It’s time to reveal the winners of our 2024 Garden Rose Design Contest! Hundreds of entries were received again this year, and the judges have spoken. Four first-time entrants and three returning designers placed in this year’s contest. Congratulations to the winners!
A Note as We Look Towards the Future
After seven years and countless entries received, this will be our final Garden Rose Design Contest. We sincerely thank everyone who has participated since the first contest in 2018. The incredible design work created worldwide – especially work featuring our flowers – inspires us to continue growing the best garden roses for the industry!
The Winners
Wedding Work category
1st place & Reader’s Choice: Anna Stouffer, Urban Petals, Greer, South Carolina, USA
Alexandra Farms varieties: Golden Mustard, Sahara Sensation Spr, Sahara Sensation, Caramel Antike
Photographer: Kendra Martin Photography
2nd place: Belinda Bennett, The Rose Thief, Hatfield, Massachusetts, USA
Varieties: Juliet (Ausjameson). Photographer: Rebecca Castonguay
3rd place: Nancy Zimmerman, Fancy Florals by Nancy, Fairbury, Illinois, USA
Varieties: Capability (Ausapply), Constance (Austruss), Darcey (Auschariot), Millicent (AUSCP17431), Lavender Bouquet, Precious Moments, Tsumugi. Photographer: Rebekah Albaugh
Everyday Design category
1st place: Marcy Almoney, Fosters Flower Shop, York, Pennsylvania, USA
Varieties: Eugenie (Ausimage), Leonora (Auswagsy). Photographer: Marcy Almoney
2nd place: Janelle Gerestein, Flowers by Janie, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Varieties: Pink O’Hara, Constance (Austruss), Beatrice (Auslevity), Precious Moments, Mayra’s Rose, Edith (Auspluto), Darcey (Auschariot), Millicent (AUSCP17431), Mariatheresia, Princess Hitomi, Princess Maya. Photographer: Tara Whittaker
3rd place: Cole Buys, Cole Buys Design, Cullman, Alabama, USA
Varieties: Patience (Auspastor). Photographer: Cole Buys
Readers’ Choice: Jenny Cheung, Lillies & Lattes, Los Angeles, California, USA
Varieties: White O’Hara, Pink O’Hara, Juliet (Ausjameson), Princess Fairy Kiss Pink Spr. Photographer: Jenny Cheung
Prizes and Judges
First-place winners receive 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 of garden roses and 250 dollars.
Judges were Jose R. Azout, president of Alexandra Farms; Holly Heider Chapple, educator and owner of Holly Chapple Flowers and Hope Flower Farm and the founder of Chapel Designers; and the team at David Austin Roses. Designs were evaluated on several criteria, including how the garden roses were used, photo quality, and overall design aesthetic and composition. Judging was conducted anonymously, independently and confidentially. The Readers’ Choice Award winners were chosen through a public online vote.