MSU floral workshops to help prepare for holidays, weddings

Contact: Maridith Geuder

A series of Mississippi State workshops that begin in August and conclude in January will give both amateurs and professionals training in basic and specialized floral designs.

Taught by faculty members Jim DelPrince and Lynette McDougald of the university's retail floristry management program, the three intensive sessions in August, October and January are intended for both new and seasoned professional florists.

Taught in the design studio adjacent to the University Florist, the workshops will highlight commercial basics, holiday designs and wedding arrangements, respectively. MSU professor emeritus Ralph Null will serve as guest lecturer for the initial program.

Registration fee for the August workshop is $300; $200 for the others. The charge covers all plant materials and florist supplies.

The workshop schedules include:

--Floral design, Aug. 5-9. Being offered for the fifth year, the daylong sessions for both professionals and amateurs with entry-level educational needs will focus on cut plant materials conditioning, dish garden construction, and key designs creations, among other topics.

--A "Celebrations Conference," Oct. 5-6. The daylong Saturday and half-day Sunday event on the handling and design of holiday materials, home decorating and holiday weddings also will include a Saturday evening dinner party.

--Wedding and floral design, Jan. 11-12. Another full-day Saturday and half-day Sunday agenda, this one dealing with order-taking and sales techniques, as well as effective designs for bouquets, altars, pews, and centerpieces.

For more information, telephone (662) 325-1965.