Laura Haley

2019 Katharine Thomas Cary Medal

For exceptional leadership in floral design as an educator, speaker, mentor and artist; for successfully restructuring and digitizing flower shows’ essential resource, the Flower Show & Judging Guide.

Proposed by: a member of Rusticus Garden Club, Zone III

Laura Haley has made it her mission to educate every GCA club member about the art of floral design and the benefits of flower shows. Her ability to teach and mentor others has made Laura an excellent floral design judge and an outstanding advocate for GCA. Ardent about flower show education, she has traveled to nine zones, teaching floral design techniques at club meetings and best judging practices at zone judging workshops. Beginning in 2011, Laura worked tirelessly to restructure and digitize the GCA publication Flower Show & Judging Guide, known as the Yellow Book, the educational resource and essential handbook for GCA flower show organizers and judges. It is now available on the GCA website. As a teacher, mentor, judge, and as the lead author and creative force guiding the digitization of the Yellow Book, flower show education has been her pursuit and passion. Countless club members have benefited from her work. Laura Haley is a member of the Late Bloomers Garden Club, Zone VIII, and The Little Garden Club of Rye, Zone III.

The Katharine Thomas Cary Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of floral design education.

The Katharine Thomas Cary Medal was endowed by New Canaan Garden Club, Zone II, in memory of member Katherine Babcock Thomas Cary (Mrs. William Harris Cary: 1874–1953). She served as a GCA director, floral design judge, and GCA librarian. The medal was designed in 1955 by Karl Gruppe and first awarded in 1956.

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