Hurst, Texas January 2005 – Carol Bice of Bice’s Florist in Hurst is one of 200 floral designers and professionals from 35 states and the District of Columbia who are convening in Washington for the upcoming presidential inauguration. As a volunteer, Carol Bice will help turn 250,000 flowers and foliage into more than 3,500 arrangements for the nine inaugural balls, three dinners and other official receptions and events to welcome George W. Bush into office for the second time. As has been tradition since John F. Kennedy, the Society of American Florists (SAF) has assembled a corps of the nation’s top floral professionals. Their goal, working with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, is to evoke a sophisticated, elegant and tasteful atmosphere through flowers. “This is our country’s grandest celebration,” Ms. Bice said. “I am honored to be part of bringing so much beauty to the inaugural events.” More than 100 varieties of flowers and foliage will be used to create the arrangements – from simple cocktail table arrangements and creative tablescapes to large buffet pieces and seven-foot tall topiaries. The flowers are being brought in from all parts of the United States, as well as Latin America and Europe, and include roses, lisianthus, carnations, alstroemeria, hydrangeas, lilies, tulips, Gerbera daisies and orchids, among others. The amount of smilax vines and magnolia branches that will be used would stretch the length of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol. “In order for the flowers to show off their full beauty on the nights of the dinners and balls, everything has to work like clockwork,” Ms. Bice said. All in all, the 200 floral volunteers will spend about 7,500 hours planning, procuring flowers, and designing and installing the inaugural décor. The behind-the-scenes flower preparation and designing will take place in a worksite in Southeast Washington, D.C., and arrangements will be installed at the dinner and ball sites on the days of the events. “It’s exciting to be able to do what I do best for such an historic national event,” added Ms. Bice.
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