A Love Letter to Sister Cities

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

A Moroccan spice market bursts to life in vibrant oranges and reds. Across the room, a serene arrangement of white orchids and delicate ferns captures the misty essence of Cairns, Australia. These creative interpretations of distant lands are just a glimpse of what awaits visitors at this year’s Scottsdale Garden Club Flower Show, where local floral artists are crafting botanical love letters to Scottsdale’s eight sister cities.

“When the idea was proposed to celebrate Scottsdale’s sister cities, I thought it was a brilliant way to partner with another local organization while giving our show an international perspective,” says Judy Kennedy, event chair. “Everyone was enthusiastic about the idea, and the Sister Cities group was particularly excited since they’d never been involved with a flower show before.”

The biennial show, themed “New Directions: Celebrating Scottsdale’s  Sister Cities,” transforms Mustang Library into a global garden March 1–2. Each arrangement tells a story of international friendship, from the sun-drenched landscapes of Alamos, Mexico, to the rolling hills of Killarney, Ireland.

Unlike traditional flower shows that simply display perfect blooms, this event combines horticultural expertise with creative storytelling.

“When people hear ‘flower show,’ they often think of something like a chrysanthemum show, where you’re just judging rows of individual flowers. But ours is so much more than that,” Kennedy explains. “We have multiple divisions that offer something for everyone – whether you’re interested in horticulture, design or crafts.”

The show’s artistic crafts section embraces a travel theme this year, featuring decorated backpacks, journals and travel hats adorned with botanical elements. In the design section, each arrangement must capture the essence of its assigned sister city while adhering to specific technical requirements. Some categories demand particular styles, such as the “spatial thrust” design incorporating two parallel elements.

“Fresh and/or dried materials may be used as specified for the design — basically anything that was once living,” Kennedy notes. “Something unique to National Garden Clubs is that if you’re using fresh plant material, you can’t alter it by spraying or changing its color. However, in the craft section, there’s more flexibility — people often dry their plant material first, which then allows them to modify it however they’d like.”

The Garden Club’s 40 members are aiming for 100% participation, with members encouraged to enter multiple categories. Along with local participants, four garden clubs from Chandler, Tempe, Tucson and Chandler will contribute designs, bringing the expected total to 50 to 55 participants. This broad participation makes the show a true celebration of both international and regional connections.

Judging follows strict criteria established by the National Garden Club.

“The judges use a detailed scoring sheet where points are awarded in different categories,” Kennedy explains. “You get points for how well you interpret the theme, whether you followed all the requirements, your creative approach, your use of color, and technical aspects like whether the arrangement has a sense of rhythm and balance.”

Beyond the visual feast, educational exhibits will showcase how many plants found in Scottsdale also grow in its sister cities. The Scottsdale Sister Cities Association will present information about its cultural exchange programs, which include musical performances and educational initiatives.

“I think we’re really showcasing how Scottsdale reaches out to these sister cities through various exchanges — concerts, youth programs and cultural trips,” says Kennedy. “When you travel with Sister Cities, you receive VIP treatment because you’re representing Scottsdale, rather than just traveling as an individual tourist.”

The show also features a popular youth division, where local students create their own interpretations of the international theme.

“Everyone just lights up when they see what the kids create — their entries are so delightful that we sometimes want to give them all blue ribbons!” Kennedy shares.

For those interested in participating or learning more about garden club activities, Kennedy recommends visiting the Arizona Garden Clubs website. The organization encompasses 16 clubs throughout Arizona and will host the Pacific Region Convention in Tempe in April, welcoming garden club members from eight Pacific states.

“It’s really about education, enjoyment and appreciating beauty,” Kennedy reflects. “I want people to see both the artistry of our local gardeners and how we’re connected to these wonderful cities around the world.”

scottsdalegc.org // azgardenclubs.com

Scottsdale Garden Club Flower Show

March 1–2 // Noon–5 p.m. Saturday // 1–4 p.m. Sunday // Mustang Library // 10101 N. 90th St., Scottsdale // Free admission // scottsdalegc.org