The Academy Online LEVEL ONE

Flower Arranging Course

Meet your Tutors

Tina Parkes Academy Principal NDSF, FBFA, Cert Ed, Dutch Master, AIFD (US Master), LCGI, British Master (City & Guilds MDPF Level 5), IoPF Academic Fellow, RHS Chelsea Gold medallist and freelance florist

“Teaching floristry is a real passion for me, and I really believe in the importance of teaching technique and design well. I’m on the BFA’s Education & Training Board and demonstrate to florists all over the world, but nothing is more satisfying than seeing our students progress over the course of their time with us.”

Julie Collins Academy Principal BTec ND, ICSF, Cert Ed, British Master (C&G MDPF Level 5), Teleflower Cup for Practical & Theory 2011, IoPF Academic Fellow, US Master (AIFD) and freelance florist

“I am very proud of the Academy courses that Tina and I developed. We have taken elements of the traditional courses, and given them a European twist, which means lots of hands-on, practical experience that our students seem to prefer at every level of ability.”

We are thrilled to share our Academy Level One Online Flower Arranging course with you, and we hope you enjoy learning with us!

We will teach you the fundamental techniques and traditional styled designs that we adapt and use in everyday floristry. It’s the perfect introduction to both the hobby of flower arranging and the world of commercial floristry.

You can make all 4 step-by step designs over 2 days using the same flowers or choose to make the designs over a longer period if you prefer, as they each come with a separate buying list.

After completing each piece, take a photo of your work. Once you have images of all four of your designs, upload them to our site so we can see what you’ve made, and we’ll send you a certificate of completion.

If our introductory course leaves you as inspired - and encouraged - as we hope it will, you are going to want to develop your skills further. At the Academy, we have courses that can take you all the way from absolute beginner to Master Florist and even RHS Chelsea medallist!

Chat to us and you’ll soon see how passionate we are about teaching floristry. We’re aiming to change the world of floristry for the better, one student at a time! Visit our website to find out more: www.academyoffloralart.com. With best wishes

Academy Principals Tina Parkes & Julie Collins

Welcome to the Academy

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We have broken our Level 1 online course down into 7 sections:

1. Introduction

2. Flower, Foliages and Conditioning and Care

3. Tools

4. Design One: Gift Bouquet, paper edged

5. Design Two: Symmetric Design

6. Design Three: Small Hand-tied Posy

7. Design Four: Posy Arrangement

Course Structure

1. Introduction

In this section, you will meet your online tutors: Julie Collins and Tina Parkes, Principals of the British Academy of Floral Art, teachers and British and US Master Florists. Tina is also a Dutch Master Florist and RHS Chelsea Gold medallist. Julie and Tina will explain how our online course works.

2. Flower, Foliage, Conditioning & Care

We show you all the flowers and foliages we will be using in the course designs, and explain how to condition the flowers ready for use.

In case you can’t get hold of any of these flowers - or would like to use something from the garden - we have listed some alternative materials for you to work with at the end of this booklet.

3. Tools

We introduce you to the tools and equipment you need, and demonstrate how to soak floral foam effectively.

4. Design One - Gift Bouquet

We give you a step-by-step guide to how to make a hand-tied bouquet, perfect for a gift. We demonstrate how to spiral stems, focal flowers, placement and how to decorate with a paper edge and bow.

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Course Structure

5. Design Two - Symmetric Design

Our step-by-step guide front-facing design introduces lots of elements and principles used in floristry and flower arranging such as shape, proportion, focal areas, lines and space.

Once you have mastered this traditional shape, it will enable to go on and develop this shape to create large pedestal designs or more wild and loose designs, which we explore at Level Two.

6. Design Three - Tied Posy Design

This is a perfect design for a gift or bridal posy. It is smaller than the gift bouquet, but we use this design to show you a different spiral technique and how to group flowers.

7. Design Four - Posy Arrangement

Perfect for a table or wedding table, this design is view all round and you learn how to create a symmetrical placement of flowers, how to layer flowers to create depth and cover the mechanics underneath.

Course Structure

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Fresh Materials & Alternatives

Materials shown (Botanical Name)

Material shown (Common Name)

Alternative (Botanical Name)

Alternative (Common name)

Alternative (Botanical Name)

Alternative (Common name)

Freesia Freesia Crocosmia Montbretia Eryngium Sea HollyEustoma Lisianthus Callistephus China Star Ageratum Floss Flower

Matthiola Stocks Anthirrhinum Snapdragon Phlox Phlox

Clematis Vase vine Nigella Love in Mist Helleborus Christmas Rose

Chrysanthemum Spray

Chrysanths or mums

Cosmos Mexican aster

Dahlia Dahlia

Veronica (Spray)

Speedwell Astilbe False goat's beard

Chamelaucium Wax flower

Alstroemeria Peruvian Lily Alchemilla Lady's mantle

Eupatorium White snakeroot

Spray Rosa Spray Rose Ranunculus Persian buttercup

Scabiosa Scabious

Rosa Rose Gerbera (mini) Barberton daisy

Lilium Lily

Dianthus (Standard)

Carnation Heliopsis False sunflower

Rudbeckia Black eyed Susan

Dianthus (Spray)

Spray Carnation

Limonium sinuatum

Statice Limonium latifolium

Sea lavender

Dianthus barbatus

Sweet William

Aster September flower

Bupleurum Thorow-wax

Brachyglotti. Dunedin

Senecio Sunshine

Pittosporum Pittosporum Griselina Griselinia broad leaf

Gaultheria shallon

Salal Hedera Tree Ivy Laurus nobilis Bay

Danae racemosa

Soft Ruscus Eucalyptus Eucalyptus Buxus sempervirena

Box

Arachniodes adiantiformis

Leather leaf

Asparagus virgatus

Tree fern Asparagus setaceus

Asparagus fern

optional Cordyline or Dracaena

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus

This list shows you the list of flowers used in the film and gives you a stem count per design and a total stem count for all the flowers used. We have give you 3 options:

Option 1 - Make an individual design Option 2 - Make all 4 designs re-using the same flowers Option 3 - Make and keep all 4 designs intact

Flowers & Foliage

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3As named in film

Gift wrap bouquet

Symmetric Arrange-ment

Small Tied Posy

Posy Arrange-ment

Total Number of stems

Total Number of stems

Freesia 3 5 1 0 5 9Lisianthus 1 1 2 2 2 6Stocks 3 0 0 0 3 3Clematis 3 3 2 2 3 10Chrysanthemum Spray

0 2 0 2 2 4

Veronica (spray) 6 0 3 2 6 11Alstroemeria 0 0 1 0 1 1Spray Rose 0 0 1 0 1 1Rose (long stem, large head)

4 5 0 4 5 13

Rose (short stem, small head)

0 7 5 5 7 17

Carnation 3 0 3 0 3 6Spray Carnation 0 5 0 5 5 10Sweet William 3 0 1 2 3 6Senecio 0 0 2 0 2 2Salal 4 0 0 0 4 4Soft Ruscus 0 2 0 2 2 4Leather leaf 0 3 0 2 3 5Optional Cordyline or Dracaena

2 1 1 1 2 5

Eucalyptus 3 2 1 1 3 7

Here is a list of the tools and sundries you will need. We introduce you to these materials in the film.

Tools

Design 1 Design 2 Design 3 Design 4

Tools you need Gift wrap bouquet

Symmetric Arrange-ment

Small Tied Posy

Posy Arrange-ment

D Bowl (Deep)

O Bowl (Round)

Pot Tape

Scissors

Knife

Leaf shine

Flower Food

Mist Spray

Ribbon 1.5m 1m

String

Block of floral foam 0.5 0.3Paper 2m

Cellotape

Stapler

Knife

Florist scissors

Vase

Bucket

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Conditioning means preparing flowers for use. When you condition flowers, you will increase their vase life. It can also be the process of holding a flower back from opening for a few days or of making it open more quickly - depending on the process you use.

Step One Clean the container then add flower food by dissolving in warm water. This contains bleach to keep the water clean and nutrients to help the flower open and live longer.

Step Two Remove all foliage that will be below water. This will help prevent bacteria forming in the water.

Step Three Cut the stem at a very sharp slant. This will increase the surface area available to take up water and food, and will stop the stem sitting flat on the bottom of the container.

Place the flowers in deep water. If you are using them in an arrangement or in wedding flowers, condition as above 24 hours before use.

If you are picking foliage from garden, avoid new soft growth as it doesn’t last well. Keep a bucket of water nearby and place your foliage in the bucket as soon as possible. Leave in deep cool water for at least 24 hours. Roses Roses can suffer from an air lock under the flowerhead, so after cutting the stem place it in an inch of boiling water until all the bubbles have stopped coming out of the stem. Then place in deep warm water with flower food.

Conditioning flowers

Gerbera Support wire the head before conditioning to keep the stem straight.

Delphinium Are hollow so the stem needs to be filled with water and plugged with cotton wool.

Soft-stemmed Spring Flowers As spring flowers contain a lot of moisture, place them in an inch of water only to stop them opening too fast. If the stems are too bendy, wrap in newspaper first.

Checking flowers on delivery Check that the blooms are fresh and in bud. The flowers should look crisp and roses firm. Florets on long stems should not all be open.

Conditioning steps 1. Clean buckets and vases with bleach2. Fill buckets with water and flower food3. Bring flowers to room temperature if have been in cold storage4. Remove foliage below water level5. Cut stems at slant6. Place in water7. Do not over crowd as can encourage botrytis which is a grey mould

Rotation of stock Every 3 days clean container, take out old water and replenish with new.

Speeding up flower opening Add flower food and put in a warm place.

Slowing down flower opening Store flowers in a cool place at around 4°C.

Conditioning flowers

Poisonous & Irritant Plants

Botanical Name Common Name Part Poisonous Irritant

Aconitum MonkshoodAesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnutAcuba japonica Spotted LaurelCaladium Elephant’s ears sapChrysanthemum Mums leavesClematis vitalba Old Man’s beard sapCodiaeum CrotonConvallaria majalis lily of the valleyDieffenbachia leopard lilyDigitalis foxgloveEuonymous europeaus spindleEuphorbia sapFraxinus excelsior ash sapGalanthus nivalis snowdropGloriosa superba glory lilyHedera helix ivyHelleborus Christmas roseHippeastrum amaryllisHyacinthus hyacinth bulbIlex aquifolium holly berryLaburnum bark/seedLathyrus odoratus sweet pea seedLigustrum privetLonicera honeysuckleMonstera deliciosa sweet cheese

plantNarcissus daffodil sapOrnithogalum Star of

BethlehemPapaver somniferum opium poppyPhilodendron sweetheart vineRheum rhaponticum rhubarb leafRicinus communis caster oil plant seedScindapus aureus Devil’s IvySolanium capsicastrum winter cherrySymphoricarpos albus snowberryTulipa tulip

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A unique, independent, inspirational flower school

Call us on 01392 834893 or visit us at

www.academyoffloralart.com

8 Dunchideock Barton, Dunchideock, Exeter EX2 9UA