A Wildflower takes first place

Since 1991, A Wildflower Florist has produced floral designs that evoke emotion and that’s exactly what won owner Lori Britton the first-place title in Fleurvana’s “Blooms Beyond Floral Design” Competition.

The competition requirements were to design a tribute piece of art or sculpture that evokes sympathy or emotion.

Britton submitted a piece in honor of Greg Kudrna who had passed away earlier this year.

“I had been friends with the family for a very long time and wanted to honor him in a beautiful way,” said Britton. “I entered that piece because I thought it would provide a positive note to Greg’s memory.”

With the help of her team at Wildflower Florist and inspiration ideas from Kudrna’s son and brother, Britton’s design incorporated an Arizona desert backdrop with a Harley Davidson, lots of deep purples and “Superman blue.”

“All symbols of his personality,” said Britton. “It was a contemporary piece done with colors that mimicked the colors of the art and scenery and some favorites of his. The purple represented the colors of Anytime Fitness, which he owned so it was sort of like his signature color, and Superman blue was one of his favorite colors,” said Britton.

As a member of the American Institute of Floral Design, Britton was invited to participate in Fleurvana’s competition.

“I was very surprised and honored when I found out that I had won,” she said. “I used to compete a lot, but not so much recently so this was the first big competition, in a while, where I put myself out there. I am very grateful.”

Fleurvana is an online floral institute founded in 2020 by Shawn Michael Foley and Gina Thresher during the height of the Coronavirus. When, like many businesses and events, floral education and competition events were canceled, the duo contacted colleagues and friends pitching the idea of a Floral Industry Virtual Summit where florists could showcase their creativity and connect with others. Today, Fleurvana provides floral design education, community and connection, and events for floral artists in a virtual setting.

As the first-place winner of Fleurvana’s “Blooms Beyond Floral Design” competition Britton will be featured in an upcoming Fleurvana publication and receives a mentorship class and a partial education scholarship.

Britton’s wants to thank Christy Memzer, Silvia Coleman, Debbie Benedict, Terris Gabelman, Mary Hayter, Mason Britton and Kudrna’s son Crew and brother Richard.

A Wildflower Florist is a floral design shop that provides flower arrangements for any occasion. For more information visit www.awildflower.net