Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Don’t Be a Chicken of Chicken Wire
CREATING SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS

Step beyond floral foam and into sustainable design mechanics with instructor Kate Hugo Vernon. In this immersive workshop, participants will learn how to use chicken wire to create strong, flexible stem support without compromising artistry. You’ll master techniques that allow delicate, water-loving blooms — including dahlias, zinnias, and cosmos — to hydrate naturally while maintaining intentional placement and structure. The result: environmentally conscious arrangements with refined control and elevated design.

Fees: Member $77, Non-Member $96

All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden strives to be a Garden for all and we are committed to offering diverse adult learning opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all learners. If you would like to request an accommodation to support your participation in an adult learning opportunity at the Garden, please contact [email protected] or call 804-262-9887 x328 and we will make our best effort to help.

Register Member $77

Register Non-Member $96

Date:
Friday, August 28, 2026
Time:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event Details

All floral materials provided. Please bring clippers and a container that is at least 4″ tall and no more than 6″ wide.

GES: FD, 2, elective*

*This class offers 2 hours of elective credit toward the Garden Education Series: Floral Design Certificate. Non-certificate students are welcome. All levels welcome.

About the Instructor

Although she was surrounded by flower arrangements and cutting gardens from childhood, Kate Hugo Vernon did not expect her degree in 3-D Art to lead to a career in floral design. She worked as a software consultant and mother of five before launching The Arranger’s Market, her online shop, and then her floral design business. Kate’s passion for color and imaginative design soon became apparent in her work for events, in her workshops, and in demonstrations. “This should be easy: Mother Nature has already done the hard part” became her motto as she shared tips on how to simplify the arranging process without sacrificing creative possibilities. In addition to working as a floral designer and proprietor of The Arranger’s Market, Kate now shares floral design tips on social media, where she posts novel ways to display local flowers, greens and veggies and models an approach to arranging that is both sophisticated and fun.

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