Notes for Agents and Volunteers Leading Sweet Mississippi Floral Design Workshops

This project is similar to the design you learned and practiced in Four Seasons of Floral Design training using the ivy bowl container.

This project is specific: it uses a specified bouquet of flowers grown by participating Mississippi flower farms. The container for the project is a glass ivy bowl or similar container. The workshop fee is $25 per person. Participants are expected to bring a pair of scissors to class.

Learning Objectives (4)

Participating students will:

1. Learn about the source of flowers used in the workshop, a participating Mississippi flower farm.
   • Provide learners with contact information about the flower farm and associated products.
2. Understand the importance of clean water and how vase water bacteria clogs water-conducting vessels at the cut end of the stem.
   • Relate to learners that bacteria grows quickly in vase water, particularly if there is no flower food. Vases must be washed every 3 days, replacing water and re-cutting stems at the same time.
3. Create a proportionate design. Generally, the arrangement should be 1½ times the height of the container. An arrangement in a 3-inch-high container should measure approximately 5 inches in height when finished.
   • Demonstrate the process of making the design 1½ to 2 times the height of the container, and point out the proper height of the design. Use visual aids like rulers or tape measures.
4. Enjoy the floral design process.
   • Highlight elements of design: color, pattern, form, texture, space, line, fragrance. Always congratulate learners for trying and participating!

Example Text to Advertise This Course

Use the following text to advertise the Sweet Mississippi Flower Bowl course in your county!

Sweet Mississippi Flower Bowl, XYZ County

Learn how to arrange cut flowers in this hands-on workshop! Participants will create a charming arrangement featuring Mississippi-grown flowers. Learn the proper methods of keeping flowers fresh and proportionate to the floral container. Bring your scissors. $25 per person. Seats are limited and, due to perishability of flowers, registration closes 1 week before the class. Sorry, no refunds.

Steps to Floral Workshop Success

• Set the workshop date based on your schedule and your stakeholders’ wishes. The workshop lasts about 11/2 hours, but schedule it for 2 hours.
• Contact your nearest participating flower grower to discuss “Sweet Mississippi” flower bunch availability at least 1 month before the workshop.
• Set participant minimum and maximum.
• Set the registration deadline for about 1 week before the workshop.
• Coordinate and report the following information to Dr. Jim DelPrince in order to have your workshop added to the MSU Extension Registration Portal:
  • Date, time, location, maximum number of registrations.
• Charge participants $25 per person. You will provide extra cut foliage, one Sweet Mississippi bunch (pick up from grower), and one vase per person (sent from Coastal R&E Center).
• MSU Coastal will pay for cut flowers, containers, and container shipping.
• Do not accept walk-ins. Participants must register using the MSU Extension Registration Portal only.
• Notify participants that there are no refunds for this workshop. If someone cannot make the workshop, suggest they send a friend in their place or pick up their flowers from the office.
• Coordinate flower pick-up the day before or the day of the workshop. Bring buckets to the flower farm to hold and transport the cut flower bunches. Growers do not provide buckets. Keep flowers in water at all times.
• Store flowers in a cool place, away from fruits and vegetables.
• Take photos during the workshop. Post to social media and share in quarterly Four Seasons of Floral Design reports.

No travel expense is included in this program. Consider funding with your routine travel budget, but be sure to get approval from your district office.

Sweet Mississippi Flower Bowl Class Handout

Floral Science

Bacteria grows quickly in vase water when submerged leaves are allowed to remain.

As bacterial slime grows, it can clog the open, water-conducting vessels at the cut end of the stem.

Always remove any foliage that falls below the water line in vase arrangements.

Commercial flower food is helpful. It has three main ingredients:

• Carbohydrate provides “food” for energy so that flowers can bloom.
• Citric acid slows the growth of bacteria.
• Biocide helps to keep bacterial growth in check but is effective for only a few days.

Wash vases about every 3 days, and re-cut the stems when you place them in fresh water.

Floral Design Principles

The rule of thumb to keep a vase arrangement proportional is to make the design 1½ to 2 times the height of the container. An arrangement in a 3-inch-tall container should measure approximately 5–6 inches in height when finished.

Floral Fun

Enjoy the floral design process.

Nature is full of beauty to delight the spirit. Continue to live with flowers and try new design styles!

Participating Mississippi Flower Growers

• Little Bluestem Farm, Beth Foose, Carthage, MS | Leake County, littlebluestemfarmms@gmail.com, (662) 571-3413, Flowers available May–October
• Happy Trails Flower Farm, Tanis Clifton, Dennis, MS | Tishomingo County, sales@happytrailsflowerfarm.com, (662) 279-3668, Flowers available May–November
• Coastal Ridge Flower Farm, Terri and Dave Doyle, Picayune, MS | Hancock County, doylescoastalridge@gmail.com, (601) 918-3770, Flowers available May–October
• Twelve2 Farm, Dana Nowell, Canton, MS |Madison County, twelve2farm@gmail.com, (769) 447-8444, Flowers available February–October

If you would like your Mississippi flower farm included in this program, please contact Dr. Jim DelPrince at j.delprince@msstate.edu.

MSU Extension Publications of Interest to Floral Enthusiasts

Search the Extension Publication page for the following publication numbers.

• Boxwood Topiary Design (P3047)
• Creating an Evergreen Swag (P3247)
• Cut Ornamental Floral Design Materials for South Mississippi (P3226)
• Farmer Florists and Wedding Consultations (P3099)
• Floral Design Coloring Book (P3240)
• Floral Design with Sunflowers and Zinnias (P3251)
• Floral Designs for Christmastime (P3237)
• Glycerin-Preserved Foliage (P3039)
• How to Design a Closed-System Terrarium (P3253)
• Stock for the Farmer Florist (P3252)
• Using a Knife to Cut Fresh Flowers (P3121)

The information given here is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products, trade names, or suppliers are made with the understanding that no endorsement is implied and that no discrimination against other products or suppliers is intended.

Publication 3314 (POD-07-26)

By James M. DelPrince, PhD, AIFD, PFCI, Extension Horticulture Specialist and Associate Extension Professor, Coastal Research and Extension Center.