Botanica International Design Studio
happily endured the compressed timeframe and security surrounding the
event, knowing their work was destined for a gathering honoring Michelle
Obama.



The designers at the Tampa, Fla., company hustled to create designs for
the Oct. 27 fundraising tea, said Zoë Prosser Gallina, account and
marketing coordinator. About 100 people attended the $5,000-per-ticket
tea at a private
residence on Davis Island, Fla.



Botanica was prohibited from taking photos from the event, but Gallina
said the design team chose deep purple, blue and white flowers — iris,
hydrangeas, roses, tulips, delphinium and amaryllis — to go with navy
blue linens selected to match the color in the American flag. The
arrangements, a large but not "over the top" order, adorned cocktail
tables and accented furniture, she said.



"It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to
provide flowers for a luncheon honoring the first lady," said Botanica owner Ian Prosser, AAF, AIFD, PFCI. "It was an understated, yet sophisticated luncheon, a perfect representation of the first lady herself."



No stranger to working on events for first families, Prosser chaired
SAF's design team for the second inauguration of President George W.
Bush in 2005, and he also was among those who
designed for a Clinton inauguration.


-Christy O'Farrell, SAF