REPRESENTATION, TALENT, FAITH, AND A WIN
What a time to know who you are and represent accordingly. 2021 had a bumpy start. From unsettled weather in unexpected places and more. The uptick of interest in inclusivity, as well as the acknowledgment of accomplishments in the minority community, have caught the attention of many. Receiving attention for the wins…and not just the losses warrant a sigh of relief in my book. It also makes me emotional at times. As an African American woman, I realize more and more that representation matters.
Wambui Ippolito is a friend. She is one proud African woman who will tell you, her story. The awareness along the way of her journey as she cleared a path in the world of horticulture is amazing. This strong, opinionated woman knows who she is and what she wants. Wambui is also conscientious about how faith plays a role in making her desires possible. Seeing Wambui first thing in the morning, on the day after she won Best in Show was priceless. We had a few moments to rejoice in her win for a few moments.
As I listened to her share this journey, tears began to fall from my eyes. Wiping them away and listening to explain the process was quite the treat. The emotion of seeing a woman who looked like me in a winning position at the Philadelphia Flower Show was just surreal. Wambui explained how The Village stepped up and made the path easier for her to do the best she could. If you are not familiar with the term The Village, in this instance, it is a collective of experienced, connected African American community members who know how to get it done. In addition, Wambui had the help of friends in the world of horticulture to find supplies, have things made especially for this event, and more. The Village helped make a heavy lift, a little lighter. Classmates from the School of Professional Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden to friends from the neighborhood made it clear, this ask was right on time.
Wambui shared with me the prayer meeting with friends. They came and prayed that she would win something. Even with positive assistance from The Village, friends, and partners, Wambbui allowed her faith to guide her. Wambui knew that she needed to pray in gratitude for accomplishing such a large lift, as well as for The Village that helped her. The prayers were answered. Not just for Wambui, but for other African Americans to be proud of no matter the profession. You see, we have consistently had roles behind the scenes, the after-hours caretakers, and are seldom recognized. In this instance, the Village stepped in and uplifted her to unknown expectations. Wambui winning has made quite a few women and other minorities in horticulture become confident they CAN win!
Funny thing, as we were chatting there were so many people passing by whispering “there she is…that’s Wambui”. These words simply melted my heart. A woman from South Carolina was in attendance and she was ecstatic to meet Wambui in person. She had tickets to the Philadelphia Flower Show to celebrate her birthday, which had long passed. This woman was clearly ecstatic in receiving the delayed birthday gift of meeting Wambui. I eased away so that others could enjoy spending time with my friend and hearing how happy she was at unexpectedly winning.
Wambui did it her way and focused on being true to herself and her vision. Creating a display to inspire and easy to emulate. Utilizing her knowledge of design, plants, and past experiences, Wambui won. I am certain when it is time to stop, Wambui will breathe a sigh of relief and sleep quite well.
Honestly, The Village needed this. With so much negativity in the air, a positive anything was long overdue. For once this had nothing to do with gun violence, crime, or anything negative. In my opinion, Wambui created a display that will hopefully heal any thoughts of self-doubt that winning was not an achievable goal. Any avid gardener is aware of the healing power found in the garden. Gardens introduce us to new things and shared experiences. It also inspires us to grow plants that bring us joy. ‘Etherea’, designed by Wambui Ippolito has given us a few ideas of what we can incorporate into our own green spaces.
One of the volunteers, an African American woman, caught my attention. I spoke, she just shook her head and smiled. When I asked her how she was doing, she only answered “We won”. I smiled. As we were both masked, we simply embraced each other. The kind of joy felt when we are recognized…sometimes, there are no words. The unspoken words were felt, not heard.
I am so glad that in the historic year of the Philadelphia Flower Show being held outdoors, Wambui won inside the heart of many attendees. Imagine the possibilities as other creatives step up to show what they can do. I think this is a new day for the world of horticulture. The door has been opened, the stage has been set, and the opportunities are endless.
The joy of knowing Wambui won makes me smile. Thank you, PHS Judges! Thank you Wambui, for setting a fearless example of what can occur if one simply lays the groundwork, has faith, and makes an effort.
The 2022 Philadelphia Flower Show will be another year of inspiration through horticulture. I look forward to seeing more diverse exhibits as designers express themselves in the best of their work.
Congratulations to Wambiu and all the designers who participated in the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show.
