Contact: Maridith Geuder
About 100 persons from a variety of backgrounds and interests already are expected at a regional floral design conference to be held next month at Mississippi State University.
Professional florists from around the South will make presentations on a range of topics at the March 12-14 Southern Conference of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
"We invite anyone interested in improving floral design quality to attend," said MSU assistant professor Jim Del Prince, the conference chair.
March 1 is the early registration deadline, he added.
Among featured speakers will be Eddie Payne of Zephyr Hills, Fla., Angela Freeman of Asheville, N.C., Joseph Smith of Brentwood, Tenn., Stephanie Englebert of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and J. Schwanke of Grand Rapids, Mich. All hold the title of Fellow of the American Institute of Floral Design.
Designs for church flower and dried arrangements will be among topics in the conference sessions. Among social events will be a tour of Temple Heights, an antebellum home in Columbus, and a dinner at the home of retired MSU professor Ralph Null, an AIFD Fellow and nationally recognized floral designer.
Also, Mississippi State faculty member Jacque Deeds will present a session on teaching techniques for floral commentators, while art professor Paul Grootkerk will lead a discussion of flowers in art history.
"We have priced conference events so that those interested can attend either part or all of the conference and the accompanying social events," Del Prince said.
For complete information about the conference, telephone Del Prince at (601) 325-1965.