Every year, the nation’s most talented floral designers gather at the Society of American Florists’ annual convention for the industry’s longest-running live design competition — the Sylvia Cup. This year’s 56th annual event in Scottsdale, Arizona transported participants to a galaxy far, far away with a surprise theme that was truly out of this world: Outer Space or Extraterrestrial Floral Designs.
Armed with American Grown flowers and foliage, contestants faced a two-hour challenge to bring the cosmos to life through their artistry, creativity, and technical skill. Each designer was tasked with creating three imaginative pieces — a bridal bouquet for an extraterrestrial bride, a ceremonial floral sash for the father of the bride, and a memorial arrangement in honor of the bride’s mother.
In a contest defined by surprise elements and interstellar imagination, Judy Janzen, AIFD, CCF, of Chase Flower Shop in Fresno, California, rose above the rest to claim first place. Janzen’s winning strategy was simple yet brilliant, stay focused, plan ahead, and let technical precision shine through the theme’s chaos. Her clean mechanics, extended analogous color palette, and fearless creativity, including her bold use of a surprise cow figurine centerpiece, captivated the judges.
The first runner-up was Libbie Conley, CF, of Grand Blanc Florist in Flint, Michigan and Second runner-up Olga Savchenko, AIFD, of Dragonfly Floristic in Los Altos, California. Cash prizes and design supplies were generously sponsored by Smithers-Oasis, while American Grown Flowers proudly provided all the fresh flowers and foliage used in the competition.
The organization was represented at the 2025 Sylvia Cup Competition by several of its Board of Directors, including Interim Board Chair: Felicia Alvarez, District 3 Director: FJ Trzuskowski, District 4 Director: Frank Aronosky and District 7 Director: David Register. Members Janet Louie from Green Vally Floral and Chad Nelson form Eufloria were also on hand during the competition.
American Grown flowers and foliage from these generous members made the event shine:
CamFlor – California
Continental Floral Greens – Washington & Florida
Groot in Flowers – California
Mellano and Company – California
Green Valley Floral – California
Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers – California
Ocean Breeze Farms – California
FernTrust, Inc. – Florida
Myriad Flowers International – California
Eufloria Flowers – California
Texas Specialty Cut Flowers – Texas
Sutton Ferneries – Florida
Check out the stunning American Grown Flowers in our photo gallery from the event!
Both farmers and designers agreed that featuring American Grown flowers in this prestigious competition significantly boosted visibility for domestic producers. The Sylvia Cup showcased the creativity, versatility, and unmatched quality of flowers & foliage cultivated on U.S. soil. It firmly reaffirmed their vital role in the floral design world and why they remain the preferred choice for the nation’s top designers.
As the final arrangements took center stage, one thing was clear: the future of floral design continues to shine brightly with American Grown flowers leading the way.
It’s Stress Awareness Month! According to a study, spring flowers and foliage aren’t just beautiful, they can actually make a positive impact on your mood. Spring has sprung! March 20th officially kicked off the beginning of the season. As we head...
Roses, Jasmine Vines, Dahlias From U.S. Flower Farms Adorn Tables American Grown Flowers and Greens adorned the tables at President Donald Trump’s second-ever state dinner with Australia on Sept. 20. The president and First Lady Melania Trump welc...
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. The use of cookies is outlined in our Privacy Policy and you can change or disable your cookies at any time through your browser settings.
