Floral Displays
Three professional floral artists will showcase their expertise on how flowers can be used for artistic expression on a grand scale.
The floral installations will be on view during the Patron Party on Friday, April 28th from 6-9 p.m., Saturday, April 29th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 30th from 1-4 p.m.
Meet the Florists
Amy Marshall
Amy Marshall’s creative abilities started showing up when she was an educator in Middle School and her daughter had just been born. She knew she wanted to do something else besides teaching at this point. A cousin was getting married and she had attended some events with her looking into different florists and event planning and her cousin expressed her desire to have Amy create the flowers and the event saying that Amy could do that. “It was just the nudge I needed for the beginning of my career as a floral designer.”
Amy began researching and going to an On-Line Floral Design Institute, taking the courses, submitting CD’s showing her ability with designs as she created them. She began in her home doing arrangements for friends weddings, bouquets for other occasions, etc. In 2016 she was in need of a real place of business which she found a small shop in a strip mall next to a Piggly Wiggly grocery in Madisonville and remained there until her patronage had gotten to large for the little shop. In November of 2022 she moved to her location on Hwy 22 in Mandeville where her business has prospered even more.
When asking what your style of creativity is Amy said, “I guess you might call it English Garden, but I love anything where I have to make something intricate design and super detailed. I helped at Mandeville’s Flower Festival using a 12 x 12 area with a piano and all kinds of instruments with flowers flowing from them like the music coming out of the horns, large events such as that.”
Irma Nell Bryant-Kelly
Irma Nell Bryant-Kelly, a native and current resident of Amite, Louisiana, is a gifted and proud business owner specializing in floral and creative designs. Over the many years of dedication and service, Irma has served people and businesses communally, statewide and across the country. Throughout her life, she has aimed to please and serve God, her church, and her community. She is also the 5th eldest of ten children born to the union of Mr. Curtis & Mrs. Alice Bryant of Amite, Louisiana. Moreover, she is the proud mother of two children, Gary and Anita, as well as grandmother to five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all of whom bring joy and balance to her active and busy schedule.
Irma enjoys reading her bible, cooking, traveling, working in her garden, spending quality time with family and close friends, and just merely and enthusiastically working and helping others. In addition, she loves being involved and serving her church, GOD Faith Ministries, of Amite, Louisiana, where she serves in many capacities in building GOD’s kingdom.
Irma matriculated through the Tangipahoa Parish school system as a proud graduate of West Side High School, in Amite, Louisiana, the Hammond Technical College (certified Nursing degree), and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (licensure in horticulture as a retail florist). She has been actively pursuing her present business, Irma’s Flowers & Gifts, LLC, in floral design since 1998 in the city of Amite, Louisiana. Prior to and while working in floral design, she was employed with North Oaks Regional Medical Center in Hammond, Louisiana. She served in nursing, patient care services, and other administrative duties for 27 years until her retirement in 2011. Since then, she has worked diligently and whole heartedly building a legacy of faith, love and peace amongst her family and fellowman.
As a community leader, Irma has been a member of the Amite Chamber of Commerce for approximately 4 years. In 2022, Irma received the Garden of the Month, in her city of Amite and a honorary proclamation keys to city of Amite in November 2022. In an overall illumination of the life she lives, Irma continues to amaze her customers and colleagues with all that she creates. She possesses a willingness and loving spirit and tirelessness work ethic of fairness, peace and stability. Prayerfully, she expresses a desire to continuously bring light, a character of servitude and genuineness for years to come.
Donna Wolf
Donna Wolf, a resident of Ponchatoula and owner of Flowerworks, a small floral design firm, has over 25
years of experience in the floral industry. Donna is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education.
Donna’s love of art and nature lead her to her career in floral design after college. She spent many years employed at Winn Dixie as a floral manager where there she competed in the Iron Designer Competition at the 2016 International Floriculture Expo in New Orleans. In 2022 she received Best Plant Material Award for her interpretation of a Mamou Mardi Gras print in the Northshore Arts in Bloom Competition. These days Donna’s professional mission for Flowerworks is to offer her clients bespoke floral design solutions. When not honing her craft, she enjoys giving back to the community, spending time with family, friends, and her Standard Poodle, Jazz.
