flower arranging

Saturdays, January 27, March 9, March 23, & April 13, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Introductory through Advanced Ikebana Open Classes

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Boston Ikebana Open Afternoon Classes in January through April are open to the public and to BSG members. You’ll learn how to create foundational styles of ikebana arrangements. You can either use our share containers and tools or buy your own containers and tools at the beginning of the class. For more advanced students, dive deeper into foundational and advanced arrangement styles. Forms are from the Ohara School curriculum aligned with the certificate level that you are at. It’s an opportunity to focus on advanced techniques and to advance your training. Instructor Russell Bowers is a 3rd Term Master and Instructor of the Ohara School. Each session is $33, and you can register through Eventbrite HERE. The venue is Hope Central Church, 85 Seaverns Avenue in Jamaica Plain, Boston.

Thursday, November 30, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Art in Flower: Finding Inspiration in Art and Nature, Online

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Based on Lindsey Taylor’s popular Wall Street Journal column “Flower School,” on its surface Art in Flower: Finding Inspiration in Art and Nature demonstrates how Taylor creates stunning but achievable floral arrangements inspired by works of art. Riffing on works by a diversity of artists across mediums, periods, and styles, including Alice Neel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julie Mehretu, Sheila Hicks, Willem de Kooning, Georgia O’Keeffe, Frank Stella, Salman Toor, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Kerry James Marshall, among others, Taylor inspires readers to interpret the palettes, compositions, brushstrokes, and mood of the art in flowers, and shares florists’ trade secrets for building beautiful arrangements. Through this meditative practice of looking intently at art and nature, readers learn, in the words of David Hockney, “to really look,” and to really see the world.

Lindsey will speak online November 30 at 2 pm Eastern in a live program sponsored by The Garden Conservancy. $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for general public. A recording of this webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. We encourage you to register, even if you cannot attend the live webinar. Register at www.gardenconservancy.org

Thursday, November 9, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Color, Using it Well

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The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts presents a Designing Workshop on November 9 from 10 – 11:30 at St. Susanna Church, 262 Needham Street in Dedham, entitled Color – Using it Well. What is the first thing that catches your eye in a floral arrangement? Color, of course. This workshop will explore different color schemes—analogous, complementary, and triadic–to
illustrate how to combine colors to create harmonious combinations. The teacher is Ruth Evans, flower show judge and winner of numerous flower show awards. The class includes instruction and floral materials to create your arrangement. $55 until October 20, and thereafter $60 to register. Sign up with a friend. Bring your floral scissors and a way to stabilize your arrangement enroute home (box, cardboard, foam or towels). To register, please mail a check made out to The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc., along with your name, garden club if you are a member, and email address, to Margo Yie, 6 Dancer Farm Drive, Dover, MA 02030. You will receive an acknowledgement and a reminder will be sent near the date. Supplies and flowers are ordered in advance, and refunds are not possible. If at the last minute you can’t attend you may arrange to have a friend pick up your materials, or send another person in your place.

Saturday, October 28, 10:00 am – Floral Design, Principles and Practice

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Join Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur from Artistry Floral on October 28 at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley for a floral design class that covers the principles of design is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to create beautiful and aesthetically pleasing floral arrangements. Understanding these principles is essential for anyone interested in floral design, whether you’re a hobbyist or aspiring to become a professional florist. Together in class, we’ll explore contrast, variety, color theory, textures, and more.  

Class time allows for students to practice and apply these principles in hands-on projects. It’s also a great opportunity to learn about various flower varieties, care techniques, and design styles. Practical experience and feedback from instructors and peers help to develop your skills and creativity in floral design.

Please bring floral scissors and a bucket or box to carry home your arrangement. $75 for Massachusetts Horticultural Society members, $95 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org

Saturday, September 16, 11:00 am – Floral Design: Essentials for Arranging

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Join Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur from Artistry Floral at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Gardens at Elm Bank on September 16 at 11 am to create your own floral display to take home or give away.

Do you want to see your rooms featured in Elle Décor or House Beautiful magazines? The “essentials for arranging” is for you. Together we will look at some of the characteristics of American Tradition Design and explore how the Elements of Design dictate patterns and shapes.  This class is good for beginners with no flower experience necessary but will also allow the experienced arranger a deeper exploration into naturalistic forms and patterns.

In 2016, Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur met as floral associates at the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston. There, studying fundamentals of floristry and working in teams, they designed and executed a variety of art-inspired floral arrangements for certain museum locations as well as restaurants, special events, and holiday installations. Now in the marketplace, they are committed to producing artistic floral creations, using only the highest quality flowers and plants, from local growers and flower producers around the world.

They are also focused on sustainable floral design and eco-friendly floral purchases from wearables to table arrangements, bouquets, and large installations They are inspired to produce arrangements that are unique and designed to honor their clients’ significant events respecting their individual styles while sourcing seasonal flowers and respecting the environment. 

Please bring floral scissors and a bucket or box to carry home your arrangement. $75. Register at www.masshort.org

Sunday, June 4, 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm – Digging Deeper: Eco-Friendly Yard to Vase Floral Design

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In an era in which flowers are shipped globally from industrial production facilities in Holland and South America, conservation-minded florists have begun to appreciate the importance of greensourcing local flowers. This floral design practicum features a lecture on sustainable floristry and a hands-on demonstration on the art of eco-friendly floral design. Garden-to-vase designer Georgia Lee will create a series of arrangements using peonies, irises, azaleas, rhododendrons and greens from Spalding Garden in Milton, Massachusetts, on June 4 from 12 – 2. This Garden Conservancy program is sure to sell out quickly. $30 for Conservancy members, $40 for nonmembers. Guests will learn design principles that focus on mindfully bringing the bounty of the garden into the home. Register at www.gardenconservancy.org.

Saturday, April 8, 10:00 am – 11:45 am – Floral Design: It’s a New Day

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Join Lorraine and Mary Lou from Artistry Floral on April 8 at 10 am for in this Massachusetts Horticultural Society workshop and create your own floral display to take home or give away. We always look forward to a change of seasons –The holidays of early spring are associated with life and the rebirth of nature back into full = blossom. Of course Spring is about traditional daffodils, tulips and Iris – but there’s definitely more to inspire this vibrant time of year. You will take home an arrangement suitable for your home.

In 2016, Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur met as floral associates at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. There, studying fundamentals of floristry and working in teams, they designed and executed a variety of art inspired floral arrangements for certain museum locations as well as the restaurants, special events, and holiday installations. Now in the marketplace, they are committed to producing artistic floral creations, using only the highest quality flowers and plants, from local growers and flower producers around the world. They are also focused on sustainable floral design and eco-friendly floral purchases from wearables to table arrangements, bouquets, and large installations. They are inspired to produce arrangements that are unique and designed to honor their clients’ significant events respecting their individual styles, while sourcing seasonal flowers, and respecting the environment.

The class will take place at the Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley. $75 for Mass Hort members, $95 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org

https://www.artistryfloral.com/our-work

Tuesday, March 28, 1:00 pm – Texture in Floral Design Workshop

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Join Carolyn Ellis on Tuesday, March 28 at 1 pm at The First Lutheran Church of Boston, 299 Berkeley Street, to explore the role of texture in floral design. Create your own arrangement, following Carolyn’s step-by-step demonstration, or use workshop materials to create your own design. All materials, including container, flowers and tools will be provided but if you have favorite flower snips, feel free to bring them. There is a $65.00 non-refundable materials fee for this program.
 

Carolyn has been designing flowers at the Museum of Fine Arts as an MFA Associate for more than ten years. Her work includes flower arrangements for the visitor center and for special events, holiday demonstrations for museum members, and training for incoming floral designers. She has done many Art in Bloom Roadshow demonstrations. Carolyn loves to share the basics of floral design with flower lovers, and one of her teaching videos for LexMedia cable television received an award for excellence in 2021.

This program is for Garden Club of the Back Bay Members Only. For information on joining the Club to entitle you to participate, visit https://www.gardenclubbackbay.org/ Even counting the annual dues into the calculation, this class is good value. Plus, you are contributing to the beautification of the Back Bay and the Club’s commitment to urban tree care. Please rsvp by March 15 and pay the materials fee on Eventbrite by clicking HERE. 

For questions about this program contact Nancy Cyr by clicking HERE. Nancy will keep a waiting list should spaces fill up. Out of respect for our fellow club members, please be sure to let her know if you cannot attend and need to cancel. 

Tickets are non-refundable. If you cannot attend, we will consider your payment a contribution and you will receive an 
acknowledgment. 

Saturday, March 25, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Spring Indoor Garden Workshop with Anna Holmes

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Join Anna Holmes at Highfield Hall in Falmouth on March 25 at 12:30 for this fun, relaxing hands-on workshop about putting together a beautiful miniature indoor garden.  During the workshop Anna will discuss professional design tips, how to source materials, the care of flowers & design, how to calculate product needs and the storage & packaging of containers. The materials will include a combination of flowering plants, upright tropical, trailing tropical, container, moss, curly willow and raffia bow. The actual plant selection is determined based on plant availability.

Space is limited! Pre-registration deadline by March 17th

Register now as this workshop will sell out! $55 for Highfield Hall members, $65 for general public,

Thursday, March 9, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – It’s Your Lucky Day: St. Patrick’s Day Inspired Arrangements

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Join Lorraine and Mary Lou from Artistry Floral for in this Massachusetts Horticultural Society workshop and create your own floral display to take home or give away. You’ll learn the basics of conditioning flowers and see some basic mechanics of floristry through the process of designing a tabletop arrangement. Great opportunity to bring a friend and design together! Explore the ins and outs of floral shapes and cuttings flowers. The event will take place at The Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley on March 9 from 7 – 8:30.  

Please bring floral scissors and a bucket or box to carry home your arrangement. $75 – $95. Register HERE.

In 2016, Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur met as floral associates at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. There, studying fundamentals of floristry and working in teams, they designed and executed a variety of art inspired floral arrangements for certain museum locations as well as the restaurants, special events, and holiday installations. Now in the marketplace, they are committed to producing artistic floral creations, using only the highest quality flowers and plants, from local growers and flower producers around the world.

They are also focused on sustainable floral design and eco-friendly floral purchases from wearables to table arrangements, bouquets, and large installations They are inspired to produce arrangements that are unique and designed to honor their clients’ significant events respecting their individual styles, while sourcing seasonal flowers, and respecting the environment. 

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