By Paige Lambert
Nerissa Valencia grew up watching her mom design floral arrangements for anything from weddings to Valentine’s Day.
The Lehman High senior put her own spin on the lovable holiday with her floral designs.
Valencia and other students at Lehman High School will now get the chance to put their design passions to use in the floral design class in the Career and Technical Education program.
Lauren Reeves, who also teaches graphic design at Lehman, said the course focuses on basic principles used in any fine arts course. Students have to learn design fundamentals before even touching a flower.
“We learn about balance, harmony and the color wheel,” Reeves said. “Then we go into flower associations and different types of arrangements.”
While students don’t sell their arrangements, they do learn the business side of the floral industry.
Students are required to develop a business plan and sketch out a storefront that compliments the particular part of the floral industry they are interested in.
“I have them decide if they want to do the retail side, where they go out to events, or if they wanted to be in the actual growing side,” Reeves said. “They enjoyed being able to come up with a slogan and create a logo.”
The students are also put under deadlines just like a real business. The students had to complete 11 corporate styled arrangements for the board members in one day.
“I did have them do a practice arrangement of the same kind of flowers and the same kind of vases,” Reeves said. “Now we are doing the real ones and the walk-through will be on the same day, so it will be a very quick thing.”
While some students enjoyed sketching out his/her ideas, the most anticipated part is working in the lab, Reeves said.
Each student is given full range with their design once they understand the basics, such as which flowers go best together, and if the student can complete a conceptual sketch.
“It’s the same with graphic design, when I get to watch their creativity come out and give them the freedom to just do what they want,” Reeves said. “I just give them flowers and the vases and let them come up with everything else.”
Valencia said the hardest part of floral design is cutting the floral foam to exact measurements. Even so, she said she feels pride in turning her sketches into a reality.
“When you experiment, you realize designing is really fun to do,” she said.
The course can be applied as a fine art credit and students can become a certified floral designer with the American Institute of Floral Designers.
The district aids in the cost of certifications for students in CTE programs.
While Valencia may not go straight into floral design, she said the course would always give her a fun backup.
“In the future it would be a good skill to have and be able to do something fun,” Valencia said.
