Class Schedule November 2025 – April 2026

NEW! Thanksgiving Centerpiece Floral Design Workshop | November 24 | IN-PERSON

Celebrate the spirit of the season by creating a stunning, handmade centerpiece in this workshop that brings together creativity, community, and the rich beauty of fall. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn to design a lush, seasonal arrangement using autumnal blooms, textural foliage, and natural elements that reflect the warmth and abundance of the holiday table. Instructor: Kate Hugo Vernon

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Holiday Wreath Workshop | December 6 | Morning OR Afternoon | IN-PERSON

Create a unique holiday wreath to elevate your seasonal decor! Designer David Pippin will guide you in using common evergreens to create a base wreath on a straw form. You’ll add a variety of beautiful accent greens cut from the Garden’s collections and various festive decorations. We’ll have cookies, hot cider and hot chocolate available (included) to snack on while you work on your wreath. This workshop sells out every single year and we’re only offering two sessions, so be sure to reserve your spot soon! Instructor: David Pippin

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NEW! Festive Flair: Holiday Centerpiece Workshop | December 9 | Morning OR Afternoon | IN-PERSON

Wow your friends and family with a gorgeous, long-lasting, festive holiday centerpiece created under the expert guidance of local designer, David Pippin.  Learn how to incorporate evergreens from the garden as well as the local floral shop as the base for a long-lasting centerpiece. After working with the greenery, participants will choose from cones, berries, fresh flowers, and ribbons to give their arrangement their own unique style and festive flair. Instructor: David Pippin

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NEW! Locally Grown Dried Flower Winter Wreath Workshop | December 13 | IN-PERSON

Create a one-of-a-kind dried flower wreath to showcase your creativity and add seasonal flair to your early winter or holiday decor, all while supporting a local flower farm. Designer Conner Parrish of Blossoming Roots Flower Farm will guide you in using dried flower material from the farm to create a base wreath on a grapevine form. You’ll add a variety of distinct dried flowers harvested from the farm and various seasonal decorations. Instructor: Conner Parrish

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Basic Floral Design, Part 1 | January 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 OR January 22, 27, 29, February 5, 19  | IN-PERSON

Learn how to create the basic shapes and styles of floral designs — the building blocks for true creativity — with floral designer Mimi Cassick. This course will introduce you to techniques and styles commonly used by professionals. Learn preparation techniques, how to create basic shapes and how to prepare flowers for long-lasting arrangements. Instructor: Mimi Cassick

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Fruit-Full Designs | January 16 | IN-PERSON

In this hands-on course, Kate Hugo Vernon, owner of The Arranger’s Market, introduces students to the art of embellishing designs with fruits and berries, adding unexpected color, texture, and a touch of whimsy. Suitable for all skill levels, the class covers techniques for securing fruits to arrangements, choosing berries that complement floral designs, and learning to appreciate the unique colors and textures that fruits and berries provide, especially in winter, when flowers are in short supply. Instructor: Kate Vernon

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NEW! Open-Hearted Designs | February 6 | IN-PERSON 

Explore the beauty of contemporary floral arranging through the graceful shape of the heart. In this workshop, instructor Kate Hugo Vernon will focus on open design principles — using space as an element of style — while creating arrangements that feel both modern and deeply expressive. With flowers as your medium, you’ll learn how to balance form, line, and negative space to craft a heart-shaped design that breathes with elegance and emotion. Instructor: Kate Vernon

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NEW! Cluster Bunch: Groupings for Big Impact | February 17 | IN-PERSON

Learn to cluster like flowers and foliage together in an arrangement for a big impact! David Pippin will demonstrate ways to use a variety of flowers and foliage in this creative take on a traditional arrangement. Instructor: David Pippin

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Basic Floral Design, Part 2 | February 17, 19, 24, 26, March 3 | IN-PERSON 

Explore the elements and principles of design and floral techniques such as focal area, grouping, and basing with floral designer Mimi Cassick. Create designs including an asymmetrical design, a contemporary spray, a crescent-shaped design, a horizontal centerpiece, and a naturalistic landscape design. This course emphasizes specific placement of materials and how they pull the viewer’s eye through the design, using the elements and principles of design and floral techniques. Instructor: Mimi Cassick

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NEW! Two Colors: Endless Possibilities | March 6 | IN-PERSON

Green and white take center stage in this engaging floral design workshop. Discover how a selective color scheme can open up new avenues for creativity and design expression. Using this focused approach, instructor Kate Hugo Vernon will highlight how the simplicity of a limited color palette can lead to strikingly cohesive and alluring designs. Instructor: Kate Vernon

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Spring Dried Flower Wreaths | March 15 | IN-PERSON

Create a one-of-a-kind spring dried flower wreath to showcase your creativity and support for a local flower farm! Designer Conner Parrish of Bloomistry will guide you in using dried flower material from the farm to create a base wreath on a grapevine form. You’ll add a variety of distinct spring dried flowers harvested from the farm and various seasonal decorations. Instructor: Conner Parrish

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NEW! Foliage Focus | March 17 | IN-PERSON

Flowers aren’t always needed to create a beautiful arrangement. Winter and St. Patrick’s Day are the perfect time to celebrate foliage and the many shades of green that exist. David Pippin will discuss some of his favorites from the florist and the garden before demonstrating how to create a successful arrangement. If you have a favorite foliage in your garden, please bring a piece for “show and tell.” Instructor: David Pippin

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Nuts and Bolts of Floral Design | March 17, 24, 31, April 7 | IN-PERSON

Join this course after completing Basic Floral Design, Parts I & II, (or other previous floral arranging experience) to continue exploring elements and principles of floral design with instructor Mimi Cassick. Learn how to plan floral designs or arrangements including how to choose your flowers, how to know how many flowers to buy, and how to create a theme for your floral arrangements. We’ll also explore new trends in floral design, preparing you to create stunning, trendy floral arrangements that impress! Instructor: Mimi Cassick

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Springtime Baskets | April 3, Morning OR Afternoon | IN-PERSON

It’s time to fill your basket with some bright and beautiful flowers and foliage! With this arrangement, you may be as traditional or creative as you wish. David Pippin will share techniques on how to achieve both looks to suit your style. Take home your lush basket arrangement, certain to enhance your springtime decor. Instructor: David Pippin

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NEW! Sogetsu Ikebana: Basic Floral Arranging | April 15 | IN-PERSON

The art of Ikebana Floral Arrangement has been practiced for more than 600 years. There are hundreds of schools, many of which were established and reached the western world in the early part of the twentieth century. The Sogetsu School was established in 1926. Although the school has a very structured training course, the course’s introductory statement that Sogetsu can be created anytime, anywhere, by anyone in any part of the world and with any kind of material, is an inspiring philosophy that encourages creativity. Instructor: Annette Ernst

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Locally Grown Hand-Tied Bouquets | April 16 | IN-PERSON

Learn the step-by-step process of creating a free-flowing, organic-style bouquet, paying special attention to shape and movement. Design your bouquet using the best locally grown blooms and foliage available. Instructor Svetlana Green will share helpful tips and tricks on flower handling and care, choosing a color palette, and creating a well-rounded design. You’ll leave this class with the basics of floral design mastered and a gorgeous hand-tied bouquet to carry home and enjoy! Instructor: Svetlana Green

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Embracing Asymmetry | April 24 | IN-PERSON

In this hands-on course, led by Kate Hugo Vernon, owner of The Arranger’s Market, students will break out of their traditional boxes and triangles and create dynamic, asymmetrical designs. Using seasonal materials such as budding branches and blooming bulbs, the course will focus on how to construct arrangements that are balanced without being symmetrical and lush without being fussy. Topics will include how to create focal points, line, and movement, but the emphasis will be on learning to follow the natural flow of plant materials. Instructor: Kate Hugo Vernon

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NEW! Flower Crown Workshop | April 25 | IN-PERSON

Join Conservatory Horticulturist Clare Reines for a day of flower crowns! Learn to make your own flower crown using real flowers. Clare will teach you how to choose flowers that will hold their color while also holding their shape as they dry into a forever-lasting flower crown. Instructor: Clare Reines