Last week, Lisa and I had the gift of a lifetime. We attended Little Flower School’s Iris Workshop hosted by Schreiner’s Iris Gardens in Salem, OR. Little Flower School is a collaborative project of self-taught (and world renowned) florists Nicolette Camille of nicolettecamille.com Sarah Ryhanen of saipua.com; based out of Brooklyn, NY. These best friends travel America to teach floral design, as well as learn more about their industry. They host workshops at the Nation’s greatest flower farms, and tour based on seasonal availability. Sarah herself is an aspiring farmer, with a property in upstate NY where she is sprouting the beginnings of a much anticipated flower farm. Schreiner’s Iris Garden schreinersgardens.com is a flower farm dedicated to producing amazing hybrids and beautiful varieties of Iris tubers. These tubers are shipped across the country (and some to Canada!) to garden centres and enthusiasts. Schreiner’s Iris rival Orchids for the largest variety of tones and colours available. Of course, Iris are known for their true blue and purple hues, but they come in a plethora of wonderful sepia tones as well.
The following morning we arrived at the farm, almost an hour early (of course…we were too excited to sleep!). We were directed around the corner to the barn, where this bodacious bounty of botanicals greeted us. We were in HEAVEN!
Bucket, after bucket of Iris, Ranunculus, Sweet Peas, Allium, Garden Roses, Clematis, Tulips, Wigelia, Phlox, Alchemilla, Magnolia, Rhododendron, Bleeding Hearts, Peonies, Foxglove, Dogwood, and Nine bark. It was much too decadent. We learned Sarah and Nicolette, and their friend Jill Rizzo of studiochoo.com had spent the week in Oregon visiting farms, collecting blooms from as many local growers as possible. What a crazy fun adventure, but a lot of work. These ladies know how to please their students! Lisa and I weren’t the only students from Canada! Alice De Crom of Floralista flower studio instagram.com/floralista made the trip down as well! Professionals florists came from California, Oregon, and Florida to attend. Novice and hobby florists came as far as Finland to be a guest at this workshop. After a round of introductions, and a quick demo, the fun begins.
There were 15 or so of us in the class, and we were situated at a long design table, complete with a gap down the centre to dispose of our undesired clippings. The arrangement in the foreground is by Jill of Studio Choo.
We took our time, fussed and finicked, and the results were b-e-a-utiful. This arrangement pictured above is mine.
…and of course I forgot to use the trough for my clippings. Messy girl!
Beautiful Lisa and her amazing creation. The more I look at placement and intention of each bloom, the more I appreciate her design style.
Big thank you and lots of hugs to Amy and Caley who sponsored us to go on this adventure! Can’t wait for our next one!
xx
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