Proposed by: The Garden Workers, Zone V

Mary Jo Strawbridge has distinguished herself as a teacher of floral design, nationally and internationally. She exhibits in flower shows from Philadelphia to the 2014 World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA) Flower Show in Ireland. Her exhibits are unique and creative, her mechanics skillful and methodically crafted. She has served as editor of the GCA magazine, By Design. As Chairman of the Flower Arranging Study Group, she organized a three day workshop to study with Marie-Françoise Deprez at the National Horticultural Society of France. She is a model GCA Floral Design Judge — she shares, she teaches, she mentors. Mary Jo is approachable, kind, and generous with the ability to captivate her audience when she is teaching. Mary Jo oversaw the creation of a series of six workshops for her own club that became the model for the WAFA International Floral Design Workshops and the GCA zone workshops: Flower Arranging 101, 201, and 301. By educating members with the newest trends, encouraging greater participation in flower shows, and sharing her personal joy in arranging flowers, Mary Jo has played a major role in bringing GCA flower arranging into the 21st century. Mary Jo Strawbridge is a member of The Garden Workers.