Establishing an Extension Floral Design Program

Mississippi’s Gulf Coast region is home to over 150 commercial nurseries/turfgrass operations as well as being a certified retirement region. In July 2015, Mississippi State University Coastal R&E Center began an Extension floral design program. Three programs were developed under client headings of growers, florists and amateur florists toward building awareness of program offerings. The first program area was a series of monthly workshops targeting garden club members, Master Gardeners, and those with special interest in floral design. These basic to intermediate workshops included autumn door wreath, church arrangement coastal holiday centerpiece, Thanksgiving buffet design and holiday foliage arrangement. Evaluation instruments were devised augmenting standardized MSU Extension forms with questions about the most important thing participant learned, how they heard about workshop, best days and times to attend a workshop, appealing topics and interest in a new certificate floral design program. A second program area offered educational outreach to professional florists. Through site visits to local florists and trends in wedding floral design, a flower crown workshop was developed. The initial session was canceled due to lack of response, then offered again in January at 75% room capacity. Based upon evaluation survey findings, workshops offering wedding and sympathy floral design technical information were developed and offered, including floral surrounds for cremation urns altar and buffet design mechanics lab, corsages and boutonnieres, and a two-day wedding floral workshop. The third of three programs sought to make participants aware of alternative crops and value-added floral products that can be grown and produced in Mississippi. Past studies and buying habits suggest that Mississippians would purchase Mississippi-grown floral materials if they were available. A series of floral design demonstrations held at MSU research and extension centers, farmers markets and other venues drew attention to cut foliage, flowers, vines and value-added designs to stimulate commercial production.   Programming advertisements were made through a dedicated Facebook page, Coastal R&E Center Facebook page, garden club networks, local television appearances, radio and television announcements, MSU Extension offices and agents email, fliers and handouts. An on-site scientific lab was repurposed into a floral studio able to accommodate 8 participants and instructor.