Flower School of New York - NYC Floral Design and Flower Arrangement Classes

Treat yourself to a unique opportunity working with one of the best floral designers in the business, Ariella Chezar, in an upcoming workshop in beautiful Sonoma, California. This three-day workshop, from June 12th- 14th, will teach students how to arrange centerpiece flowers using Ariella’s signature compote, the process of creating a soft cascading bridal bouquet and wedding garlands, and finally how to create an overall event concept and and environment.

Below, Ariella describes the impact of this event, what students will learn, and how they will expand upon their skills:

“During the three days, participants will be immersed in my design style and sense of color using flowers that I love. One day will focus on centerpieces, the next on bridal flowers, and the third on what comes into play when conceiving of a whole event. We will take inspiration from two life size design boards, (which will be designed in collaboration with Kathryn Storke whose blog Snippet and Ink is known for it’s gorgeous color boards) one for a modern, and one for a romantic design. La Tavola Linens and Classic Party Rentals are donating their products, so there will be a great selection of rentals for students to incorporate into the designs.  Students will come away with understanding my approach to creating bridal bouquets and centerpieces as well as my technique for layering colors tone and tone.”

For more information or to register (there are still a few spots left!) see the full trip brochure here.

Petals Floral & Party Design in Locust Valley, NY is looking for a motivated and well experienced floral designer for their busy, up-scale store on Long Island. This person must be able to help with wedding preparations and store management.

In addition to floral care and design, this individual must have knowledge of the business, day to day operations, good computer and phone skills. Must be dependable, punctual, and without issues and dependencies.

Full time/ Part time

Weekends are a must.

Contact Petals directly to apply with prior experiences, skills and salary requirements.

516 674 9325

Spring is certainly in the air, and here at FlowerSchool we are in anticipation of all the excitement and promise it brings. Although these beautiful 60 degree days may have come upon us a little early, it is hard not to get excited with the daffodils sprouting and branches in bloom. With the beginning of spring, comes our spring and summer programming too! A highlight being our first annual trip to Holland.

Bruges, Belgium

This whole week we have been putting the finishing touches on our trip, and it keeps on getting better and better. While we are in Ghent, learning from some of Belgium’s finest and most accomplished florists, we thought it was too great an opportunity to not visit the neighboring city of Bruges as well. Well boy were we right! Scouting for restaurants and chocolate shops in this historic and medieval city was too much fun. This is certainly going to be a trip for the senses between the flowers, food and chocolate!

Check out this recent New York Times article: 36 Hours in Bruges.

The flowering plant has only existed on earth for the last 100 million years.   As hard as it is for me to think of a world with no flowers, it’s true.

Varieties of flowering plans have come and gone over that time.  Recently, Russian scientists were able to bring back a plant that existed on this earth 32,000 years ago.

Any idea of what variety of cut flower we use today it looks most like?

What is it about the act of giving and receiving flowers that is so moving and poignant?  Flowers have the uncanny ability to change people’s perspective, impact lives, and create memories.

Artist Lee Mingwei reflects these sentiments in his new work The Moving Garden currently on show at the Brooklyn Museum. In this installation the garden is literally moving, from one person to another, connecting strangers through the act gift giving.  Visitors to the museum are encouraged to pick a flower from the garden, but asked to accomplish two tasks as a result.  First, the visitor must make a detour from their intended route once leaving the museum, and second they must give the flower to a stranger who they think would benefit from an unexpected act of generosity. The experience of giving the flower and watching the stranger receive the unexpected gift is yours to enjoy.

The Moving Garden is now on view through January 22nd.  During his recent travels, Mingwei took the time to speak with FlowerSchool New York answering a few questions about his project and artistic process:

How did you start working with flowers and why?
The Moving Garden is the second project that I used flower as the main medium for my projects. The first project  was called ” 100 Days with Lily” in 1993.  The origination of the project came about when I was asked to propose a project for the Lyon Biennale 2009.  When they invited me to do a site visit to Lyon, I was so taken by the blooming wisteria that dotted along the hills.  Also, one afternoon, when I was sitting along the Rhone River, I can never forget the sight of hundred of roses floating down the river.  I often wondered what was the occasion, could it be from a wedding?

What makes flowers particularly unique and special?
Flowers have life of their own, their beauty and rarity are amplified when juxtaposed against the fact that they will wither soon after.

What is it about giving and receiving flowers that remains such an intriguing and special interaction?
I think giving and receiving flowers belong to the “transformative” gift giving process.  The giver and the receiver both are transformed, in some way of another, by the process.

Do you have plans to work with flowers in any future projects?
I truly enjoyed having flowers as a part of my project, I would love to use it again when the inspiration comes.

Do you have a favorite flower? What is it and why?
White plum blossoms is my favorite flower.  It is because it has such an important existence in classical Taiwanese art and literature.  Plum blossom has been the muse for great many poets.  I also love its faint aroma floating in the winter air.

Happy Thanksgiving to all FlowerSchool New York students, alum, and teachers! Here’s a little flower knowledge to go with your turkey!

the mayflower

On August 15, 1620 the Mayflower and the Speedwell set sail toward a new world of opportunity and beginnings. Although the Speedwell was forced to turn back to England, the Mayflower persevered across the sea for sixty-six days, many of which were stormy and treacherous, until landing in Cape Cod on November 11th 1620.

The boat’s namesake, the mayflower, is a very fragrant and delicate wildflower with white petals and pink center better known as a Trailing Arbutus. It is of course fitting that this bud is the Massachusetts state flower, but unfortunately it is actually quite rare and was placed on the endangered list in 1925. The flower requires an acidic, peaty soil in a shady place, and seems to like to grow alongside hemlock.

The mayflower may have been a plant sought after by the Mayflower pilgrims as it is said that the dried leaves were used as a tonic and the Cherokees used the herb for treating stomach illness in children.

The ship Speedwell was also named after a flower, a Figwort known as Veronica Officinalis.

Veronica Officinalis

Last Thursday Cal, Eileen and I had the opportunity to see Lewis Miller’s studio in full swing for the launch of designer Samuelle‘s new bridal collection.  It was an enchanted event with the glow of candlelight and canopy of oak leaves.  When we arrived Lewis greeted us and pointed in the direction of the champagne, commenting that he preferred the glasses garnished with the anise pod as, “…it tastes just like autumn in a glass.”

It was a beautiful night of design, decor, food and of course dessert.

Above:  Autumn in a glass

Phoebe Crary, of Opalia Flowers, is starting up her internship program.  This is a great opportunity for someone looking to learn about working in a small flower shop.

Many of the Opalia Flowers interns have been hired as designers so this might be a great opportunity for someone who would eventually seek employment in this environment.

The next two available dates are as follows:

November Internship dates:  Tuesday, Nov. 14 – Friday, Dec. 2

December Internship dates:  Tuesday, Dec. 6 – Friday, Dec. 23

Please contact FlowerSchool NY for additional information.

Like flower growers in the United States, McCoy pottery is synonymous with American heritage and tradition.  In April 1910, Nelson McCoy, with his father, J. W. McCoy, established the Nelson McCoy Sanitary and Stoneware Company in Roseville, Ohio. In addition to mining clay, the company produced utilitarian stoneware that is easily recognized today with its vibrant glazes, varieties of colors, and particular uniqueness of the maker.

McCoy pottery was operated by the McCoy family for 57 years until it was sold in 1967 to the owners of the Mt. Clemens Pottery Co., and again later sold to Designer Accents of New Jersey, which closed its doors in 1990. Despite the closing of the company, McCoy pottery continues to be seen as an American tradition and is highly sought after today.

This is why it was fitting to select our own unique McCoy vases to arrange some beautiful local anemones from Battenfeld’s farm in upstate New York. Like the McCoy family, the Battenfeld’s have been family farmers in this country for more than one hundred years, and is now welcoming their 5th generation to the trade . Their tradition of growing goes back to the family’s determined patriarch, Conrad Battenfeld, who came to America from Germany with his wife Elizabeth in the 1880′s. Conrad first began harvesting vegetables and fruit; then decided to grow violets in the beginning of the 19th century, as it was the most popular flower of that time.  After World War II the popularity of violets faded, and the family began growing the anemones we know today. For the past 40 years Battenfeld’s has blossomed into the a premier developer and harvester of hybrid anemones, which are carefully selected, hand-picked, and shipped fresh-cut direct from the farm.

Together, McCoy pottery and Battenfeld anemones are symbols of longstanding American tradition, hard work, and incredible design.

And speaking of McCoy, we just had to add this image of Spring Peonies (southern hemisphere anyway) popping out of another McCoy from our collection.