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Working with fresh flowers brings something special to our lives. Floral design is a proud form of art that has been around for thousands of years. The diversity of style is amazing and will reflect a variety of social, religious and cultural trends.

The art of floral design plays an important role in society. It is an important part of social interactions, of interior design and is important in relationships and for enhancing the overall quality of our lives. Working with flowers is fun but also brings a dimension to our life that is purely pleasing. Having a bad day? Then make a bouquet. Feeling sad? Bring some joy to your life by working with a bunch of flowers that smile for you.

Flowers are both beautiful and functional. We enjoy their colour, their scent and often forget that the real significance of a flower from the plants’ perspective is to provide a means of reproduction. Flowers have played a role in many cultures throughout the years, symbolizing an identity, a goal or aspiration and even may have special religious significance.

We also mark special days with flowers – births, deaths, weddings and a host of other special occasions to give thanks, to say “I love you” or to just say “I am thinking about you. ” In fact, individual types of flowers have been given special meanings which you may consider when you are giving flowers as a gift.

The floral industry itself is huge. It is a multibillion-dollar industry that brightens our lives at every special holiday and event in our lives. It makes a great contribution to our economy and provides a host of employment opportunities.

However, there are not many places for individuals to learn how to be a “florist” – someone who understands flowers and how to treat them to ensure long-lasting bouquets. There is a skill that needs to be learned in order to design and work with a variety of floral elements.

Floristry is an important component of the horticultural industry. However, it is sometimes difficult to find training offered close to you when you need it. If you are located within travelling distance to Saskatoon, training has just become a little bit easier. Orchid Horticulture is offering a variety of options for training in the floristry field and beginning in November will again be offering face-to-face workshops.

Those interested can obtain experience doing floral design by taking in a variety of floral design classes that will give the participant the great joy of working with flowers but also provide the necessary skills to work in the industry or run a own florist shop. Please note participants will receive a certificate for each level of education that is completed. You can learn the tools to succeed in the floral industry today!

Spend from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. on Nov. 20 learning the basic level of floral design, completing two designs to take home with you. It is a lovely way to spend some time for anyone but is especially meaningful if you are at a challenging time in your life, or if it is just time for you to look after you. You will take home new knowledge, great memories and some beautiful floral pieces for you or to give as gifts to some of your favourite people.

Hanbidge is the lead horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at ; by email at [email protected]; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.

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