Alaska in Bloom . . . announcing the 2017 Peony Design Contest Winners

BEST ART FOR ART’S SAKE DESIGN by **Shannon Cosgrove-Rivas** of **Flourish**, Sacramento, California

Peak peony season in Alaska typically runs from July through September, but the voluptuous blooms can be available as early as June and as late as October, depending on the weather each year and the farm location.

The lovely floral creations you see here are the winners of the first “Peony Design Contest,” a project sponsored by a trio of peony farms in the Homer, Alaska region — *Scenic Place Peonies, *Chilly Root Peony Farm and Joslyn Peonies LLC. *Slow Flowers Members

Along with Florists’ Review, Slowflowers.com supported the contest and will provide an annual Premium membership listing to all three designers.

Congratulations to all three winners!
Drink in the beauty and be inspired as you plan ahead for next year’s peony harvest!

BEST CENTERPIECE, by **Kay Studer** and **Susan Studer King** of **Buckeye Blooms**, Elida, Ohio

BEST BRIDAL BOUQUET by **Kathleen O’Malley** of **Kathleen’s Creations,** Bremerton, Washington

Debra Prinzing

Debra Prinzing is a Seattle-based writer, speaker and leading advocate for American-grown flowers. Through her many Slow Flowers-branded projects, she has convened a national conversation that encourages consumers and professionals alike to make conscious choices about their floral purchases. Debra is the producer of SlowFlowers.com, the weekly "Slow Flowers Podcast" and the American Flowers Week (June 28-July 4) campaign. Debra is author of 11 books, including Slow Flowers (2013), The 50 Mile Bouquet (2012) and Slow Flowers Journal (2020). She is the co-founder of BLOOM Imprint, the boutique publishing arm of Slow Flowers.

Debra Prinzing

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