WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – Leading floral designers in North Carolina will gather in Wrightsville Beach to showcase their floral creations inspired by fine art, Jan. 9-12, 2020.

The four-day Art & The Bloom exhibition and competitive judging includes expert demonstrations and workshops in floral design and flower pounding, botanical illustration and art, millinery fashion shows, gallery art sales by the Wilmington Art Association, and a presentation-book signing for Gardening with Confidence by Helen Yoest, award-winning garden writer and founder of Bee Better.

Now entering its third year, the New Hanover Garden Club’s Art & The Bloom has become a highly anticipated event in North Carolina. This year’s art will come from private collections and the Wilmington Art Association. Floral designers receive their art assignment from a blind draw weeks before the event.

The Designing Divas, a five-member team of nationally accredited jurors and flower show school instructors, will judge the 2020 floral design competition. Winners receive beautiful ribbons, cash awards, and bragging rights.

Affiliated with the National Garden Club and hailing from Florida, the Designing Divas will present two floral design demonstrations and a wedding flower design workshop on Friday and Saturday.

Linda Koffenberger, a botanical illustrator from Chapel Hill, will present a workshop on how to draw butterflies using colored pencils. Koffenberger is an award-winning national artist creating works in colored pencil, egg tempera, and watercolor. Her recognitions and achievements include the Best of Show and CIPPY Award in the International Exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society of America.  

Kim Fisher, a North Carolina floral designer originally from DC, will be leading a workshop creating a coastal-style woodland tabletop setting. Kim’s unique experiences include floral designs for several US Presidents and the Catherine Zeta-Jones wedding.

Accomplished artist Pat Carlson will conduct a workshop on the art of flower pounding, creating beautiful note cards and framed fabric art from flowers.

New Hanover Garden Club, the organizer of Art & The Bloom, is federated through the National Garden Club and Garden Clubs of North Carolina. The event’s proceeds will benefit gardening projects and scholarships for nonprofit organizations. All activities will be at the host hotel, Blockade Runner Beach Resort.

2020 Art & The Bloom Itinerary:

Thurs. Jan. 9:

5:00 PM: Roundtable discussion with Master Judges, the Designing Divas from Florida, to discuss How to Host a Successful Flower Show

7:00-9:00 PM: Preview Party and Ribbon Cutting for 2020 Art & The Bloom Exhibition – Blockade Runner Beach Resort – Sheriff Ed McMahon and Ms. Tina McMahon

Fri. Jan 10:

9:00 AM-9:00 PM: Art & The Bloom Exhibition

9:30 AM-11:30 AM: Floral Design Demonstration “Flower Arranging 101” by the Designing Divas, National Garden Club Flower Show School Instructors, and Master Judges. This basic design program will cover containers and mechanics. The Divas will demonstrate Line design, Asymmetrical Triangle design, Crescent design, a Hogarth design and a discussion using fruit in a design. They will demonstrate a Table for Two and a Tray Table design, how to use wood in a design, and how to interpret a title (Fire).

12:30-2:30 PM: Advanced Floral Design Demonstration –The Designing Divas will present “Happiest Designs on Earth,” demonstrations and discussions including an exhibition table, background panels, an underwater design, a line design and change between fresh and dry flowers, a reflective design, plus one more to be determined.

3:30-4:30 PM: Fashion Show of Hats, by Sista Hats. The show includes a two-course afternoon tea service by East Oceanfront Dining. 

6:00-8:30 PM: Dine and design with Kim Fisher of Coastal Terra, coastal style woodland tabletop styling, plus four-course dinner with wine pairing. 

Sat. Jan. 11:

9:00 AM-5:00 PM: Art & The Bloom Exhibition

9:30-11:30 AM: Wedding Flower Design Workshop – The Designing Divas will present a DIY Wedding Flower program. This is limited to 26 people. The Divas will lead you in making a tussy mussy and a boutonniere. The Divas will demonstrate a tall table design and a bride bouquet with an oasis handle.

12:30-2:30 PM: Drawing Butterflies in Colored Pencil by Linda Koffenberger, national award-winning botanical illustrator and educator from Chapel Hill. The course includes the basics of illustration and classroom supplies. 

3:30-4:30 PM: Fashion Show of Hats, by Sista Hats. The show includes a two-course afternoon tea service by East Oceanfront Dining.

Sun. Jan. 12:

9:00 AM-4:00 PM: Art & The Bloom Exhibition

10:00-11:30 AM: Flower Pounding Workshop by Pat Carlson, an accomplished artist from Chocowinity, NC. Pat will lead the class in the art of flower pounding to create beautiful note cards and framed fabric art. All supplies included. 

1:00-2:30 PM: Book presentation by Helen Yoest, Gardening with Confidence: 50 Ways to Add Style for Personal Creativity. Other books authored by Ms. Yoest include Plants With Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers, & Veggies in Your Garden; and, Good Berry Bad Berry, Who’s Edible, Who’s Toxic, and How to Tell the Difference. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Contact:

Barb Bittler, Co-Chair

Art & The Bloom

BarbBittler@gmail.com

910-616-0476

Robert B Butler

Communications | Public Relations

Permission granted for publishing/redistribution – photo credits requested

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Angela Marchesi is a Nationally Accredited flower show judge. She recently became a Florida resident. She is a member of Venice Area Garden Club and is an instructor for the design group.

Angela is a 15-year member of Trent Woods Garden Club in New Bern NC and has served as president. She is a member of Eastern Carolina Judges Council and has served as president. Her flower designs have been published in the Garden Club of NC calendars. Her flower designs have been displayed at the NC Museum of Art’s Art In Bloom.

Bess Treadwell is a Nationally Accredited Master flower show judge, a Florida floral design instructor and past District VIII Judges Council Director for the Florida Federated State Judges Council.  Bess has exhibited in flower shows at the Club, District and State levels.  She has also exhibited at Disney’s Epcot Flower and Garden Show.  Her designs have been published in Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ Florida Floral Arrangement Calendar.

Bess is a member of the Coastal Garden Club in Shallotte, NC; and Creative Flower Arrangers of Americas. 

Bess is a graduate of UNC.  Bess got her design foundation from her mother, Ann Evans Shearer, a charter member of the Pine Needles Garden Club in Fayetteville, NC.

Brenda Johnson is a Nationally Accredited Master flower show judge, a Florida floral design instructor and a Board of Directors member of the District VIII Judges Council and of the Florida Federated State Judges Council.  Brenda has exhibited in flower shows at the Club, District and State levels.  Her designs have been published in Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ Florida Floral Arrangement Calendar.

Brenda is a 15-year member of the Manatee River Garden Club in Bradenton, FL, and has served as both Treasurer and Vice-President.

Carol Lucia is a Nationally Accredited Master flower show judge and floral design instructor.  Her designs have been featured in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ Florida Floral Arrangement Calendar; Design Dimensions; as well as in National Garden Club’s Designing By Types; and in World Association of Floral Artists books.

Carol is a charter member of the Creative Flower Arrangers of the Americas, studied under Bob Thomas, and is a 40-year member of the Garden Club of St. Petersburg.  She is a 5-Star Member, Master’s in Landscape Design, Gardening and Environmental Consultant, serves on the Florida Federated Garden Club State Board and is Florida’s District VIII Floral Design Chairman.

Kim Fisher is originally from  Washington D.C. Kim worked in the floral design industry as a buyer as well designer - she includes in her portfolio both  the Clinton and Bush White House , Gore Vice President's residence as well as celebrity residences of Barbara Streisand along with working as a designer on high profile events such as Katherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas's wedding . Kim owns an event company, Kim Fisher Designs and has recently added a sister company called Coastal Terra, carrying coastal inspired home wares, fashion accessories and plantings where the motto is “living simply and well, seaside style.”

Lori Richie is a Nationally Accredited Master flower show judge. She is also a floral design instructor, exhibited at Disney's Epcot Flower and Garden show and has won many top awards in club shows and also State flower shows.  She serves on the State board as the finance and distribution director of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ Florida Floral Arrangement Calendar.  She has had her designs published in the calendar for the past eight years.

Corresponding Secretary for the State Judges Council, Treasurer for District VIII.

Lori is also a National Environmental Consultant, and Past President of her club, Manatee River Garden Club, Bradenton, FL.

2018 Art & The Bloom Itinerary:

Thurs. January 11

6-8 PM: Preview Party and Exhibition – Blockade Runner Beach Resort

Fri. January 12

9 AM-8 PM: Exhibition

10 AM-12 PM: Floral Design Demonstration by Frances Thrash, NGC Flower Show School Instructor and Master Judge 

1-3 PM: The New Botanical Arts … Making a Flower Show Fun for Everyone by Pam Braun, NGC Flower Show School Instructor and Master Judge 

3-4 PM: Fashion Show of Hats, handmade by Jan Wutkowski of aMuse Artisanal Finery, including a two-course afternoon tea service by EAST Oceanfront Dining 

Sat. January 13

9 AM-5 PM: Exhibition 

10 AM-12 PM: “Octopus’s Garden” Terrarium Workshop by Kim Fisher of Coastal Terra. A 2-hour instruction on making a contained succulent garden, including, plant selection, building techniques, maintenance, and display. Materials are provided. 

1-3 PM: Botanical Card Drawing by Preston Montague, artist, professional botanical illustrator, educator, and landscape designer from Durham. Instruction covers the basics of botanical illustration. Includes all supplies.

3-4 PM: Fashion Show of Hats, handmade by Jan Wutkowski of aMuse Artisanal Finery, including a two-course afternoon tea service by EAST Oceanfront Dining 

Sun. January 14

9 AM-4 PM: Exhibition 

1-3 PM: How to grow your dream garden in the South presented by Mark Weathington, Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University. Mark is the author of Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide. Books will be available for purchase and signing.  

For tickets and accommodations:

For tickets and event information:

Media archive with photos:

Contact:

Barb Bittler, Co-Chair

Art & The Bloom

910-616-0476

Mark Weathington, Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, will present his new book Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner's Guide on Sunday, January 14, 2018, at Art & The Bloom. Books will be available for purchase and signing. 

Corbie Hill of Raleigh's News & Observer interviewed Mark Weathington following the release of his new book.

Join artist, Preston Montague, for some insight into his process as a professional botanical illustrator at 2018's Art & The Bloom. Great for anyone interested in keeping field notes, sketchbooks, or considering a career in natural science illustration!

Walter Magazine interviews Preston Montague. 

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – Leading floral designers in North Carolina will gather in Wrightsville Beach to showcase their floral creations inspired by fine art, Jan. 11-14, 2018.

The four-day Art & The Bloom exhibition and competition includes expert courses in floral design, botanical illustration and art, building terrariums, millinery fashion shows, raffles, and a presentation-book signing for Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide, by Mark Weathington, Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University.

“Our first year was a huge success,” said co-chair Barb Bittler, member of the New Hanover Garden Club. “The artwork was from a collection at Cameron Art Museum. This year’s artwork will come from private collections and the Wilmington Art Association. Floral designers receive their art assignment from a blind draw weeks before the event.

“The judges this year are Frances Thrash from Virginia and Pam Braun from Tennessee. Both are nationally accredited judges and Flower Show School Instructors through the National Garden Club.

“Friday morning, judge Frances Thrash is going to create four different floral designs. Friday afternoon, judge Pam Braun will be talking about botanical arts, which is a new division in flower shows for the National Garden Club.

“Preston Montague, a botanical illustrator from Durham, will present a workshop on how to make your greeting cards from what you might find in your garden. Montague is the creator of the Codex Carolinum alphabet series, using native or naturalized plants of North Carolina to encourage natural science literacy.

“Kim Fisher, a local floral designer originally from Washington, D.C., will be leading a workshop in how to create a terrarium out of succulents. Kim’s experience includes floral design for several presidents and the Catherine Zeta-Jones wedding.

“Floral design winners receive a beautiful ribbon, a cash award, and bragging rights. Last year’s best of show winner, Brittany Wells of Verzaal’s Florist in Wilmington is returning to defend her title.

“Mark Weathington from Raleigh’s Raulston Arboretum will present his new book and host a book signing on Sunday afternoon,” said Bittler.

New Hanover Garden Club,​​​​​​​ the organizer of Art & The Bloom, is federated through the National Garden Club and Garden Clubs of North Carolina. The event’s proceeds will benefit gardening projects for nonprofit organizations. All activities will be held at host hotel Blockade Runner Beach Resort.​​​​​​​

Special thanks to Art & The Bloom sponsors:

New Hanover Regional Medical Center

PT's

Margaret and Samuel Colman

Tinga

Lee's

Dr. Sandra Miles

Sharon Minor

Nora Beneventi

Mary Ellen Simmons

Richard and Elaine Dupre

Kenneth and Antoinette Radcliffe

Robert and Pamela Holding

Edward and Doreen Turski

Lynda Headley

Lil Mercer

Fogleman Fine Custom Homes

Jan and Jack Hooks

Robert B Butler

Communications | Public Relations

Permission granted for reprint and redistribution.

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