Presenting

6 August | 2023 welcome Kindest regards, Jules Lewis Gibson President & Creative Director Florists' Review Media Group A s summer winds down, I, for one, am ready for a little rest and relaxation. I long for the lazy summer days of childhood, when a day seemed to go on forever. Now my days fl y by, fi lled with travel, meetings, deadlines, and my teenage sons' activities. I was fortunate to kick off the season with a trip to Holland, to attend "Dutch Lily Days 2023," courtesy of Royal Anthos, the Dutch Royal trade association for fl owerbulbs and nursery stock. e whirlwind adventure carried me and a few media colleagues to farms across the countryside, one of my favorite places. About 25 years ago, I spent a good bit of time in Holland while on a yearlong sabbatical in Europe. My solo adventures in the Dutch countryside are among my favorite memories. ere is a sense of purity and almost perfection among the windmills and fl ower fi elds. e pristine thatch-roof houses sprinkling the countryside are meticulously cared for, and fl owers are literally everywhere, on practically every windowsill, even growing wildly along the train tracks in the summer. Being toured across the countryside was a tremendous treat. Some of the most prominent Dutch breeding professionals welcomed us and enlightened us on the processes and the many-years-long trials that it takes to bring a new fl ower variety to market. My article, "Dutch Lily Days," shares the information and images from the journey, and follow us on our social channels for videos of the beautiful greenhouses. Another memorable trip on my summer docket was a few fun fi lled days in Chicago at the 2023 AIFD National Symposium, "GROW." e talent showcased was stunning, and the creativity didn't end on the stage, either. e week's grand fi nale was a costume ball held in the breathtakingly beautiful Grand Ballroom of the historic Hilton Chicago. Expectations were high, considering the guest list of creatives, and they did not disappoint. e costumes were splendidly fun and imaginative, as you can see on Page 15. My varied travels, spanning the spectrum from cut fl ower growing at one end to professional fl oral design at the other, have only bolstered my awe and love for the remarkable world of fl ower commerce, which embodies the characteristics of collaboration, sharing, respect and humanity that are so often either lacking or nonexistent in too many other industries. We work in a unique and special microcosm, and we must remember that and give thanks for it every day. Holland 2023 Holland 1998

• Cover