AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — With a flick of the wrist, Jim DelPrince perfectly placed a stem into a large floral bouquet. In front of a crowd of onlookers, he inspected his work, judged it finished and hand-tied the grouping.

A horticulture specialist with Mississippi State University Extension Service, DelPrince demonstrated floral arranging during an event in Montgomery recently. He visited the state at the request of Mallory Kelley, a home horticulture agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University.

Jim DelPrince demonstrated arranging floral centerpieces and hand-tied bouquets.

“Jim has spearheaded the Master Floral Designer Program, starting it at Mississippi State,” Kelley said. “We knew there was interest in bringing it across the Southeast, and we wanted Jim to know he was welcome to spread the word here in Alabama. As a home horticulture agent, I teach people how to grow plants. When it comes to arranging them, I’m still learning, too.”

Foundations of Master Floral Designer

Along with teaching foundations of floral arranging, the goal of the event in Montgomery was to gauge interest in the Master Floral Designer Program. It is structured similarly to the Master Gardener program.

“Once the plant material has been severed from the parent plant, it becomes ours,” DelPrince said of the connection between the two programs. “The Master Floral Designer program helps people learn floral design the right way — through a measured, step-by-step approach. The amount of information you can learn and the skills you can build in floral design is immense.”

With three phases, the Master Floral Designer Program includes educational courses, hands-on training and a commitment to continued learning and volunteerism.

Phases of the Program

Alabama Extension Home Horticulture Agent Mallory Kelley explains the hands-on demonstration during the floral design workshop.

The Phase I educational courses on floral design theory must be completed online.

Since floral arranging is a hands-on art form, Phase II requires in-person attendance for four days of projects, including tabletop arrangements and hand-tying. Phase II currently takes place in Biloxi, Mississippi, and is offered three times annually.

“Our classes are pretty fun, and they build camaraderie,” DelPrince said. “In a floral design course, you learn from your classmates as much as you learn from the teacher. Everyone is working on the same project, but you get to see so many variations.”

As states work together to grow the program, Kelley said Alabama may become a future host site for Phase II programming.

“Just like Master Gardener started in one state and has spread nearly all across the country, that’s the dream for Master Floral Designer,” Kelley said. “Right now, the program is young. It was created in 2017 in Mississippi. Since we’re neighboring states, it just makes sense to bring Master Floral Designer here to Alabama, as long as there is enough interest.”

Phase III requires 40 hours of volunteerism, which can include teaching or continuing education in floral design. Once completed, Master Floral Designers are required to volunteer 20 hours a year to maintain certification.

Gauging Interest

Montgomery County Master Gardeners Beth Chancey, left, and Lea Ingram attended the floral design workshop.

Every year, home horticulture agents with Alabama Extension host numerous floral arranging workshops, which are well-attended. The informational meeting about the Master Floral Designer Program in Montgomery was no different. The sell-out crowd of 52 people enjoyed the presentation as well as demonstrations by DelPrince and Kelley. Lea Ingram and Beth Chancey, both Montgomery County Master Gardeners, attended the meeting.

“We were so excited for Jim DelPrince to come speak with our group,” Chancey said. “His program was really informative and fun, and then Mallory followed it up with our own floral arranging activity. I already work with flowers at my church, so I was very interested to learn more. I’d love to go through the Master Floral Designer Program to learn about different types of flowers and greenery and the best ways to put them together.”

Ingram said while she was also interested in completing the Master Floral Designer Program, she had a different goal in mind.

“My husband and I garden already, and we’ve talked about expanding into a small business of cut flowers,” Ingram said. “I feel like the Master Floral Designer Program could teach me more about what to grow so our customers could have what they want to make the best arrangements. Plus, I could make sure I’m growing things that bloom in every season.”

Kelley said introducing more Alabamians to potential careers in floriculture is an added bonus of the program.

“The whole idea is to train people so that they develop the skills needed to work in the floral industry or to even start their own floral design business or company,” Kelley said.

Since starting the Master Floral Designer Program in 2017, DelPrince said around 175 participants have completed Phase I. Additionally, participants from coast to coast have traveled to Biloxi to complete Phase II.

Benefits of Floral Arrangements

A sell-out crowd of 52 people attended the floral arranging workshop in Montgomery.

Along with learning a new skill, the benefits to mastering floral design are numerous.

“Flowers make you happy,” DelPrince said. “People love flowers. It’s part of being human to want to bring nature closer to you. Plus, with floral design, you feel a sense of accomplishment from creating something beautiful that you can share. You’re also supporting local horticulture and agriculture by buying cut flowers and plants from farms and nurseries.”

Floral arrangements also make events more special.

“If you went to a wedding and there were no flowers, you’d definitely notice,” Kelley said. “Fresh flowers evoke positive emotions. They can set a mood and transform a space. They serve as conversation starters and provide a backdrop for photoworthy moments. It’s even been shown that exposure to natural elements can reduce stress and elevate mood. There’s a lot of power in flowers.”

Mastering Floral Design

Registration for the next Master Floral Designer Phase I is open through May 3. There is a registration fee, which covers the educational components of all three phases. Register online at reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-b595280f55024e248e80cb6b54c18337

For more information on the program, contact DelPrince at j.delprince@msstate.edu or 228-546-1011.

Additionally, Alabama Extension home horticulture agents lead floral design workshops throughout the year. To find out about upcoming events, check the calendar at aces.edu/calendar. People can also find contact information for their local home horticulture agent at ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/directory-new/selectLocation.php?program=11.