PURPOSE
The purpose of the Floral Design Committee is to educate members in Artistic Design through workshops, lectures and demonstrations; to plan and supervise flower shows and exhibits for the membership and the community; and to encourage members to exhibit in flower shows of other organizations.
The supervision of flower shows includes In-club Bench Shows and/or Sweepstakes. The committee encourages members to exhibit in regional flower shows (GCA and NGC/FGCCT) and attend Flower Show schools (conducted by GCA and NGC/FGCCT). The Committee works with the Vice President to secure participants to fulfill Floral Design and/or Botanical Arts Division requirements for any flower show that is part of a GCA Zone II Annual Meeting. It provides Provisionals and the general membership education in traditional floral design via workshops. The committee also participates in providing and arranging flowers for our annual Holiday Workshop.
MEMBERS
Chair: Betsy Weber
Vice Chair: Ann Pingoud
Previous Chair: Cordalie Benoit
Committee Members:
Susan Anton, Linda Badgley, Joanne Bailey, Sharon Bender, Melissa Castleman, Debbie Cook, Deborah Desir, Amy Estabrook, Trish Helm, Jerry Hesse, Lisa Lovejoy, Jennifer Morvan, Carol Warner, Lois Warnock
ACTIVITIES
December 5, 2022
Holiday Workshop Floral Design Preparation
order, pick up and condition the boxwood and flowers from the floral wholesaler. Make larger floral arrangements for nursing homes and other community recipients.
January 4, 2023
1:00 pm Zoom Workshop with Sharon Bender “How to Enter a Flower Show”
May, 2023
Lisa Lovejoy enters the Litchfield Garden Show. She was awarded 2nd place in the Class 6 Nature’s Tiny Gems. Judges commented: ” Choice of colors and patterns successfully make for an appetizing design for a catepillaar.”
May 2023, Lilacs and Peonies
Happy gorgeous May! Possibly my favorite flower month since lilacs and peonies arrive in all of their glory! I hope some of my tips below inspire you to beeline to your gardens, snip away and start designing with reckless abandon.
1-Keep it simple! Both lilacs and peonies are such showstopper blooms that they stand with magnificence on their own. Grab a mass of each, find a special vessel, and behold the simple (and overwhelming) beauty! A recipe for happiness.
2-For real over-the-top splendor, try your hand at an arrangement of lilacs AND peonies. See my design with peonies, lilacs, roses and tulips.
3-Have fun playing with color and floral variety. See my attached designs: 1) with snapdragons, peony tulips and hellebores and 2) with white and pink peonies coupled with blue hydrangea, roses and snapdragons.
4-Stick with monochromatic but different floral varieties; I just designed a pink centerpiece for a dinner party comprised of peonies, spray roses, carnations (filling in with carnations helps keep the cost down, too!) and boxwood.
5-Find inspiration in a piece of art in your home, and try to replicate its color palette; see my design inspired by an antique Chinese vase.
Happy designing!
Ann Michele Pingoud
Tips & Tricks Archives
HOW-TO
- FOR the GCA Flower Show and Judging Guide (Yellow Book): You may be asked to sign into the GCA website before you can access the files, so be ready with your password.
- FOR a comprehensive digital form of the National Garden Club Handbook: Flower Show Handbook.
- FOR instructions for a Teacup Challenge: Instructions for a Teacup Challenge
- FOR instructions on Conditioning Flowers
- FOR earth-friendly alternatives to floral foam:
- FOR eco-friendly flower arranging
Floral Design Entry Card
You may be asked to sign into the GCA website before you can access the files, so be ready with your password.
Resources to help educate and foster interest in the art of floral design.
- GCA’s Floral Design Workshop Courses
- Zone Representatives
- Principles and Elements of Design
- Tools, Supplies, and Mechanics
- Conditioning Flowers
- Photo Library of Design Styles
- Interested in entering the Floral Design Judging Program?
- Botanical Nomenclature
GCA Forms
Federated Resources
Recommended Books
- Designing by Types by Harriet Osborn – Describes the different types of floral designs used in flower shows
2. ‘Leaf Manipulation – A Beginner’s Guide to Working with Leaves in a Contemporary Way’ by Gail Emmons. Available on Amazon
3. ‘Teach Yourself Flower Arranging’ by Judith Blacklock. Hands down, the best book to get if you want to learn the basics of floral design. Available on Amazon
RECENT PAST GCNH EVENTS
October 4, 2021 “Show What You Grow” Bench Show
February 7, 2022 Teacup Challenge