Noted Floral Designer’s Skills on Display in Washington

The arrangement skills of noted floral designer, Mrs. Marigold Harding, were on display at a show staged by the Washington chapter of the World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA), at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel on October 17, in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Harding represented Jamaica in the Class Two category, which featured the Grand Canyon.
In an interview with JIS News, Mrs. Harding explained that in trying to depict the Grand Canyon, she used materials such as drift wood, palm spades and carnations to add form and colour and to bring out the ‘Grand’ in the exhibit.
Mrs. Harding said she felt very honoured to be the only Caribbean representative at the show. “For Jamaica to be the only Caribbean country to participate in this important flower show, it gives us an opportunity to highlight Jamaica and to show to the rest of the world what we can do, how we can participate in an international exhibition and for us to have a presence,” she added.

Ms. Michelle Johnson, a Jamaican who resides in Maryland, United States of America, admires the floral exhibit by renowned Jamaican floral designer, Mrs. Marigold Harding, which was on display at a show, staged by the Washington chapter of the World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA), at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, in Washington, D.C., on October 17.

On October 29, Mrs. Harding will be the guest artist at the State of New York Flower Convention, where she will prepare and display seven exhibits before a large audience within two hours. “I feel much honoured to be invited to the NY show, where my skills will be on display,” she said.
Mrs. Harding, wife of President of the Senate, the Hon. Dr. Oswald Harding, is a veteran of the international flower show circuit and has participated in, and represented Jamaica at major events, such as the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show in the United Kingdom, where she has been an exhibitor for the last seven years. She has also represented the country at the noted Canada Blooms Festival, as well as exhibitions in Belgium.
She is the first Jamaican ever to be named as an international judge in floral art competitions.
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Anthony Johnson, who visited the show, said that the continued participation of a Jamaican in these events was testament of the important role which Jamaica plays internationally. “Jamaica is indebted to Mrs. Harding, who continues to represent Jamaica at various prestigious events,” he said.