A FLORISTRY lecturer from Moreton Morrell College is getting ready to take on the world.
Laura Leong will be representing the UK at the Interflora World Cup in the USA this weekend.
Laura, who teaches on the Master Diploma in Professional Floristry course, secured the opportunity to jet to Philadelphia after she was crowned the UK’s Interflora Florist of the Year in 2018 at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last summer.
The Interflora World Cup is one of the most prestigious events in the floral industry and showcases the most talented floral designers from around the globe. Laura will compete against 22 of the world’s best florists.
The competition is held every four to six years in a different location and will take place this year at the Philadelphia Flower
Show – America’s largest and longest-running horticultural event in Pennsylvania.
The show is known for featuring stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers.
Laura said: “It’s a tremendous honour to represent UK and we are both really excited to travel to Philadelphia to compete with some of the worlds best florists.
“The build up to the competition has involved lots of experimentation and hundreds of hours of practical designing and making,
alongside the unique logistical challenges of importing props and flowers into the United States.
“As competitions go, it doesn’t get much bigger than this and my opposition couldn’t be tougher, but I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge.”
During the competition, Laura will be asked to produce five floral design showcases – having received just three briefs ahead of the competition, two tasks will remain a mystery until they are revealed on the second day of the competition.
During her 30-year career, Laura, who also works as a professional florist in Stourbridge, has travelled across the world successfully representing the UK in numerous competitions.
She is also twice winner of the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show Florist of the Year.
