.
“I recommend that you don’t take a lot of risk. You take some, but you stick to what you know,” he says. “You practice techniques that include what you can do with several different flowers.”
He practiced stacking and layering the leaves of silver dollar eucalyptus to form a composite flower. When he saw that variety of eucalyptus among fresh product at the competition, he knew exactly what to do with it. He used the technique he had practiced to create a striking element to his bridal bouquet.
The composite flower stood out, says Leanne Kesler, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, FDI, one of the judges of this year’s Sylvia Cup and this year’s recipient of the Tommy Bright Award. She was also impressed with Lacey’s time management that allowed him to create three “exemplary” designs, and his strong use of dynamic line to enhance the rhythm of his designs.
Lacey received $3,000 and complimentary registration to SAF Phoenix 2025, SAF’s annual convention Aug. 11-14, 2025. Sharon Ivey AIFD, PFCI, AAF, CFD, GMF, owner and head designer of Sharin’ a Floral Adventure in Mansfield, Georgia, was the first runner-up and received $500; Jenny Thomasson, AAF, AIFD, EMC, PFCI, of Jenny T Floristry & Dr Delphinium in Dallas, and this year’s recipient of the Next Gen Rising Award, was second runner-up and received $250.
“This year’s competition had quite a high caliber of contestants,” Kesler says. “There was much more diversity in the creative approach to design. It was very refreshing.”
She was also impressed with the variety of interpretations on the theme that yielded a wide diversity on the use of color from bold pops to tranquil tones. Lacey says he paid close attention to his interpretation of color for each piece, incorporating flashes of color in the night life and wedding designs, and sticking to whites and greens in the casket spray.
“With a sympathy piece, you don’t do bright bold because it is not a happy time,” he explains. “The instructions described something that is soothing, calming and organic. That’s why I made it all white. But because it should be organic, that’s why I made it a little wilder and little more like something you would see out in nature. It’s why I used pampas grass, it fit the Miami theme, but was calming and soothing.”
Sarah Sampson is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.