Research points out that consumers are willing to buy, and pay more, for floral designs from retail florists who use sustainable methods, techniques, and materials. Take this opportunity to learn more about employing sustainability into your business and learn about beautiful, southern plant materials and southern-style floral design. In this day-long program, professional florists, floral designers, flower farmers, and anyone engaged in growing, designing, and selling flowers at a profit will gain valuable information to employ sustainable methods, materials, and techniques in their business, and get great ideas for sellable, desirable floral designs.

Dr. Tricia Knight, MSU horticulture research professor will present a lecture on woody plant materials that SE-US florists can grow, cut, arrange, and sell. Dr. Knight is the Director of Horticulture Research at the South Branch Experiment Station, Poplarville, Mississippi and is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticulture Science.

Ty Leslie, CFD, AIFD, an internationally recognized floral designer and speaker, will demonstrate a variety of holiday floral designs using sustainable methods of construction, techniques, and materials. He has held careers in floral retailing, wholesaling, manufacturing, production, and mass-market. You will be able to use what you learn in his demonstration this year, and plan holiday and event products for the future. Ty’s floral design style has been described as “classical,” “elegant,” and “completely southern”.

Schedule:

10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Knight lecture

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Lunch on your own at Biloxi’s many restaurants

2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Leslie demonstration

$20 per person

Registration closes August 18, 2024. Maximum 60 persons. 

For disability accommodation or other questions, contact Jim DelPrince.