Daylong event at MSU Florist to welcome Christmas season

Contact: Sammy McDavid

STARKVILLE, Miss.--The scents, sights and sounds of the Christmas season will be featured Nov. 30 by the University Florist at Mississippi State.

The 8 a.m.-5 p.m. public event will begin with a wreath and garland sale outside the retail facility located on University Drive just west of the State Fountain Bakery. Organized by the Student American Institute of Floral Designers chapter, the sale will permit pre-booking via 662-325-3585 or info@theuniversityflorist.com.

Other parts of the day's activities include:

--Holiday Floral Design Show. Veteran associate professor Jim DelPrince, who holds accreditation by the American Institute of Floral Designers and Professional Floral Communicators-International, will lead the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. training session in the nearby Leo Seal M-Club Building. A $20 enrollment fee will include lunch. Nov. 21 is the registration deadline.

--Tips for Holiday Decorating Workshop. Instructor Lynette McDougald, assisted by seniors Jena Oh and Mariah Baird, will give demonstrations 1-3 p.m. in the Floral Design Studio adjacent to the florist. McDougald is an AIFD-certified designer who also is the florist's business manager; Oh and Baird are both 2007 national floral design award winners.

For more information, visit www.theuniversityflorist.com/news/openhouse07.html.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.