Susan Durisek’s blog

Curly willow branches above, flowers and vases in the window.

Bluegrass Ball flowers ready to be packed.

January 16, 2009 6:30PM

We loaded the van with flowers and

Finished packing, but no room for suitcases.

supplies this afternoon, in preparation for leaving at 5:30AM tomorrow morning.  I mean, we really loaded the van.  It was packed so full that there may be no room for suitcases.  We’ll be driving about 10 hours tomorrow, to get the perishable goods to the Wardman Park Marriott hotel in Washington, DC by evening.  Since the flowers can’t tolerate too much cold, and this is the coldest day of the year, it’s parked in a semi-heated storage area tonight.  There are lilies grown right here in Kentucky, as well as boxwood and curly willow tied on the roof.  Symbolic goldenrod, our state flower, is also included in the plans. 

I don’t think I’ll sleep much tonight.  Will keep you updated. 

January 10, 2009 9PM   I am going to see Barack Obama’s 2009 Inauguration in person on January 20th.  Me, and reportedly 3 million other people.  OK, so I have not been able to wheedle a ticket to the swearing-in ceremony from any of my elected representatives, but I am still hoping somebody will come through. Pretty please?

Sharon Bale, checking out some Deco Beads

But then, I have another purpose for going to Washington, D.C.: I’ll be travelling with Floriculture Specialist Sharon Bale from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, bringing fresh cut flowers and supplies to create centerpieces for the Kentucky Society’s Bluegrass Ball on January 19th.  When it comes to floral arrangements, Bale is a creative genius; ever since I heard about the last quadrennial event, I’ve been begging to tag along this time, and my wish was granted.  So, a group of D.C. volunteers and I will be putting together flowers under Bale’s direction, to top about 150 tables, seating a total of about 1500 guests, most of whom are Kentuckians with the luck (or is it skill?) to be in Washington at the right time. 

Floral arrangements from Governor Steve Beshear's Inaugural Celebration

Bale has been preparing all her life for these kinds of events.  She says she was “just about born to work with flowers.”  At UK, she conducts trials not just for the All America Selections program, which develops new cultivars each year, but also with annuals and perennials like hydrangeas; she also teaches horticulture classes and gives presentations about how to use and created floral designs.

This will be Bale’s third Presidential Inauguration ball, but here in Kentucky she has worked with Governors’ administrations starting with Martha Layne Collins and most recently prepared floral decorations for Governor Steve Beshear’s celebration.  Bright, explosions of color which seem to vibrate with the excitement of the day are what’s in store for folks attending the Bluegrass Ball.  But getting them ready for the big event is not exactly a bed of roses. 

Boxes of supplies for the Bluegrass Ball

Bale began planning and ordering the hardware for the arrangements back before Thanksgiving.  She has an assortment of shapes and sizes planned for the tables, from low settings in hot pink bases, to taller forms and curly willow branches strung with tiny lights.  About 12 boxes of supplies are waiting in a warehouse right now, which we’ll transport to D.C., along with the order of fresh cut flowers that was just placed last Monday.  I sure hope that the 23-degree temperatures and snow, the 9+hour drive, the vehicle security inspections, predicted heavy traffic and D.C. bridge and road closures don’t set our plans back too much.  Watch for updates.