The Yacht Club de Monaco was transformed into a garden of celestial beauty this past weekend as the 57th International Bouquet Competition — organised by the Garden Club de Monaco under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II and the presidency of the Princess of Hanover — drew floral artists from across Europe to compete under the theme ‘Céleste’.
Prince Albert II and the Princess of Hanover toured the stands alongside Marco Casiraghi, Cécilia Casiraghi, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Minister of State Christophe Mirmand and Christiane da Luz, pausing to engage with participants whose compositions interpreted the poetry of the sky, light and celestial beauty across seven categories — from ‘L’Orage’ (The Storm) to ‘Les Aurores Boréales’ (The Northern Lights).
The prize-giving
The Princess of Hanover took to the stage to present the awards. The Grand Prix Général and Prix Princesse Grace de Monaco were among the evening’s most coveted distinctions, with Gold Insignia awarded across all seven categories. Standout winners included Frédérique de Chambure and Maryse Gras in the storm-themed opening category, Fabienne Obry of Bordeaux for her lunar pedestal composition, and Francesca Barinci of Livorno for her eclipse-inspired creation.
In the table decoration category — Dîner sous les Étoiles — Federico Silvestri of Alassio took gold, while Geneviève Antona of the Garden Club de Monaco claimed the top prize for the evocative Lune Rousse sur la Mer category. Giuseppina Granero of Italy won gold in the Northern Lights category.
Young talent takes the stage
The competition’s youth categories drew entries from Monaco’s next generation of floral artists, with children aged six to 14 competing in their own divisions under the theme Le Soleil. In the six-to-nine age group, Sacha Blasco took gold ahead of Carla Tavernier and Alice Pliner. Among the 10-to-14-year-olds, Charlène Barois claimed the top prize, with Sky Janssens in silver and Rose Deluga in bronze.
The exhibition remained open to the public until 18:30 on Sunday at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
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Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier