Cincinnati Flower Show

The Cincinnati Flower Show is pleased to announce the 2008 major award winners, recognizing the very best in the horticultural industry.

Judge's Award for Best in Show

"Awarded to the exhibit that is overall" best in show" for the 2008 Cincinnati Flower Show"

Kendrick & O'Dell Landscaping, Inc.
Café de Fleurs

The Royal Horticultural Society's Silver Flora Medal

"Best Floral Display in the Grand Marquee"

Delhi Landscape Services and Flower & Garden Center
"The Dream Rose Garden"

American Horticultural Society Bole Memorial Silver Medal

"Presentation of a collection of eight related species or cultivars of cut flowers or container grown plants"

Brengleman Landscape & Design and Warren County Correctional Institute
Single Genus Hosta

American Horticultural Society Environmental Award

"The American Horticultural Society Environmental Award is presented for an exhibit of horticultural excellence which best demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment and inspires the viewer to beautify home and community through skillful design and appropriate plant material"

Meyer Aquascapes & Landscaping
"Water, Water, Everywhere!"

Chicago Horticultural Society Flower Show Medal

"An exhibit showing outstanding horticultural skill and knowledge"

Chuck Schramm
"Xerioscaping"

Mayor's Award in the Amateur Category

"Most appropriate use of a wide selection of plants and or cut flowers"

Vintage Revival Broken China Jewelry
"Sharden Garden Boudoir"

Governor's Award in the Professional Category

"Most outstanding display of forced plant material"

Kendrick & O'Dell Landscaping, Inc.
Café'de Fleurs

Cincinnati Horticultural Society Award
Professional Category

"Outstanding horticultural achievement by a Gold Medal Winner"

Midwest Landscape Network
"Planting a Wonderful World"

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Distinguished Garden Award

"Recognizing the garden with the most distinctive display"

Loveland Greenhouse
"Meraviglic di Musica"

Janet Meakin Poor Award

"Presented to the garden that epitomizes the harmonious blending of strong design and aesthetic elements using unusual and diverse plants that add interest to and enhance the landscape"

LaMond Landscaping, LLC
The "Maine" Attraction

Cincinnati Park Department Award

"Awarded to the exhibit that best exemplifies horticulture outside of the Western tradition"

Moto Ikebana and the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati
"Japan: The Art of Ikebana and Bonsai"

National City Bank Award in Grand Marquee

"Awarded to a first time exhibitor in the Grand Marquee for the most original and creative design"

Madison Tree Care & Landscaping
"Outdoor Wedding"

Dennis Buttelwerth Florist Award

"Best of Show in Dramatic Table Settings"

Margo Heubi, Mansion on Michigan
"Birds of A Feather"

Molly Klinedinst Award

"Awarded to a novice exhibitor in Dramatic Table Settings who receives a gold or silver medal for the exhibit"

BeBe Martinez, Steve Peck, The Enchanted Florist
"Tarzan Table For Two"

Marsha Haberer Award

"Awarded to the exhibit that displays the most harmonious color scheme of flowers and accessories within a dramatic table setting tablescape"

Jeane Elliot, Marianne Miller, Joanie Paulsen, Cincinnati Antiques Festival
"The Blossoming Sea"

Cincinnati Horticultural Society Crystal Star Award

"Best of Show in Container Gardens"

Pat Grieson, Natorp's, Inc.
"Deconstruction"

National City Bank Award in Container Gardens

"Awarded for the most original and creative design based on interpretation of the title and category criteria"

Kay Wilmers, The Flower Bed
"Love Blossoms the Second Time Around"

Frances Jones Poetker Award

"Best for creativity and application in Professional Floristry category"

Kimberly Minges
"Fairy's Lair"

Best New Exhibitor Award

"Best New Exhibitor based upon usage of color and harmony, interpretation, and condition"

Cindy Williams
"Ethereal Journey"

Professional Florists of Greater Cincinnati

"Best of Show in Professional Floristry"

Amy Montgomery, Greene's Flower Shoppe
"Metalocity"

The Cincinnati Flower Growers Association Award

"Best of Show in Window Boxes - Professional"

Susan Fox, Natorps, Inc.
"Into the Woods"

The Cincinnati Horticultural Society Award

"Best of Show in Window Boxes - Amateur"

Pam Zeller, Conner High School Greenhouse Class
"Window Shopper"

Martha Seaman Award of Excellence

"Awarded to an Amateur in Container Gardens that displays the most distinctive use of color and/or textural harmony"

Mike Kolb, Newport East Row Garden Club
"The Mother Road"

Audubon Habitat through Horticulture Award

"To recognize an exhibit that best exemplifies, in an aesthetically attractive manner, the use of plants that attract birds and wildlife to home habitats"

Going To Pot and Witte Landscape Specialists
"Living Inside Out"

Arlene Reid Award

"Awarded to the best professional or amateur summer annual presentation in the Grand Marquee"

The Olde Garden Shack
"Wonders of the Olde Garden Shack"

Kevin O'Dell Award

"Awarded for extra effort and loyalty to the Cincinnati Flower Show"

Rose Bohan

Gardeners Market Best of Show

Trent Gibbs Pottery

Plant Market Best of Show

Flower Bed

Most Innovative Product

Magawr of Boston

Most Creative Display

J+M Products

Best Product

Mystic Myster

2008 Cincinnati Flower Show Founder Awards

Annually, the Founder Awards are presented to those individuals who have contributed to the mission of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society through their extraordinary efforts.

Deborah Boehm has been involved with Cincinnati Horticultural Society since the 4th year of the Flower Show, where it was her job to recruit, organize and train volunteers to be a part of the annual spring event. A dedicated employee for 10 years, Deborah was in charge of staffing volunteers for the special events held at the Flower Show, such as the Opening Night Gala, Judging and Awards, Distinguished Lecture Series, Afternoon Teas, Corporate Events and Tour Groups.

Retired from the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, Deborah is still very much a part of the success of the Flower Show, where she still volunteers her time to help out wherever she is needed. With such a knowledge and experience of the show, Deborah can be put into any situation and handle it beautifully. "I have met so many wonderful, talented and amazing people. I learned to do a little bit of everything and would not trade that experience for anything in the world," Deborah says.

Deborah has been married to Bill Boehm, a Senior Officer at Kroger for 36 years, and has two sons, and two daughter-in-laws, and she looks forward to becoming a first-time grandmother this year. Deborah also enjoys spending time building and furnishing their retirement dream home on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, where they sail the summers away.

Gary Koller has been involved with the Cincinnati Horticultural Society for many years as a Grand Marquee Judge. His expertise in horticulture has been a great edition to the judges' panel over the years. Gary is President of Koller and Associates, an industry leader specializing in residential garden design. His award-winning gardens have been featured on tours of The Perennial Plant Association, The American Society of Landscape Architects and The Garden Conservancy.

Gary is retired from the Arnold Arboretum, where he served as Assistant Director for Horticulture for over 20 years. He currently lectures for the Arnold Arboretum Seminars in Landscape Design.

Gary is well known for numerous published articles as well as an international lecturer. In 1993, he was awarded a Gold Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for skill in communicating about environmental horticulture; in 2002 Gary received the Julia L. Morris Award for outstanding support of Blithewold Mansion, Garden and Arboretum and in 2003, the Allen C. Haskell Award at the Providence Spring Flower Show. He is also the past president of the Horticultural Club of Boston.

Volunteer Spotlight

Liz Wenker, who currently lives in Oakley, has been a proud volunteer of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society for 15 years doing anything and everything including personally stuffing 3,000 opening gala invitations. She started volunteering with CHS during the early days of the Flower Show at Ault Park where she collected tickets and her flexibility has lead her to do so much more. " I have been blessed in so many ways in my life that I have a deep commitment to give back in whatever way I can such as being a volunteer for the CHS." Liz really enjoys working with the Dramatic table settings, "I love being a guide for the dramatic table settings because I get to meet interesting people that come to look at the displays."

Liz is very well respected in the community and holds many titles and volunteer jobs elsewhere including: Executive Chair of Norwood Service League, Parish Council at St. Cecilia's Church, Reunion Committee of Edgecliff College and is retired from the Norwood Board of Education as an educator.

A true Cincinnati native, Liz is a St. Ursula graduate, received her undergraduate from Edgecliff College, Masters in counseling and guidance at University of Cincinnati, and her Post-grad at Xavier University. When Liz is not volunteering she enjoys working in her garden, walking for charities, photography, reading, and going to XU basketball games to cheer on the Musketeers.

Ken Stewart is in his third year of volunteering at CHS and he loves how helping others makes him feel. With a degree in botany he came to CHS looking to help out in all aspects of the Flower Show. While he does help out wherever he is needed his forte is working in the shop building and painting props and displays.

Ken has been a volunteer for over 50 years. He was the volunteer fire chief in Batavia for 40 years, taught hunter education for 20 years, and has been a Clermont County Park Director for 35 years.

Outside of volunteering ken is a bicyclist who rides across Iowa every year, play tennis, enjoys hunting, enjoys reading, and is a registered track official. If you can't find him in one of these numerous places, look for him at the YMCA where he works out 2 times a day.

Nancy Fluharty, a Clifton resident, has been a CHS volunteer for 6 years helping out in all aspects of organizing the Flower Show, and day to day duties at the society. She has spent countless hours helping out in the office sending out letters and running errands. During the Flower Show Nancy enjoys being a "runner" for the Grand Marquee because it gives her the opportunity to run around and meet new people.

Nancy is a speech therapist in the Seven Hills School District where she takes pleasure in helping out children. When she is not busy teaching and helping out at CHS she enjoys traveling and visiting her two daughters and grandchildren that live out of town.

Wendy Bridge is a fourth generation gardener who lives in Ross, Ohio. Her passion for gardening and design has led her to pursue her interests in a number of ways. Wendy is honored to be a member of the CHS Board of Directors and has been very involved for many years.

Wendy started with CHS in 1992 exhibiting in Dramatic Table Settings at the Flower Show and with Window Scapes in the Fall Show where she earned eight medals. Wendy was the president of the Association of the CHS for five years and was responsible for Gardeners' Recognition and a fundraiser. She has been a judge for the Flower Show and Gardeners' Recognition for eight years. Wendy has also been a judge at shows in Pittsburgh and Charleston. Recently, she designed the rose garden in Hamilton Park and for a restaurant in Dayton.

Wendy is a Master Gardener from the OSU Butler County program. Wendy enjoys designing and gardening five acres of formal gardens in her own backyard and traveling in Europe and the U.S. to view many beautiful gardens. She considers herself to be an amateur who does all of her work from a love of gardening and trying to give back to the land.