Announcing the Winners of our 2023 Garden Rose Design Contest

We are excited to reveal the winners of our sixth annual Garden Rose Design Contest! Entries were accepted in two categories: Wedding Work and Everyday Design, and hundreds of entries were submitted by designers from around the world. We are grateful to all the participants!

The Winners

Wedding Work category

Bride in polka dot gown with a macaw under a vibrant garden rose arch

1st place: Taylor Doyle; The Floral Eclectic; Dallas, Texas, United States. Varieties: Alabaster and Darcey (Auschariot). Photographer: Opal & Onyx Photography

Bride holding a red and pink bouquet beside a flower-covered arch

2nd place: Nancy Zimmerman; Fancy Florals By Nancy; Fairbury, Illinois, United States. Varieties: Tess (Ausyacht), Darcey (Auschariot), Capability (Ausapply), Miranda (Ausimmon) and Princess Fairy Kiss Pink Spr. Photographer: Kristin Darling

Twin garden rose columns in pink, peach and coral flanking an outdoor entrance

3rd place: Janelle Gerestein; Flowers by Janie; Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Varieties: Miyabi and Quicksand. Photographer: Justine Milton

Indoor floral installation of blush and mauve garden roses cascading down a wall

Readers’ Choice: Cole Buys; CB Design; Cullman, Alabama, United States. Varieties: Café Latte, Loli Spr, Princess Maya, Quicksand and Golden Mustard. Photographer: Kristen Thomison Photo

Everyday Design category

Circular wreath of multicolored garden roses on a black easel stand

1st place: Alexa Howe; Lilly and Iris; Midville, Utah, United States. Varieties: Beatrice (Auslevity), Café Latte, Sahara Sensation, Symbol, Westminster Abbey and Pink Piano. Photographer: Hannah Howe

Autumnal arrangement of garden roses and dahlias in a gold compote against blue

2nd place: Amanda Rodgers; Bouquet Atlanta; Hiram, Georgia, United States. Varieties: Miyabi, Miyabi Brown, Princess Maya and Wedding Rosever Spr. Photographer: Amanda Rodgers

Pastel centerpiece with hydrangea, dahlias and garden roses on a draped table

3rd place: Susanne Slade Kelly; Stone’s Throw Floral; Houston, Texas, United States. Varieties: Leonora (Auswagsy), Tsumugi, Café Latte and Sahara Sensation Spr. Photographer: Susanne Slade Kelly

Yellow and peach garden rose arrangement with trailing greenery on a wooden stool

Readers’ Choice: Katherine Taylor; Jubilee Flowers; Fairhope, Alabama, United States. Varieties: Princess Aiko and Pink O’Hara. Photographer: Emily Songer

Prizes and Judges

In each category, the first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip for two to Alexandra Farms. Second-place winners receive 500 stems of garden roses and 500 dollars; third-place and Readers’ Choice winners receive 250 stems and 250 dollars.

Judges were Jose R. Azout, president of Alexandra Farms; Holly Heider Chapple; the team at David Austin Roses; and Jules Lewis Gibson, president and creative director of Florists’ Review Media Group.