Even though your creations may not be presented alongside masterworks at the de Young, they can still be museum-quality with some help. Here are a handful of local classes to up your floral design game.
BLOOMINGAYLES
Learn about the art of floral arranging as well as the methodology, in an intimate hands-on setting at Bloomingayles. Classes offered include bouquet essentials, where students will handle and combine flowers to find their own unique decorative style, and seasonal courses in holiday table-scapes, wreath making and other skills.
BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF MARIN
Master teachers Kinsui Saiki and Julie Nakatani invite both beginner and advanced students to the Buddhist Temple of Marin to practice ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. In ikebana, arrangements are a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together and are centered on developing a closeness with nature.
MARIN FLORAL
From serious floral design classes to casual flower parties, Marin Floral offers an array of activities and provides fresh, locally sourced materials for students to use. Patrons also have the option of attending on-site custom parties where guests go home with the arrangements they create.
MATILDA’S MAGNOLIAS
Matilda’s Magnolias buys flowers from farmers in San Francisco and the Bay Area and delivers them based on whatever schedule works best for participants. The selection is always a surprise and the flowers arrive loose. Inside every box subscribers will find a floral fact card with arrangement tips and design recommendations.
This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition under the headline: “Floral Inspiration.”
Kasia Pawlowska loves words. A native of Poland, Kasia moved to the States when she was seven. The San Francisco State University creative writing graduate went on to write for publications like the San Francisco Bay Guardian and KQED Arts among others prior to joining the Marin Magazine staff. Topics Kasia has covered include travel, trends, mushroom hunting, an award-winning series on social media addiction and loads of other random things. When she’s not busy blogging or researching and writing articles, she’s either at home writing postcards and reading or going to shows. Recently, Kasia has been trying to branch out and diversify, ie: use different emojis. Her quest for the perfect chip is never-ending.