Working The Frick Opening with Bowman Dahl

Anya Moschetti, Raleigh, NC | @dearlilyblooms 

My internship with Bowman Dahl was the perfect storm to test everything I’d learned at FlowerSchool NY—in real life, at full speed, with New York’s legends of floral design, Brian Bowman and Dan Dahl, right by their side. 

The five days leading up to the Frick Collection Gala were nothing short of a masterclass in execution. Not just floral design, but timing, team work flows, and operating at a standard where every arrangement had to be not only pretty, but absolutely exquisite. 

And day five? Seven straight hours of install. Eight people, one literally untouchable venue (can’t touch the walls!), over 430 guests. Flowers, lighting crews, hordes of slender 6 '2 bartenders, security—everyone in a quiet stealth mode, fitting their bit of the puzzle into the big gala picture.

So, the biggest takeaways?

That Gloriosa lilies are frightfully hard to detangle... but only the first twenty lol.

That there’s no ego in large-scale floral production. Everyone pulls their weight—from partners to interns. 

Also, standing in a room surrounded by Vermeer and Fragonard masterpieces while installing flowers is… humbling. 

But also magical. My personal ‘kid in a candy store’ kind of a moment. 

So, thank you, Flower School, for the most unforgettable, challenging and glorious 6 weeks of my life.

I’d do the school again in a heartbeat (just gotta book that flight ;)!)

Anya Moschetti is from Raleigh, North Carolina and a graduate of our 2025 Spring I Floral Design Program. Follow her journey on instagram at @dearlilyblooms.

We'd like to also thank Bowman Dahl as a partner of FlowerSchool NY, allowing our students, like Anya, to complete their internships with their studio and work on exciting projects like this.