Authors, Artists & Photographers

We are grateful to the creative team that envisioned and produced Sending Flowers to America. (Download photos and documents from our MEDIA page.)

Authors / Artists / Photographers

JDP Photography

Project manager Peggi Ridgway authored the main chronological history, sidebar stories and many of the family stories published in the book Sending Flowers to America. She also managed the entire project from its inception and creative development to printing and production.

Peggi has served as editor of The Bloomin' News, the bi-monthly newsmagazine of the Los Angeles Flower Market, since 1999 and is an award-winning free lance writer of more than 500 feature articles and the author of several business books. As founder and general manager of the Buena Park, CA-based graphics firm of Wordpix Solutions and former editor with the Tulsa, OK-based Continental Heritage Press publishing firm, she's written hundreds of corporate histories and designed and produced many newsletters and books. She's a veteran free lance writer with many published articles. As a corporate history editor, she helped produce the hardbound collector edition pictorial history books, The San Antonio Story, Tulsa Spirit, Tulsa 75, The Saint Louis Portrait and Des Moines: Capital City; several annual pictorial book-style calendars; and Tulsa Magazine. Email

As project manager for Sending Flowers to America, Peggi worked closely with her colleague and associate writer for the project Jan Works, with book artist Theresa Padilla Fajardo, cover artist Michael Wheary, photographer Julie Diebolt Price and historical photography sources, the families of early Los Angeles Flower Market growers, sellers and retailers, and countless others to produce a book of historical importance and lasting appreciation.

She resides in Buena Park, California.

Authors / Artists / Photographers

JDP Photography

Jan Works of Works' Words, a marketing communications and publishing support service in business since 1986, is author of most of the family and company stories featured in the Profiles section of the book, Sending Flowers to America.

Jan is an accomplished writer for both business-to-business and consumer audiences, and has written editorial text, marketing collateral, public relations and advertising copy for clients in a variety of industries. She is also an experienced corporate journalist, having written feature stories, historical backgrounders and employee newsletters for companies such as Canon, Aerojet and Ikon Office Solutions. She has written for The Bloomin’ News. Jan is also an experienced self-publisher, as editor and co-publisher (with her husband) of four books on sport skydiving, as well as a newsletter with international distribution. She has also edited and produced books on a Chinese medicinal mushroom and an historical biography of a Montana homesteader.

It was Jan's privilege, beginning in early 2007, to visit with the old-timers and families of those who founded and grew the American Florists' Exchange / Los Angeles Flower Market back in the 1920s and through recent years. She recorded those interviews and wrote the individual stories and experiences that made Sending Flowers to America a fascinating historical reference.

She resides in Fullerton, California.

Authors / Artists / Photographers

Most of the more than 350 historical photos displayed in Sending Flowers to America were loaned to us by their owners, the individuals and descendents of families whose stories are shared in this unique book. Much of the current photography of the Market featured in the book was done on-site in 2007 by award-winning photographer Julie Diebolt-Price, president of JDP Photography, Tustin, California.

JDP Photography

Julie Diebolt Price is an educator, community leader, mentor and passionate traveler. Julie's flair for excellence and her cutting-edge techniques earn her rave reviews for her work. She's earned industry awards at both the national and regional levels.

Julie was the photographer behind most of the full page florals that appear at the beginning of each new chapter and section in the book, as well as a number of the current day photos sprinkled throughout Chapter 7, "Changing Neighborhoods."

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Peggi Ridgway, of Wordpix Solutions, the book project manager, was the photographer for most of the photography featured in Chapter 8, "Today's Flower Market," as well as several of the full page florals.

Authors / Artists / Photographers

Theresa Padilla Fajardo skillfully executed the book design and page layouts for Sending Flowers to America, a year long project that she was delighted to contribute to.

Theresa is an independent business person who works closely with corporations and business owners on such projects as the design and production of newsletters, brochures and other printed materials. She has also had the opportunity to work in the entertainment industry gaining familiarity with various media including make-up art for film and computer graphics for CD/DVD layouts. She resides in Buena Park, CA.

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Michael D. Wheary of Foresight Design, applied his creative imagination and skill to the design of the cover of Sending Flowers to America. Charged with the task of displaying no less than eight specific historical photos, important for their connection to the founding and early growth of the Los Angeles Flower Market, Michael expertly incorporated them into a cover with contemporary appeal. Michael is based in Winter Park, Florida.

Sending Flowers to America was printed by Four Colour Imports in Louisville, Kentucky, and Everbest Printing, China.