Pictured above: Lauren Say’s 2025 Chrysanthemum Festival Floral Design Showcase entry fills a window at Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Presented in Partnership with PNW Florist Association

Part of Lan Su’s Chrysanthemum Festival

From November 5-15, 2026, Lan Su Chinese Garden and PNW Florist Association will host the Chrysanthemum Festival Floral Design Showcase. Open to all floral designers and artists, the Floral Design Showcase is a juried floral show with each entry including chrysanthemums as a part of the display.

The exhibition is designed to celebrate the beauty and significance of chrysanthemums and recognize the floral art and creative talent of floral designers. Chrysanthemums are an important flower in China and an important motif in Chinese art. They represent longevity and are the floral symbol of autumn. Their petals are brewed into tea and can also be imbued into wine, contributing health-giving properties to the drinker. Traditionally, the chrysanthemum is especially celebrated on the Double Ninth Festival (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month).

The nighttime event, Nights of the Golden Flower, will feature the nighttime scenery of the garden, glow-in-the-dark designs from our artists, a special install from our featured designer, wearable floral jewelry and beautiful Chinese lanterns.

Key Dates

Event Rules & Requirements

Application Information

Each entry must include:

• A completed entry form
• Signed general release and acceptance of exhibition terms, rules, and requirements (part of the form below).
• Photos and/or sketches plus a written description of the design. There are no limits to the number of sketches, style of sketch, or length of description. The entry may not include the actual design or a model of the design.
  • This form allows two uploads. If you need to send additional media, please email [email protected].
• A designer may submit more than one entry for consideration. However, only one design may be selected for exhibition.

All entries must be received by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Cost & Materials

The showcase is free to enter. Each selected designer will be awarded a stipend to be used at the Portland Flower Market for flowers and supplies for use in the exhibition. Designers are responsible for all additional expenses related to the creation of their designs including materials, labor, transportation, delivery, assembly and disassembly.

Design Elements & Materials

The floral design showcase is part of the Chrysanthemum Festival, Lan Su’s month-long, outdoor chrysanthemum display. All floral designs should reflect the beauty and significance of the chrysanthemum. Each design must follow these defined elements:

• All designs are required to include chrysanthemums.
• All designs are required to have LED lighting in order to be viewed at nighttime.
• Fresh flowers, foliage, branches, fruits, vegetables, mosses, and fungi may also be used as well as dried and/or preserved mosses, lichens, fungi, branches, vines, bark and raffia.
• Flowers, foliage, fruits, or vegetables made of silk, fabric, plastic or other faux materials may not be used in the design.
• Rare, endangered or threatened species may not be used. If found in a final design, the design will be removed from the show.
• All fresh materials must have a water source sufficient for keeping the materials alive for the duration of the 11 days. Water sources may include any type of vase or container made of any type of material providing that they are appropriate to the design and do not leak. Water sources may include but are not limited to: traditional glass or ceramic vases, glass test tubes, floral foam, floral foam in holders or cages, and colored floral foam.
• Floral arrangements will be installed on traditional Chinese furniture some with glass tops, be freestanding or hang from a tree canopy. Designs may include non-organic materials consistent with the construction and theme of the design including, but not limited to: fabricated metal, rock, stone, sand, clay, wire, rope, wood, canvas, fabric, plastic and glass, as long as these materials do not damage Lan Su Chinese Garden’s furniture, buildings and/or surroundings.
• Designs fading prior to event close will be removed from the exhibition.
• No candles or any flames closed or open of any type will be allowed in any design.

Jury & Judging Criteria

The Jury is comprised of professionals with extensive experience in floral design as well as expertise in a broad spectrum of fine arts. PNW Florist Association will assist the jury in the presentation of entries and evaluation of adherence to exhibition rules and design requirements. The jury will be seeking floral designs which not only display exceptional use of the chrysanthemum but demonstrate expertise and understanding of floral design elements and principles.

Exhibition Awards

All entries are eligible for one or more prizes awarded for exceptional designs. Current exhibition awards include:

• Jury’s Choice Award: Best designs as selected by the event jury. First place ($500), second place ($200), and third place ($100) prizes will be awarded on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
• Designer’s Choice Award: Best design as selected by the votes of floral designers. The prize ($150) will be awarded on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
• People’s Choice Award: Best design as selected by the votes of visitors to Lan Su Chinese Garden. The prize ($150) will be awarded on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

Installation & Removal

The juried designs may be installed beginning at 7:00 AM on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Failure to arrive by 9:00 AM may result in disqualification. Installation must be complete by 10:00 AM of that same day. Removal of designs may not begin until Sunday, November 15, and must be completely removed by 6:00 PM.

A qualified professional will be assisting with and monitoring the installation of all designs. All designs must be of sound structural integrity and must pose no potential harm to exhibition visitors. Any designs not meeting these requirements will be removed.

Designer Expectations

• Designers must be present at Lan Su Chinese Garden from 4:30-7:00 PM (30 minutes before the public start) for the exhibition’s Premiere Evening on Thursday, November 5.
  • Each designer may invite one additional guest at no charge. Additional tickets may be purchased at the Lan Su member discount rate.
  • Designers are expected to remain by their design for the majority of the evening and answer questions about their work.
  • Designers are encouraged, but not required, to be present on November 6-8 from 5:00-7:00 PM for additional Nights of the Golden Flower events.
• Designers may promote themselves and their business including providing standard sized business cards, placed near their work during the entirety of the exhibition.
• Designers will be provided with promotional materials from Lan Su and are strongly encouraged to promote the exhibition to their peer and professional network.
• The winner of the “People’s Choice” award will be announced at 4:00 PM on November 15, 2026.

About the Theme: Golden Blooms upon Autumn Waters

The phrase “golden blooms” is inspired by jinying (金英), a classical Chinese literary term often used to describe golden chrysanthemums. This theme brings together the beauty of chrysanthemums with Lan Su’s water features, reflections, and soft autumn light.

The overall concept is intended to evoke the poetic atmosphere of a Chinese garden in fall, where flowers, water, architecture, and seasonal light come together as one landscape. It reflects ideas of elegance, reflection, tranquility, and the changing beauty of the season.

As artists develop their work or programming for the festival, we hope this theme can serve as a source of inspiration. Possible interpretations might include chrysanthemums, water, reflections, autumn colors, garden scenery, poetry, light, movement, or the relationship between nature and traditional Chinese aesthetics.

Submit Your Floral Design

About the Organizers

PNW Florist Association

Our mission is to promote and support florists and the floral Industry, within the Pacific Northwest Region. The PNWFA will strive to create a community for all florists to be able to network, learn and grow and provide an environment in which we can collaborate in showcasing the talent of our region.

There are many benefits to joining the PNWFA, and more coming as our Association grows. Currently we have a a “find a florist” directory, member directory, marketplace, job postings, freelance page, events calendar relating to industry events and additional resources for florists. Join our community and let us know how we can serve you.

Learn more at www.pnwflorist.com

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland’s greatest treasures and most interesting sites to see while visiting. Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans and is the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony.