Last month, we had our first floral design party at the shop. Members of the wine tasting group in Sioux City called Wesip decided to host their monthly get-together at our shop and include a floral design class.

I got to work planning. First question: what flowers and vases to use for the arrangements? It was decided that we would use a white and lime green color pallette (with St. Patricks Day close by) with a pop of plum for color. I also thought it would be fun to use limes in the arrangement to show the students how to incorporate fruit into floral designs. A ceramic, slate grey vase was chosen as a modern vessel for the arrangement. We then prepared “flower recipes” for the arrangements to show students what flowers and greenery to choose for the “Hint of Lime” design. This was not only cute when printed up on little cards at each place but proved very helpful.

We rearranged the shop significantly to accommodate the 15 guests. The tables were set with the “flower recipe cards”, tools and vases. The hosts arrived and set up their food and wine tables beautifully. The guests poured in and mingled while sampling the wines and tasty treats.

I presented a demonstration of how to create a sample floral design. While designing it, I provided information on the flowers and greens being used (white tulips, mini green hydrangeas, white lisianthus, penny cress, salal leaves, white and plum ranunculus, honeysuckle branches, and a white hyacinth for fragrance).

We discussed some basic design strategies and helpful hints along the way too. I then dispatched the group to take their “recipe cards” and head to the “flower market” (an area where we set up all the loose flowers and greens) to pick out their own “ingredients”. I heard quite a few people say they liked that experience of seeing all the flowers in such abundance, getting to select the ones they would use themselves, and overall just enjoying the hands on time with the flowers. I was hoping they would appreciate that because I know it was one of the first things I loved when I started taking floral design classes.

Then the creativity began, and the group set to work on arranging. I heard some say it was their very first flower arrangement they had ever made! How exciting and what a privilege to be able to give them the chance and the confidence to create beauty through flowers. That was probably my favorite part - just watching people be creative and excited about the opportunity to try something new. All made their arrangements differently. They took the demo arrangement and then made the style their own. I was overwhelmed by how well everyone did and so impressed with the group!!! They were impressed with their creations too. Many seemed surprised that they had made something they loved.

And so the evening went on until the last person was finished. A bit more conversation and wine, and the night came to a happy, contented end.

This year we hope to hold more design classes and parties at the shop to share our love of natural beauty with the community. In fact, some exciting news is that we will be holding a Mother’s Day class on May 7th from 4-6pm (after our Mother’s Day flower sale that day). We will be discussing the language of flowers, its history, and its present day applications for sending messages through flowers. I will provide a demonstration on making a “tussie mussie”, and then students will create their own “messages”. We will have a contest to decipher the one I make for the demonstration, and then the students can challenge each other to decipher the ones they make. It should be a nice way to spend time with your mother, grandmothers, or your children creating beauty together and talking in a secret language amongst each other. Registration begins this Saturday during our April Sale from 10-3pm. First come, first served. Limited seats available.

If you have questions, or other requests for private flower arranging parties, please call Mercedes at 712-251-9922. Join our email list below to stay up to date on future flower classes and parties.

A Wine Tasting and Flower Arranging Class!